Reading Classics Together: The Holiness of God Chapter 1, The Holy Grail

I've decided to join in with Tim Challies for his current "Reading Classics Together" selection, The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul. I was tempted to join in on his last one, but since I was in the middle of the Bible in 90 Days challenge, I didn't want to add too much to my plate! He has a check-in every Thursday for those who want to discuss the book. The first check-in was this past Thursday, so I'm a little late getting going, but I hope to post a short update each week.

The first chapter, "The Holy Grail",  really grabbed me. Dr. Sproul's personal anecdote about his realization of just how incredibly holy God is was quite powerful. His comment that he was a sort of "unitarian", focused only on Jesus without giving much thought to the Father or Spirit, made sense. I can see that I've focused on one member of the Trinity to the exclusion of the others at times in my life. He goes on to discuss the idea of God creating the universe from nothing but what Augustine called the "divine imperative" or "divine fiat". He did it all by the sheer power of His voice. A discussion of this idea in his philosophy class blew Dr. Sproul's mind (gave him an "Excedrin headache" as he called it). Pondering this forced him to confront the holiness of God.

At the least, I'll try to share a favorite quote from the current chapter each week. I may have more thoughts some weeks, others I may have time only for a quote. Here's one that grabbed me from this first chapter:

"I know what it means to be converted. I know what it means to be born again. I also understand that a person can be born again only once. When the Holy Spirit quickens our souls to new life in Christ, He does not stop His work. He continues to work on us. He continues to change us.

My experience in the classroom, thinking about the creation of the world, was like being born again a second time. It was like being converted, not merely to God the Son, but to God the Father. Suddenly I had a passion to know God the Father. I wanted to know Him in His majesty, to know Him in His power, to know Him in His august holiness."

I'm reminded of a favorite song of mine by Addison Road, What Do I Know of Holy?:



Good stuff. I'm looking forward to Chapter 2.