When asked which is more important , God’s love or his holiness, my response is as follows:
God’s holiness is a function of His particular kind of love, in my opinion. Even though he loves steadfastly and unequivocally, because he loves, he also disciplines and that means setting limits on fellowship. When we are unrepentant in sinfulness, he will withhold the joy and intimacy of his fellowship and communion until we repent, confess, and are reconciled to him. Love without discipline is indulgence and does not bring holiness. Discipline without love is a legalistic demand that exacerbates alienation and does not lead to holiness. Disciplined love in accordance with God’s agape love for us demonstrated in Christ or us responding to loving discipline so that we obey God’s will with reverence and gratitude that honors and glorifies his life in us as his children brings about holiness and is the posture of kingdom living. Joyful obedience with a spirit of gratitude is evidence of one’s knowledge of God’s sovereignty and goodness that aligns our desire for holiness with his and embraces both his abundant love and his just and righteous discipline.
In John 1:14 we are told Jesus is the fullness of grace and truth… grace is a gift, an expression of abundant love. Truth is an expression of justice and humility, which arise from discipline. Love and discipline, grace and truth…. these are the two wings that lift us up in holiness to be in God’s presence.