The Meaning of Light and Holiness in the Bible

The apostle John not only states that “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16) but also that “God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). “Light” is used to refer to the revelation of His holiness. The absence of any darkness refers to His complete separation from all sin. John frequently refers to darkness as sin (see John 1:5; 3:19; 12:35; 1 John 1:5–6; 2:8– 9, 11).

God Is Holy

God is holy in that He is not only “set apart” or exalted above all of His creation but also separate from all moral evil and sin. This also means that He is infinite in moral excellence and purity. For this reason the Scripture speaks of the “beauty of the Lord” (Psalm 27:4). You can adore God who is truly perfect in every way, and as you gaze intently at Him, you observe no flaw or imperfection in His character.

In His holiness [God] can never encourage sin or be blamed for it in any way.

His holiness motivates His love for what is right, good, and pure. His love and devotion for what is truly beautiful and perfect give Him a corresponding perfect hatred for what is opposed to it. He can “take no pleasure in wickedness” because there is absolutely no evil in Him (Psalm 5:4). In fact, Proverbs 6:17–19 lists seven things “the Lord hates,” including wicked plans. Those seven are “haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.”

Holiness and Sin

Our holy God also hates hypocritical religious celebrations (Amos 5:21–22). As you respond to His holy love, He will develop in you a love for Him that is also accompanied by a hatred of evil (Psalm 97:10) and that in no way rejoices in unrighteousness (1 Corinthians 13:6). Habakkuk tells us His eyes are too pure to approve evil (1:13).

In His holiness He can never encourage sin or be blamed for it in any way. James writes, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone” (James 1:13).

When we are tempted, we are not to follow our forefather Adam and blame God as he did—“The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate” (Genesis 3:12). We will make progress only when we run to God in our temptation and seek His aid and accept full responsibility for our sin. James declares that each of us “is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust” (James 1:14).