“Holy” in the Hebrew literally means “other, alien, or different.” English definitions may vary. I agree that a part of God’s holiness is his absolute goodness, something we have to say is completely other than humanity – which is scarred with evil and sin.

People are created good – and while marred with sin, they’re identity never changes. As long as they are created by God, there’s no changing that. My hope is that those who do not follow God may discover who they are and WHOSE they are and turn toward their Father.

I am curious about the characteristics of God that you are saying are concealed? What portions or parts of God are you saying He is hiding from man?

As far as being most holy, people that claim no belief or faith in Christ can be non-judgemental. Are you saying that these people are holy? I think part of the problem in your explanation is a wrong definition of the word holy. I do not know where you dug up the meaning of holy, but what I found is quite different. Holy: “exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness.” There were some other definitions, but most of them centered around the theme of being divine. I did not find any definition that said holy meant “different, other, alien.” Man is not holy, Christian or not, and will not be holy until they are presented complete in Christ standing before the judgement seat of Christ. To think that man can be holy is a gross misstep towards pride. The only way we can work towards holiness is to lose ourself to Christ, to be a literal slave to Christ. A natural byproduct of that devotion will be a correct thinking of who we are, sinners who are forever separated from God because of our sin. The sacrifice of Christ allows those who are called to cross that expanse through Christ Jesus.

Make no mistake, Christ will come to judge. He has not unilaterally forgiven everyone. His sacrifice was sufficient to cover all sin, from everyone. But that does not make us forgiven. We are forgiven once we seek true repentance. Once we repent and turn from our sin, then we are forgiven.

Your comment: “ask that people simply become what they already are – children of God.” is not exactly accurate. Yes we are created by God and in that sense we are children of God. However the Bible is clear in that while we are in our sin we are also enemies of God. Our nature is to sin, our desire is to be self-serving. The Bible says that none seeks after God, no, not even one! It is through the calling of God that we thirst for Him. Our prayers should be songs of repentance and thankfulness to our God, our Creator, our Savior.

In Him,
Chris

you’re a great theologian bro!

peace