God’s character and position cannot be separated from who he is. El Elyon is a synonym for God’s deity. God’s holiness permeates all of His attributes and defines them. Psalms 93:5 (NKJV) tells us that, “Your testimonies are very sure; Holiness adorns Your house, O Lord, forever.” Psalm 99:9 says (NKJV), “…the Lord our God is holy.
We see God’s Holiness expressed in His splendor. "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory” (vs 3b). This is a picture of His absolute Glory. Psalms 148:13 (NKJV) says, “Let them praise the name of the Lord, For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven.” “From the ends of the earth we hear singing: "Glory to the Righteous One" (Isaiah 24:16, NIV).
God’s holiness impacts Christians in many and diverse ways. We see holiness in acceptance. Unconditional love and unconditional acceptance are not the same things. Unconditional love requires a complete commitment to God. God made a complete commitment to us. Romans 5:8-10 (NIV), “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” Unconditional acceptance means that God accepted us as we were when we were saved.
Next, we see God’s holiness in accountability. We need someone to hold us accountable. Hebrews 4:13 (NKJV) explains our openness to God when it says, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” Ultimately, we are all accountable to God. Romans 14:12 (NKJV) says, “So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”
Also, holiness and awe (reverence). Wisdom is the Holy Grail of life. When we drink of the wisdom of God and not the false wisdom of this world, we are truly accessing the grace of God. Proverbs 9:10 (NIV) gives us the secret to obtaining His wisdom when it explains that, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
There is an undeniable relationship between holiness and the fear or reverence of the God of the bible. As an example, Moses’ father-in-law Jethro gave him good advice when he said in Exodus 18:21 (NIV), “But select capable men from all the people — men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain.”
God’s wisdom leads to the understanding of holiness and the assurance through faith. It is God’s holiness and His unmatched grace that secures our salvation.
Isaiah 32:17 (NKJV) illustrates the impact that righteousness can have on our assurance when it says, “The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.” The effect of God’s grace is to provide mercy. Mercy is when we don’t get what we do deserve. We see this point made in Psalms 23:6 (NKJV) which tells us, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Then we see that assurance is a process in Hebrews 10:14, “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” This is because “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9, NKJV).
Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
The critical way to know God Most High is through knowing Jesus Christ, God Most High who came in the flesh to die the death we deserved (John 14:6; 20:28; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Whether sinners acknowledge the Lord Most High or not, He exists so we can enjoy Him as God Most High in our lives only when we seek Him (Jeremiah 29:13). [1]
[1] David Jenkins, Where Do We See El Elyon in Scripture? biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/worship-god-as-el-elyon-the-lord-most-high, used by permission, Article 107 of the Fair Use Copywrite Law.
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