HOLY – HOLINESS

Holiness means to be wholly dedicated and devoted to YHVH, distinct and separate from the world’s way of living, committed to right living and purity. Holiness is the absence of sin, evil, and wrongdoing. It is being spotlessly free from blemish. But holiness is much more than the absence of sin. It is the presence of righteousness, purity, and godliness. When we become believers, YHVH makes us holy by forgiving our sins. He looks at us as though we had never sinned. But while He sees us as holy, we have not perfected holiness. We must still strive each day to be more like Yeshua, more holy. Only when we get to heaven will we be completely holy.

The word holy has several related meanings:

1 -- The Hebrew word for holy means ‘set apart’ or ‘separate’.
2 -- To be without sin, or separate from sin.
3 -- Sacred.
4 -- Believers are said to be holy because they are cleansed by YHVH through the atoning death of the Moshiach.
5 -- One aspect of salvation is sanctification, the ongoing development of holiness in the life of the believer.

The expression “holier than thou” is disdainfully said about people who seem to flaunt their goodness, or “holiness.”

HOLINESS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

In the Old Testament, “holiness” when applied to YHVH refers to his rule over the Creation and to the moral perfection of His Character. YHVH is holy in that He is utterly distinct from His creation and exercises sovereign majesty and power over it. His holiness is a major theme in the Psalms {Psalm 47:8} and the Prophets {Ezekiel 39:7}, where “holiness” emerges as a synonym for Israel’s YHVH. Scripture assigns to YHVH the titles, “Holy” {Isaiah 57:15}, “Holy One” {Job 6:10; Isaiah 43:15}, and “Holy One of Israel” {Psalm 89:18; Isaiah 60:14{. In the Old Testament YHVH’s holiness means that our Adonai is separate from all that is evil and defiled {Job 34:10}. His holy character is the standard of absolute moral perfection {Isaiah 5:16}. YHVH’s holiness -- His transcendent majesty and the purity of His Character -- are skilfully balanced in {Psalm 99}. Verses 1-3 portray YHVH’s distance from earthly things, and verses 4 and 5 emphasize His separation from sin and evil. In the Old Testament YHVH demanded holiness in the lives of His people. Through Moses, YHVH said to Israel, “You shall be holy; for I Adonai your YHVH am holy” {Leviticus 19:2}. The holiness described in the Old Testament had two meanings:

1. External, or ceremonial
2. Internal, or moral and spiritual

Old Testament ceremonial holiness, described in the Torah included rituals of dedication to YHVH’s service. Thus, priests and Levites were sanctified by a complex ritual {Exodus 29:1}, as were the Hebrew Nazirites {Numbers 6:1-21}. Prophets like Elisha {2 Kings 4:9} and Jeremiah {Jeremiah 1:5} were also sanctified for a special prophetic ministry in Israel. But the Old Testament also draws attention to the inner, moral, and spiritual aspects of holiness. Men and women, created in the image of YHVH, are called to cultivate the holiness of YHVH’s Character in their own lives {Leviticus 19:2}. In the New Testament the ceremonial holiness prominent in the Torah moves to the background. Much of Judaism in Yeshua’s time sought a ceremonial holiness by works {Mark 7:1-5}, so the New Testament stresses the ethical rather than the external dimension of holiness {Mark 7:6-12}. With the coming of the Holy Spirit, the early church perceived that holiness of life was a profound internal reality that should govern an individual’s thought and attitudes in relation to persons and objects in the external world.

HOLINESS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

The New Testament Greek equivalent of the common Hebrew word for holiness signifies an inner state of freedom from moral fault and a relative harmony with the moral perfection of YHVH. The word “Godlikeness” or “Godliness” captures the sense of the primary Greek word for holiness. There is another Greek word that describes the dominant Old Testament concept of holiness as external separation from the world and dedication to the service of Adonai. Because the New Testament writers assumed the Old Testament portrait of deity, holiness is ascribed to YHVH in relatively few of their texts. Yeshua affirmed the ethical nature of YHVH when He taught His disciples to pray that the Father’s Name might be esteemed for what it is, “Hallowed be Thy Name” {Matthew 6:9}. In the book of Revelation, the Father’s moral perfection is described with the threefold ascription of holiness borrowed from Isaiah: “Holy, holy, holy, is Adonai YHVH Almighty, Who was and is and is to come” {Revelation 4:8}. Luke however, contemplated YHVH’s holiness in terms of the dominant Old Testament concept of His transcendence and majesty {Luke 1:49}. In the same way the holiness of Yeshua Moshiach is asserted in the New Testament. Luke {Luke 1:35; Luke 4:34}, Peter {Acts 3:14}, the writer of Hebrews {Hebrews 7:26}, and John {Revelation 3:7} ascribe holiness to both the Father and the Son. Since the Spirit comes from YHVH and is the instrument of YHVH’s holy purposes in the world, He also is absolutely holy {Matthew 1:18; Matthew 3:16}. The common title “Holy Spirit” underscores the ethical perfection of the third person of the Trinity {John 3:5-8; John 14:16-17}. In the New Testament, holiness also characterizes the Moshiach’s church. The apostle Paul taught that the Moshiach loved the church and died for it “that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word” {Ephesians 5:26}. Peter addressed the church as a holy people in language borrowed from the Old Testament. Separated from the unbelieving nations and consecrated to Adonai, the church is “a holy nation” {1 Peter 2:9}. The New Testament most often discusses holiness in relation to individual believers. Believers in the Moshiach are frequently designated as “saints,” literally meaning “holy ones,” since through faith YHVH justifies sinners, pronouncing them “holy” in His sight. A justified sinner is by no means morally perfect, but YHVH does declare believers to be guiltless. Thus, although believers at Corinth, for example, were plagued with numerous sins, Paul could address his erring friends as those who were “sanctified in our Moshiach Yeshua, called to be saints” {1 Corinthians 1:2}. Despite their problems, the Corinthian believers were “holy ones” in the Moshiach. The New Testament however, places great stress upon the reality of practical holiness in the believer’s daily experience. The YHVH Who freely declares a person righteous through faith in the Moshiach commands that the believer progress in holiness of life. In YHVH’s plan, a growth in holiness should accompany believing. YHVH graciously provides the spiritual resources to enable believers to be “partakers of the divine nature” {2 Peter 1:4}.

YHVH’S HOLINESS IS BEYOND COMPARISON.

“Now you must be holy in everything you do, just as YHVH -- Who chose you to be His children -- is holy”. {1 Peter 1:15} The YHVH of Israel and of the believer’s church is holy -- he sets the standard for morality. Unlike the Roman gods, He is not warlike, adulterous, or spiteful. Unlike the gods of the pagan cults popular in the first century, He is not bloodthirsty or promiscuous. He is a YHVH of mercy and justice who cares personally for each of His followers. Our holy YHVH expects us to imitate Him by following His high moral standards. Like Him, we should be both merciful and just; like Him, we should sacrifice ourself for others.

YHVH’S HOLINESS IS OUR STANDARD FOR HOLY LIVING.

After people commit their lives to the Moshiach, they usually still feel a pull back to their old ways. Peter tells us to be like our heavenly Father -- holy in everything we do. Holiness means being totally devoted or dedicated to YHVH, set aside for His special use, and set apart from sin and its influence. We are to be set apart and different, not blending in with the crowd, yet not being different just for the sake of being different. What makes us different is having YHVH’s qualities in our life. Our focus and priorities must be His. All this is in direct contrast to our old ways {1:14}. We cannot become holy on our own, but YHVH gives us His Holy Spirit to help us obey and to give us power to overcome sin. Don’t use the excuse that you can’t help slipping into sin. Call on YHVH’s power to free you from sin’s grip.

YHVH CANNOT BE KNOWN APART FROM HIS HOLINESS.

“Your royal decrees cannot be changed. The nature of your reign, O ADONAI, is holiness forever.” {Psalm 93:5} The key to YHVH’s eternal reign is His holiness. YHVH’s glory is not only His strength but also His perfect moral Character. YHVH will never do anything that is not morally perfect. This reassures us that we can trust Him, yet it places a demand on us. Our desire to be holy [dedicated to YHVH and morally clean] is our only suitable response. We must never use unholy means to reach a holy goal, because YHVH says, “You must be holy because I, Adonai your YHVH, am holy” {Leviticus 19:2}.

YHVH’S HOLINESS CANNOT TOLERATE SIN.

“There is a problem -- your sins have cut you off from YHVH. Because of your sin, He has turned away and will not listen anymore.” {Isaiah 59:2} Sin offends our holy YHVH and separates us from Him. Because YHVH is holy, He cannot ignore, excuse, or tolerate sin as though it didn’t matter. Sin cuts people off from Him, forming a wall to isolate YHVH from the people He loves. No wonder this long list of wretched sins makes YHVH angry and forces Him to look the other way. People who die with their life of sin unforgiven separate themselves eternally from YHVH. YHVH wants them to live with Him forever, but He cannot take them into His holy presence unless their sin is removed. Have you confessed your sin to YHVH, allowing Him to remove it? Adonai can save you if you turn to Him.

YHVH’S HOLINESS WILL EVENTUALLY BE RECOGNIZED BY ALL CREATION.

“Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is Adonai YHVH Almighty -- the One Who always was, Who is, and Who is still to come.” {Revelation 4:8} Just as the Holy Spirit is seen symbolically in the seven lighted lamps, so the “living beings” represent the attributes [the qualities and Character] of YHVH. These creatures were not real animals. Like the cherubim [the highest order of the angels], they guard YHVH’s throne, lead others in worship, and proclaim YHVH’s holiness. YHVH’s attributes symbolized in the animal-like appearance of these four creatures are majesty and power [the lion], faithfulness [the ox], intelligence [the man], and sovereignty [the eagle]. The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel saw four similar creatures in one of his visions {Ezekiel 1:5-10}. The point of this chapter is summed up in this verse: All creatures in heaven and earth will praise and honour YHVH because He is the Creator and Sustainer of everything.

HOLINESS IS A GIFT OF YHVH’S GRACE.

“Now if you will obey Me and keep My Covenant, you will be My own special treasure from among all the nations of the earth; for all the earth belongs to Me. And you will be to Me a kingdom of priests, My holy nation.” {Exodus 19:5-6} Why did YHVH choose Israel as His nation? YHVH knew that no nation on earth was good enough to deserve to be called His people, His “own little flock.” He chose Israel, not because of anything they had done, but in His love and mercy He chose Israel in spite of the wrong the nation had done and would do. Why did He want to have a special nation on earth? To represent His way of life, to teach His Word, and to be an agent of salvation to the world. “All the nations of the earth” would be blessed through Abraham’s descendants {Genesis 18:18}. Gentiles and kings would come to Adonai through Israel, predicted Isaiah {Isaiah 60:3}. Through the nation of Israel, the Moshiach, YHVH’s chosen Son, would be born. YHVH chose one nation and put it through a rigorous training program, so that one day it could be a channel for His blessings to the whole world.

HOLINESS REQUIRES COVENANT FAITHFULNESS.

In {Genesis 15 and 17}, YHVH made a Covenant with Abraham, promising to make his descendants into a great nation. Now that promise was being realized as YHVH restated His agreement with the Israelite nation, the descendants of Abraham. YHVH promised to bless and care for them. The people promised to obey Him. The Covenant was thus sealed. But the good intentions of the people quickly wore off. Have you made a commitment to YHVH? How are you holding up your end of the bargain?

HOLINESS COMES FROM WHOLEHEARTED OBEDIENCE TO YHVH.

“All those whose names are written down, who have survived the destruction of Jerusalem, will be a holy people.” {Isaiah 4:3} The “branch of Adonai” probably refers to the Moshiach, although some believe it refers to Judah. The point is that during the distress predicted by Isaiah, some people will be protected by YHVH’s loving grace. Those protected will be set apart to YHVH when the Moshiach rules the earth {Jeremiah 23:5-6; Zechariah 6:12-13}. Their distinctive mark will be their holiness, not wealth or prestige. This holiness comes from a sincere desire to obey YHVH and from wholehearted devotion to Him. Evil will not always continue as it does now. YHVH will put an end to all evil, and His faithful followers will share in His glorious reign.

HOLINESS GROWS IN RESPONSE TO YHVH’S WORD.

“Make them pure and holy by teaching them Your Words of truth.” {John 17:17} A follower of the Moshiach becomes sanctified [set apart for sacred use, cleansed, and made holy] through believing and obeying the Word of YHVH {Hebrews 4:12}. He or she has already accepted forgiveness through the Moshiach’s sacrificial death {Hebrews 7:26-27}. But daily application of YHVH’s Word has a purifying effect on our minds and hearts. Scripture points out sin, motivates us to confess our sins, renews our relationship with the Moshiach, and guides us back to the right path.

WE ARE TO BE HOLY IN THE MIDST OF AN EVIL WORLD.

Yeshua didn’t ask YHVH to take believers out of the world but instead to use them in the world. Because Yeshua sends us into the world, we should not try to escape from the world, nor should we avoid all relationships with non-believers. We are called to be salt and light {Matthew 5:13-16}, and we are to do the work that YHVH sent us to do. Yeshua prayed for all who would follow Him, including you and others you know. He prayed for unity {17:11}, protection from the evil one {17:15}, and sanctity [holiness] {17:17}. Knowing that Yeshua prayed for us should give us confidence as we work for His Kingdom.