The Holiness of God is Ligonier Ministries' most popular and enduring series. Literally thousands of people have testified to a transforming encounter with God through this series.This series of six 30-minute messages examines the meaning of holiness and why people are both fascinated and terrified by a holy God. This series closely explores God’s character, leading to new insights on sin, justice, and grace. The result is a new awareness of our dependence upon God’s mercy and a discovery of the awesomeness of His majestic holiness. Dr. R.C. Sproul says, "The holiness of God affects every aspect of our lives — economics, politics, athletics, romance — everything with which we are involved."

"When people ask me to name the Ligonier teaching material they should use to help them grow; I tell them, 'You should start with The Holiness of God.'" —R.C. Sproul Central to God’s character is the quality of holiness. Yet, even so, most people are hard-pressed to define what God’s holiness precisely is. Many preachers today avoid the topic altogether because people today don’t quite know what to do with words like "awe" or "fear." Dr. R.C. Sproul, in this classic work, puts the holiness of God in its proper and central place in the Christian life. He paints an awe-inspiring vision of God that encourages Christians to become holy just as God is holy. Once you encounter the holiness of God, your life will never be the same.

The Holiness of God is Ligonier Ministries' most popular and enduring series. Literally thousands of people have testified to a transforming encounter with God through this series.This series examines the meaning of holiness and why people are both fascinated and terrified by a holy God. This series closely explores God's character, leading to new insights on sin, justice, and grace. The result is a new awareness of our dependence upon God's mercy and a discovery of the awesomeness of His majestic holiness. Dr. R.C. Sproul says, "The holiness of God affects every aspect of our lives - economics, politics, athletics, romance - everything with which we are involved."

The Holiness of God examines the meaning of holiness and why people are both fascinated and terrified by a holy God. This series closely explores God's character, leading to new insights on sin, justice, and grace. The result is a new awareness of our dependence upon God's mercy and a discovery of the awesomeness of His majestic holiness. Dr. R.C. Sproul says, "The holiness of God affects every aspect of our lives--economics, politics, athletics, romance—everything with which we are involved."

When Scripture calls God “holy,” it is speaking of everything that sets Him apart from us, including His acts of justice and mercy. How can we comprehend the holiness of God? What happens to us when we do? What about the holiness of Christ? And why is it that some of us merely are intrigued by God’s holiness while others, such as Isaiah, experience deep terror, awe and adoration? An appreciation of God’s holiness is absolutely essential to spiritual growth and reformation. In Ligonier Ministries' 1999 Washington D.C. conference, "The Holiness of God," R.C. Sproul studies the holiness of God for our own good and for His glory.

When Scripture calls God “holy,” it is speaking of everything that sets Him apart from us, including His acts of justice and mercy. How can we comprehend the holiness of God? What happens to us when we do? What about the holiness of Christ? And why is it that some of us merely are intrigued by God’s holiness while others, such as Isaiah, experience deep terror, awe and adoration? An appreciation of God’s holiness is absolutely essential to spiritual growth and reformation. In Ligonier Ministries' 2000 Portland conference, "The Holiness of God," R.C. Sproul studies the holiness of God for our own good and for His glory.

In the year King Uzziah died, the prophet Isaiah saw a vision of the Holy One of Israel that made him understand the horror of sin and gave him a passion to proclaim the hope of restoration to all who would turn from their wickedness. In like manner, if we truly understand God's holiness, we too will be motivated to flee from evil and to cling to Him for salvation.Our understanding of the Lord's transcendent holiness impacts how we view worship and how we will acknowledge the depth of our sin. In this expanded edition of his classic series The Holiness of God, Dr. R.C. Sproul provides a comprehensive, biblical survey of God's holy character and demonstrates how the demands of His holiness are met in Christ.

The holiness of God has been obscured, and, consequently, the church's doctrine and ethics have been tarnished. Entertainment has replaced worship in many places, the Gospel is misunderstood and neglected, and the church assimilates itself to the culture instead of seeking to transform it through the preaching of God's Word. If the church is to regain her saltiness, something must be done. Ligonier Ministries' 2009 National Conference, The Holiness of God, looks at Scripture's teaching on God's holiness and how it affects our worship, doctrine, and personal walk with Christ. This expanded conference also features a mini-conference on the life and influence of John Calvin, whose 500th birthday we celebrate in 2009. Dr. Sproul is joined by other Christian scholars, pastors, and leaders, including Thabiti Anyabwile, Alistair Begg, Don Carson, Ligon Duncan, Sinclair Ferguson, Robert Godfrey, Al Mohler, and Derek Thomas to proclaim and defend the holiness of God.

In the year King Uzziah died, the prophet Isaiah saw a vision of the Holy One of Israel that made him understand the horror of sin and gave him a passion to proclaim the hope of restoration to all who would turn from their wickedness. In like manner, if we truly understand God's holiness, we too will be motivated to flee from evil and to cling to Him for salvation.

Our understanding of the Lord's transcendent holiness impacts how we view worship and how we will acknowledge the depth of our sin. In this expanded edition of his classic series The Holiness of God, Dr. R.C. Sproul provides a comprehensive, biblical survey of God's holy character and demonstrates how the demands of His holiness are met in Christ.

Remove that property, and it ceases to be that thing. Sin is not essential to humanity, unless someone believes that God made humanity sinful at the beginning. If sin is essential to humanity, then that would mean Jesus was either sinful or not human. So, sin is not essential. Adam had no sin when he was created, yet he was still human. Jesus has no sin, but He is still human. Believers will have no sin when they get to heaven, and they will still be human.

Sin is not essential, but neither is it merely tangential or on the surface of our humanity. Rather, the portrait that we get in the Scriptures of man in his fallen condition is that he is utterly and thoroughly infected by sin in his whole person. In other words, sin is not an external blemish, but something that goes to the very core of our being.

The more we understand the holiness of God, the more we will pursue lives of holiness as we seek to bring Him glory. Today, R.C. Sproul explains what happens as we contemplate the character of our Lord.

The reason we are to study God’s holiness is not because we ourselves are holy—just the opposite is true. Today, R.C. Sproul announces that the holiness of God exposes our sin and directs us toward true righteousness.this

Essential doctrines of the Christian faith are under attack, even from within the church, and it is important that we be well grounded in biblical truths so that we may have a deep affection for our holy, triune God.

Ligonier Ministries hosted its 2011 National Conference, Light & Heat: A Passion for the Holiness of God, in Orlando, FL. R.C. Sproul, John Piper, and Ligonier Teaching Fellows Sinclair Ferguson, and W. Robert Godfrey examine important tenets of the faith, such as divine sovereignty, biblical worship, evangelism and missions, apologetics, and justification. Tim Challies and Susan Hunt provide optional sessions.

When Scripture calls God “holy,” it is speaking of everything that sets Him apart from us, including His acts of justice and mercy. How can we comprehend the holiness of God? What happens to us when we do? What about the holiness of Christ? And why is it that some of us merely are intrigued by God’s holiness while others, such as Isaiah, experience deep terror, awe and adoration? 

An appreciation of God’s holiness is absolutely essential to spiritual growth and reformation. In Ligonier Ministries' 1999 Washington D.C. conference, "The Holiness of God," R.C. Sproul studies the holiness of God for our own good and for His glory.

When Scripture calls God “holy,” it is speaking of everything that sets Him apart from us, including His acts of justice and mercy. How can we comprehend the holiness of God? What happens to us when we do? What about the holiness of Christ? And why is it that some of us merely are intrigued by God’s holiness while others, such as Isaiah, experience deep terror, awe and adoration? 

An appreciation of God’s holiness is absolutely essential to spiritual growth and reformation. In Ligonier Ministries' 2000 Portland conference, "The Holiness of God," R.C. Sproul studies the holiness of God for our own good and for His glory.

The holiness of God has been obscured, and, consequently, the church’s doctrine and ethics have been tarnished. Entertainment has replaced worship in many places, the Gospel is misunderstood and neglected, and the church assimilates itself to the culture instead of seeking to transform it through the preaching of God’s Word. If the church is to regain her saltiness, something must be done.

Ligonier Ministries' 2009 National Conference, The Holiness of God, looks at Scripture’s teaching on God’s holiness and how it affects our worship, doctrine, and personal walk with Christ. This expanded conference also features a mini-conference on the life and influence of John Calvin, whose 500th birthday we celebrate in 2009. Dr. Sproul is joined by other Christian scholars, pastors, and leaders, including Thabiti Anyabwile, Alistair Begg, Don Carson, Ligon Duncan, Sinclair Ferguson, W. Robert Godfrey, Al Mohler, and Derek Thomas, to proclaim and defend the holiness of God.

Our holy God dwells in unapproachable light. Even the angels cover their faces in His presence. Yet the Lord has chosen to redeem a people for Himself. Saved by grace and set apart from the world, Christians have a new status as God’s holy ones. We’ve also received a new calling to pursue holiness by growing in Jesus’ likeness and taking His good news of salvation to the world.

On September 19–20, 2025, Ligonier Ministries held its first conference in Asia. Christopher Chia, Sinclair Ferguson, Joel Kim, and Michael Reeves taught on the holiness of God, the way He makes us holy in Christ, and the fulfillment of our holy calling in the mission of the church.

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts. The whole world is filled with his glory.” This echoing refrain from the lips of the angels clarifies the majesty and awe of “The Holiness of God”. When that emphasis is grasped, and when the people of God catch that same vision, the same thing that happened to Isaiah happens to us. We are overwhelmed. And we are driven to the ground in worship.

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. This is the universal problem faced by all men, a problem requiring a solution man cannot provide. In this lecture, Dr. Godfrey examines why the holiness of God required an atonement for sin, and how Jesus fulfilled that requirement for us.

Isaiah 6 gives us a grand vision of the holiness of God and reminds us that He is “holy, holy, holy.” When the prophet Isaiah saw this grand vision, he cried out because he was a man of “unclean lips.” Because of Isaiah’s sinfulness, a seraphim promptly flew to him, touched his lips with a coal, and pronounced him clean. Like Isaiah, we need cleansing to dwell with God in His supreme holiness. In this session, Dr. John MacArthur considers God’s holiness and why it matters both now and forever, explaining that God is holy and that He has made us His holy people.

Correctly understanding the depth of human sin will give us a more accurate understanding of how far we have fallen in Adam, and, therefore, also the original dignity and position that God made us to possess as His image-bearers. But we cannot understand the depth of humanity's evil until we know something of the backdrop against which our sin stands out. We are talking, of course, about the perfect holiness of the Lord, and today's passage is one of the clearest presentations of this divine attribute in all of Scripture.

Isaiah's call to ministry is well known, and it is remarkable for what it says about Isaiah and all other human beings. Without a doubt, the prophet was one of the most righteous and holy men in all of Judah, for the prophets were generally known for their piety and devotion to our Creator. Consequently, one might expect Isaiah to be confident in the presence of God and for the Lord to praise His servant for His goodness. Yet that is not what happened when Isaiah met Yahweh "in the year that King Uzziah died" (Isa. 6:1). Confronted with a vision of God on His throne, Isaiah could only proclaim an oracle of woe upon himself (v. 5). An oracle of woe was the worst prophecy that could be given of a nation or an individuals, and here Isaiah applies it to himself for his uncleanness (v. 5). As holy as Isaiah might have been in comparison to the other Judahites in his day, he was absolutely filthy in comparison to the Lord God Almighty.

The Lord does not respond to Isaiah's woe by telling him that he really was not that bad or that he was being melodramatic. Instead, God atones for the prophet's sin (vv. 6–7). That is the only way any sinner can survive in the presence of the most holy Creator. This is true even for those who have not sinned heinously. Isaiah was not a murderer or adulterer. He was not guilty of idolatry. He only possessed "unclean lips," which from a human perspective does not seem all that bad. That is especially true in the coarse and vulgar culture of our own day. But Isaiah knew that the standard creatures must meet to be righteous before God is perfection. Even one slip of the tongue was enough to require atonement.

The Lord bestowed His image upon humanity, so we were originally created holy and upright. Because even the best of us now lacks this holiness and in Adam hates God, we cannot stand before Him unafraid unless He saves us. The gospel tells us that He has provided salvation for His people, and our study of Romans will demonstrate how this is so.