Relationship Between God's Holiness, Goodness, and Sovereignty

God's holiness, goodness, and sovereignty are distinct yet interconnected attributes of His divine character, each profoundly influencing the others. Holiness, in its highest sense, belongs to God alone (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 15:4) ^[1]. It signifies His infinite rectitude and perfection, meaning He is what He should be and acts in every way that becomes Him, with nothing lacking or amiss in His nature ^[14]. This holiness is the standard for humanity, with believers called to be holy as God is holy (Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16) ^[8].

God's goodness is a perfection of His character that He extends to His creatures in various ways ^[3]. Generally, it is benevolence, but it also manifests as mercy, pity, and compassion towards those in misery, and long-suffering patience towards impenitent sinners ^[3]. When God communicates favor to the unworthy, His goodness is called grace ^[3]. The psalmist declares, "The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in loving kindness. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made" (Psalm 145:8-9) ^[3]. This goodness is not separate from His justice; rather, they are seen as different aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection ^[3].

Sovereignty refers to God's absolute right to do all things according to His own good pleasure (Daniel 4:25, 35; Romans 9:15-23; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 4:11) ^[2]. This means that all greatness, power, glory, victory, and majesty belong to Him, and everything in heaven and on earth is His ^{[13, 15]}. God's sovereignty is not arbitrary but is always exercised in perfect alignment with His holy and good nature. The question "Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?" (Job 8:3) highlights the inherent connection between His power and His moral character ^[5]. Similarly, the rhetorical question "Can a human being be more righteous than God, or can a man be more pure than his Maker?" (Job 4:17) underscores that God's actions are always righteous and pure ^[7].

The interplay of these attributes is evident in theological concepts such as election. The election of individuals to eternal life (2 Thessalonians 2:13; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:2) is grounded in the "good pleasure of God" (Ephesians 1:5, 11), demonstrating His sovereign will ^[9]. However, this sovereign choice is not divorced from His goodness or holiness. For instance, God's faithfulness and mercy are with Christ, fulfilling promises made to Him and His people ^[12]. Christ Himself is described as loving righteousness and hating iniquity (Hebrews 1:9), reflecting God's own character ^{[6, 16]}. This means that God's sovereign decisions are always righteous and never unjust ^[14].

The beauty of the church, for example, is seen as lying in the righteousness of Christ, the holiness reckoned to her, and the graces of the Spirit implanted within her, all of which are gifts from God ^[11]. This beauty is not natural or acquired by human effort but is given by God, reflecting His goodness and holiness ^[11]. The concept of "godliness," which encompasses the whole of practical piety, involves knowledge, veneration, affection, dependence, submission, gratitude, and obedience to God ^[4]. The "mystery of godliness" is great, revealing God in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, and believed on in the world (1 Timothy 3:16) ^[10]. This demonstrates how God's holy and good character is revealed through His sovereign plan of salvation.

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Holiness — In the highest sense belongs to God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Rom. 6:19, 22; Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:23, 24). (See [280]SANCTIFICATION.)”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sovereignty — Of God, his absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure (Dan. 4:25, 35; Rom. 9:15-23; 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 4:11).”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Goodness of God — A perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations (Ps. 145:8, 9; 103:8; 1 John 4:8). Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favour on the unworthy it is grace. "Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection. God is not sometimes ”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Godliness — The whole of practical piety (1 Tim. 4:8; 2 Pet. 1:6). "It supposes knowledge, veneration, affection, dependence, submission, gratitude, and obedience." In 1 Tim. 3:16 it denotes the substance of revealed religion.”
Job “Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness? -- Job 8:3”
Hebrews “You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.” -- Hebrews 1:9”
Job “Job 4:17 (LEB) — ‘Can a human being be more righteous than God, or can a man be more pure than his Maker?”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holiness — Commanded -- Le 11:45; 20:7; Eph 5:8; Col 3:12; Ro 12:1. Christ Desires for his people. -- Joh 17:17. Effects, in his people. -- Eph 5:25-27. An example of. -- Heb 7:26; 1Pe 2:21,22. The character of God, the standard of -- Le 19:2; 1Pe 1:15,16; Eph 5:1. The character of Christ, the standard of -- Ro 8:29; 1Jo 2:6; Php 2:5. The gospel the way of -- Isa 35:8. Necessary to God's worship -- Ps 24:3,4. None shall see God without -- Eph 5:5; Heb 12:14. Saints Elected to. -- Ro 8:29; Eph 1:4. Called to. -- 1Th 4:7; 2Ti 1:9. New created in. -- Eph 4:24. Possess. ”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Election of Grace — The Scripture speaks (1) of the election of individuals to office or to honour and privilege, e.g., Abraham, Jacob, Saul, David, Solomon, were all chosen by God for the positions they held; so also were the apostles. (2) There is also an election of nations to special privileges, e.g., the Hebrews (Deut. 7:6; Rom. 9:4). (3) But in addition there is an election of individuals to eternal life (2 Thess. 2:13; Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:2; John 13:18). The ground of this election to salvation is the good pleasure of God (Eph. 1:5, 11; Matt. 11:25, 26; John 15”
1 Timothy “Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory. -- 1 Timothy 3:16”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 45:11: So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty,.... Which lies in the comeliness or righteousness of Christ put upon her; in the holiness of Christ reckoned to her; in being washed from all sin in the blood of Christ; in the graces of the Spirit being implanted in her, in which the beauty of holiness lies; in the salvation she is interested in, and beautified with; in enjoying the order and ordinance of Christ's house, and in having the presence of God and Christ with her: and this beauty is not natural, nor acquired by her, but what is given her; it is not an outward, ”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 89:23: But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,.... The "faithfulness" of God was and is with Christ, in performing promises made to him respecting his work, and strength to do it, as man, and the glory that should follow; and also those made to his people in him, relating to grace here, and happiness hereafter: and though there was no "mercy" shown to Christ, as the surety of his people, but he was dealt with in strict justice; yet, as Mediator of the covenant, the special mercy of God is with him, even every blessing of it, called "the sure mercies of David"; a”
1 Chronicles (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Chronicles 29:11: Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty,.... That is, either God is possessed of all greatness and immensity, of dignity of nature, and of all perfections; of almighty power, of excellent glory, of superiority to all beings and of honour, and majesty, and all that grandeur, might, and honour in men, and victory over others; the majestic appearance they make, and exaltation above others they have, are all of God: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; they are both made by him, and all t”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:137: Here is, 1. The righteousness of God, the infinite rectitude and perfection of his nature. As he is what he is, so he is what he should be, and in every thing acts as becomes him; there is nothing wanting, nothing amiss, in God; his will is the eternal rule of equity, and he is righteous, for he does all according to it. 2. The righteousness of his government. He rules the world by his providence, according to the principles of justice, and never did, nor ever can do, any wrong to any of his creatures: Upright are thy judgments, the promises and threatenings an”
1 Chronicles (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 1 Chronicles 29:11: Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty,.... That is, either God is possessed of all greatness and immensity, of dignity of nature, and of all perfections; of almighty power, of excellent glory, of superiority to all beings and of honour, and majesty, and all that grandeur, might, and honour in men, and victory over others; the majestic appearance they make, and exaltation above others they have, are all of God: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; they are both made by him, an”
Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 1:9: Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity,.... Christ loves righteous persons and righteous works, faithfulness and integrity, and a just administration of government, everything that is holy, just, and good; which has appeared in the whole course of his life on earth, in working out a righteousness for his people, and in encouraging righteousness in them, which he leads them in the way of; and his love of justice will still more appear at the last day, when he will judge the world in righteousness, and give the crown of righteousness to proper persons: and he”

Ask Your Own Question