What does it mean to be Holy? What does this tell us about God?

To be holy means to be totally separate, unique, and set apart from sin. It signifies perfection in all ways and highlights that there is no one like God. God’s holiness demands that His people, Israel, also be holy to reflect His character to the world. This concept underscores God’s uniqueness and His desire for His people to live in a manner that distinguishes them from other nations.

What are the two things the Law always points to?

The Law points to two main principles: love for God and love for neighbor. This is summarized in Jesus’ teaching that the greatest commands are to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.

How do the Ten Commandments give us a road map for all the other commands God gives?

The Ten Commandments serve as foundational principles that inform all other commands in the Bible. Each smaller command is connected to these ten great commandments, which encapsulate the essence of loving God and loving one’s neighbor. For instance, various commandments about fairness, honesty, and kindness reflect these overarching principles.

Can we keep the Law on our own? Do we need to keep the Law now?

We cannot keep the Law perfectly on our own due to the sinful nature of our hearts. Jesus illustrates this in the Sermon on the Mount, showing that even harboring sinful thoughts can violate the Law. While the Law highlights our inability to achieve righteousness, it does not mean we are exempt from following God’s commands; rather, our motivation changes because of the righteousness we receive through Jesus.

How does Jesus make us holy?

Jesus makes us holy by fulfilling the Law and providing His righteousness to us. Through faith in Him, believers receive a new heart, enabling them to genuinely love God and their neighbors. The transformation from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh allows Christians to live out the commands of God, not as a means to earn favor, but as a response to the grace they have already received.