R.C. Sproul, founder of Ligonier Ministries and renowned minister, discusses the traumatic nature of encountering God's holiness. He emphasizes how this divine perfection reveals our true selves, prompting a need for genuine repentance. The conversation delves into the transformative power of forgiveness, the challenges of confronting our flaws, and Isaiah's journey toward understanding God's grace. Sproul explores the deep connection between holiness, humility, and the longing for atonement, making a compelling case for the importance of divine mercy.
Confronting God's holiness exposes our imperfections, triggering a painful realization that often leads to psychological disintegration and avoidance of self-reflection.
True repentance and readiness for service arise only after acknowledging our unworthiness and experiencing God's transformative grace and atonement.
Deep dives
The Tension Between Holiness and Human Nature
Human nature often leads individuals to hide from the true character of God due to an instinctual awareness that His holiness reveals human sinfulness. This aversion stems from an understanding that exposure to the divine standard of holiness results in a stark realization of one's own imperfections. The podcast discusses how people tend to prefer focusing on God’s love and grace rather than His holiness, fearing the discomfort of confronting their shortcomings. In this context, the message raises the question of why it is so common to shy away from discussing God's holiness, which is presented in Scripture as a paramount characteristic of His nature.
Isaiah's Encounter with God's Holiness
The experience of Isaiah, who saw God in His holiness, serves as a profound example of the human response to divine purity. Upon witnessing God's glory, Isaiah cries out in terror, declaring, 'Woe is me, for I am undone,' expressing his immediate awareness of his unworthiness. This reaction illustrates how even the most righteous individual can be undone by the holiness of God, leading to psychological disintegration as they confront their imperfections. The podcast emphasizes that this encounter reveals the tendency of humanity to rationalize their shortcomings until they are confronted with the transcendent standards of divine holiness.
Forgiveness and Commission After Repentance
Following his acknowledgment of sinfulness, Isaiah receives purification from God, who sends a seraph to cleanse his lips with a burning coal, symbolizing atonement and restoration. This process underscores the painful yet essential nature of true repentance, which requires recognition of personal faults before divine forgiveness can be bestowed. After experiencing this transformative encounter, Isaiah responds to God's call with a willingness to serve, stating, 'Here am I, send me.' This narrative highlights that true readiness for mission and ministry arises from a profound awareness of one’s own unworthiness and the subsequent grace of God that enables action.
When we’re confronted by the utter perfection of God’s holiness, we finally see ourselves for who we really are. Today, R.C. Sproul reveals why an encounter with the holy is a traumatic experience to sinful people.
Request the new 40th-anniversary edition of R.C. Sproul’s book The Holiness of God, plus lifetime digital access to both the classic teaching series and the extended teaching series, with your donation of any amount: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/3885/donate
Meet Today’s Teacher: R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was known for his ability to winsomely and clearly communicate deep, practical truths from God’s Word. He was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew’s Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine. Meet the Host: Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of ministry engagement for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, host of the Ask Ligonier podcast, and a graduate of Presbyterian Theological College in Melbourne, Australia. Nathan joined Ligonier in 2012 and lives in Central Florida with his wife and four children.
Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts
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