"Be Ye holy, for I AM Holy" (Lev 19:2) What does that mean for us?

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Ben Abraham

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Leviticus 19:2 "BE YE HOLY FOR I, THE LORD YOUR GOD AM HOLY"

To take an original look at this verse, we need to go back to the Hebrew, which reads;

"Kad_shim ti-heyu Ki Kadosh Ani YHVH Eloheikhem"

This is Adonai's command to the Children of Israel during their time in the wilderness. It is a strong statement, yet it also is a message and a command to us all. We are all commanded to be HOLY because our LORD and God is HOLY.

But what does it mean to be HOLY? The word Holy means "set apart" for a certain reason, the reason being to serve our LORD and God while we are on this planet called earth. Yet firstly, to come into a personal relationship with Adonai through Yeshua/Jesus. From this point, we are commanded to be HOLY, set apart to study his WORD, his TORAH (instructions) and obey them, putting them into action throughout the days of our life.

But, there is a difference between the Holiness of God and the holiness of redeemed mankind. In the original Hebrew, the word "Kadoshim" means "holy ones" (us) yet, it is spelled in the original Hebrew without the "o". The letter "o" in Hebrew is called "Vav" It looks like an upside-down hockey stick looking to the left. But when we see the word "Kadosh" meaning "God's Holiness, it DOES have a VAV. Why the missing "Vav" in our holiness?

Our holiness is incomplete. It is lacking perfection. Adam was created "perfect" being the "Shadow' (Tzelem) of Elohim. Yet when he sinned, the creation was marred, and now, the creation is imperfect. We are born with a sin nature and therefore, our "holiness" is lacking that which God has.

The "Vav" also symbolizes the "nail". Adonai in human form, in the person of Yeshua received the "nails" in his hands and feet. He received the nails in our place. When he lifted himself up as a sacrifice for sin, his holiness was given to us, and our sins given to Him. Yet our holiness can not be complete while on earth, only after we get to Heaven, and in our new bodies can we be beings of perfect holiness. In the meanwhile, we need to live each day perfecting and maturing in our holiness (without the "o') or "h_liness" and become more Christ-like in our daily walk, putting into practice the commandments that YHVH left us.

The word "will be" or "be" in the Hebrew is "ti-heyu" it is very interesting that the spelling in Hebrew has 4 letters. "Tav" "Hey" ""Yod" and "Vav"
Each letter has symbolism. The "Tav" symbolizes "Covenant" the "Hey" symbolizes "revelation" the "Yod" = hand, and the "Vav" = nail. The infallible name of God has the letters Yod, Hey, and Vav, and the "Tav" is the covenant.

What might this tell us? That Adonai wants us to be like HIM, yet He was the one who fulfilled the covenant with his own blood. We are given His holiness through our faith and through the blood of Yeshua. So, "Ti-heyu" can tell us; "Revealed is the covenant of the hand which received the nail"
Even though our "holiness" is still full of "holes" Adonai looks upon us as if we had never sinned, being imputed His righteousness.

Also, the word "Eloheikhem" means the "God of all of you." Sometimes, the word "Eloheikha" is used meaning "Your God" in which Adonai is speaking to the nation of Israel as ONE unity. Together as ONE. Here, the word "Eloheikhem" means the "God of all of you individually" In Texan it would be "Ya'all"

What can we understand by this? God is saying that each and every one of us is responsible for his or her holiness. It is an individual relationship that we have before our creator God. We will each be judged separately. My holiness is different from your holiness. It might be more or less. We each have our own individual spiritual maturity in the faith, which, is our "k_desh"

So, let us grow in our holiness, in our spiritual maturity, that is our goal to be more Christ-like. As our days progress, may our "holiness" have fewer "holes" until when we get to the World to Come, when there will not be ANY holes.

Shalom


Ben Avraham

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Robert Gwin

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Leviticus 19:2 "BE YE HOLY FOR I, THE LORD YOUR GOD AM HOLY"

To take an original look at this verse, we need to go back to the Hebrew, which reads;

"Kad_shim ti-heyu Ki Kadosh Ani YHVH Eloheikhem"

This is Adonai's command to the Children of Israel during their time in the wilderness. It is a strong statement, yet it also is a message and a command to us all. We are all commanded to be HOLY because our LORD and God is HOLY.

But what does it mean to be HOLY? The word Holy means "set apart" for a certain reason, the reason being to serve our LORD and God while we are on this planet called earth. Yet firstly, to come into a personal relationship with Adonai through Yeshua/Jesus. From this point, we are commanded to be HOLY, set apart to study his WORD, his TORAH (instructions) and obey them, putting them into action throughout the days of our life.

But, there is a difference between the Holiness of God and the holiness of redeemed mankind. In the original Hebrew, the word "Kadoshim" means "holy ones" (us) yet, it is spelled in the original Hebrew without the "o". The letter "o" in Hebrew is called "Vav" It looks like an upside-down hockey stick looking to the left. But when we see the word "Kadosh" meaning "God's Holiness, it DOES have a VAV. Why the missing "Vav" in our holiness?

Our holiness is incomplete. It is lacking perfection. Adam was created "perfect" being the "Shadow' (Tzelem) of Elohim. Yet when he sinned, the creation was marred, and now, the creation is imperfect. We are born with a sin nature and therefore, our "holiness" is lacking that which God has.

The "Vav" also symbolizes the "nail". Adonai in human form, in the person of Yeshua received the "nails" in his hands and feet. He received the nails in our place. When he lifted himself up as a sacrifice for sin, his holiness was given to us, and our sins given to Him. Yet our holiness can not be complete while on earth, only after we get to Heaven, and in our new bodies can we be beings of perfect holiness. In the meanwhile, we need to live each day perfecting and maturing in our holiness (without the "o') or "h_liness" and become more Christ-like in our daily walk, putting into practice the commandments that YHVH left us.

The word "will be" or "be" in the Hebrew is "ti-heyu" it is very interesting that the spelling in Hebrew has 4 letters. "Tav" "Hey" ""Yod" and "Vav"
Each letter has symbolism. The "Tav" symbolizes "Covenant" the "Hey" symbolizes "revelation" the "Yod" = hand, and the "Vav" = nail. The infallible name of God has the letters Yod, Hey, and Vav, and the "Tav" is the covenant.

What might this tell us? That Adonai wants us to be like HIM, yet He was the one who fulfilled the covenant with his own blood. We are given His holiness through our faith and through the blood of Yeshua. So, "Ti-heyu" can tell us; "Revealed is the covenant of the hand which received the nail"
Even though our "holiness" is still full of "holes" Adonai looks upon us as if we had never sinned, being imputed His righteousness.

Also, the word "Eloheikhem" means the "God of all of you." Sometimes, the word "Eloheikha" is used meaning "Your God" in which Adonai is speaking to the nation of Israel as ONE unity. Together as ONE. Here, the word "Eloheikhem" means the "God of all of you individually" In Texan it would be "Ya'all"

What can we understand by this? God is saying that each and every one of us is responsible for his or her holiness. It is an individual relationship that we have before our creator God. We will each be judged separately. My holiness is different from your holiness. It might be more or less. We each have our own individual spiritual maturity in the faith, which, is our "k_desh"

So, let us grow in our holiness, in our spiritual maturity, that is our goal to be more Christ-like. As our days progress, may our "holiness" have fewer "holes" until when we get to the World to Come, when there will not be ANY holes.

Shalom


Ben Avraham

May our light shine forth so that the LORD be reflected always View attachment 22369

It means to do your best in emulating Jesus, who is the Chief agent of our faith sir.
 

TLHKAJ

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Thank you for this post. You have stated in detail what my heart has come to understand, and that is that we are "holy" or "perfect" ...as He is holy/perfect. This happens, not because of anything we can accomplish in ourselves or in our flesh, but by faith in Jesus' finished work on the cross.
Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness. We who believe on Jesus, the Son of God, are the children of Abraham. Through faith in Christ, we are clothed in His righteousness. :)
 
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Episkopos

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Leviticus 19:2 "BE YE HOLY FOR I, THE LORD YOUR GOD AM HOLY"

To take an original look at this verse, we need to go back to the Hebrew, which reads;

"Kad_shim ti-heyu Ki Kadosh Ani YHVH Eloheikhem"

This is Adonai's command to the Children of Israel during their time in the wilderness. It is a strong statement, yet it also is a message and a command to us all. We are all commanded to be HOLY because our LORD and God is HOLY.

But what does it mean to be HOLY? The word Holy means "set apart" for a certain reason, the reason being to serve our LORD and God while we are on this planet called earth. Yet firstly, to come into a personal relationship with Adonai through Yeshua/Jesus. From this point, we are commanded to be HOLY, set apart to study his WORD, his TORAH (instructions) and obey them, putting them into action throughout the days of our life.

Old Testament holiness is NOT the same as New Testament holiness. To think so is a big error among the Messianics of our time.

Look at this verse.

"For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness." Heb. 12:10

In the OT we see human righteousness and holiness based on a conformity to outward laws. In the NT those laws are inward by the power of the Spirit. So then we go from a personal righteousness and ceremonial holiness to taking on as a covering God's righteousness and holiness. Christ has become such for us.

"But it is due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption," 1 Cor. 1:30
But, there is a difference between the Holiness of God and the holiness of redeemed mankind. In the original Hebrew, the word "Kadoshim" means "holy ones" (us) yet, it is spelled in the original Hebrew without the "o". The letter "o" in Hebrew is called "Vav" It looks like an upside-down hockey stick looking to the left. But when we see the word "Kadosh" meaning "God's Holiness, it DOES have a VAV. Why the missing "Vav" in our holiness?

Our holiness is incomplete. It is lacking perfection. Adam was created "perfect" being the "Shadow' (Tzelem) of Elohim. Yet when he sinned, the creation was marred, and now, the creation is imperfect. We are born with a sin nature and therefore, our "holiness" is lacking that which God has.

This is false. It is based on an OT understanding of holiness and it denigrates the work of Christ in His Church.

In Christ we are as He is...exactly. As He IS so are we in this world. The reason why people don't know this is because they have not yet entered INTO Christ. A mere religious acceptance does not provide the grace to walk as Jesus walked. Being Jewish and then "accepting Jesus" is what has led Messianic Christianity to be WORSE for it...not better. It is better to not know the Torah than to misuse it to reduce Christianity to the level of Judaism.

Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. That is the NT standard. When we put on Christ we put on HIS perfection. He is our righteousness and our holiness. Now, unless you believe Jesus was just a man and also had an imperfect holiness????? To be Christian (and not just Jewish) is to see Jesus as He is...the very image of God.

The "Vav" also symbolizes the "nail". Adonai in human form, in the person of Yeshua received the "nails" in his hands and feet. He received the nails in our place. When he lifted himself up as a sacrifice for sin, his holiness was given to us, and our sins given to Him. Yet our holiness can not be complete while on earth, only after we get to Heaven, and in our new bodies can we be beings of perfect holiness. In the meanwhile, we need to live each day perfecting and maturing in our holiness (without the "o') or "h_liness" and become more Christ-like in our daily walk, putting into practice the commandments that YHVH left us.

The word "will be" or "be" in the Hebrew is "ti-heyu" it is very interesting that the spelling in Hebrew has 4 letters. "Tav" "Hey" ""Yod" and "Vav"
Each letter has symbolism. The "Tav" symbolizes "Covenant" the "Hey" symbolizes "revelation" the "Yod" = hand, and the "Vav" = nail. The infallible name of God has the letters Yod, Hey, and Vav, and the "Tav" is the covenant.

What might this tell us? That Adonai wants us to be like HIM, yet He was the one who fulfilled the covenant with his own blood. We are given His holiness through our faith and through the blood of Yeshua. So, "Ti-heyu" can tell us; "Revealed is the covenant of the hand which received the nail"
Even though our "holiness" is still full of "holes" Adonai looks upon us as if we had never sinned, being imputed His righteousness.
Our holiness? There is no such thing. We are instantly holy when we enter INTO Christ. Humans can't fly. But when we enter INTO an aircraft that is designed to overcome the force of gravity...then we CAN fly. The same goes for those who enter into Christ. In Him is no sin. In Him we walk above and beyond (EL AL) the pull of this world. When we are crucified in the outer man we are no longer drawn into sin.

What is full of holes is our character...not holiness. Here you combine 2 errors into one big error. Imputed righteousness only works in the OT context...of granting that a human is righteous ....as a human. Human righteousness is real...but it is an OT standard. You can't bring imputation into the New Covenant...because God's righteousness is NEVER our own. We are COVERED by God's righteousness as we abide in Him. God's righteousness COVERS us when we enter into Christ.
The saints put on Christ as a garment...or covering. Paul says...PUT ON Christ. When we put on Christ we enter into His perfect walk...being holy as God is holy. There is no need for a make-believe righteousness. The grace of Christ is REAL.

The Bible speaks of outer coverings as clothing. In Hebrew, the word for an outer garment, salma שלמה, uses the same letters and in the same order as the word for completion or perfection shlemah שלמה. We are not only to contain the life of Christ within us, but also to be clothed with Christ as an outer garment.

Also, the word "Eloheikhem" means the "God of all of you." Sometimes, the word "Eloheikha" is used meaning "Your God" in which Adonai is speaking to the nation of Israel as ONE unity. Together as ONE. Here, the word "Eloheikhem" means the "God of all of you individually" In Texan it would be "Ya'all"

What can we understand by this? God is saying that each and every one of us is responsible for his or her holiness. It is an individual relationship that we have before our creator God. We will each be judged separately. My holiness is different from your holiness. It might be more or less. We each have our own individual spiritual maturity in the faith, which, is our "k_desh"
Again this is wrong. You are confusing purity (sinlessness) with the maturity it takes to remain in a holy place. That holiness is NEVER our own. That is a Jewish fable. It is a carry-over from ceremonial holiness under the law of Moses.
So, let us grow in our holiness, in our spiritual maturity, that is our goal to be more Christ-like. As our days progress, may our "holiness" have fewer "holes" until when we get to the World to Come, when there will not be ANY holes.

Shalom


Ben Avraham

May our light shine forth so that the LORD be reflected always View attachment 22369

Nobody grows in their own holiness. We grow into the likeness of Christ in our character as we walk in His holiness. We don't grow INTO holiness but we do grow in Christ-like character (spiritual maturity) when we walk in HIS holiness.

I agree with the last statement! :)

I think your heart is in the right place, but your conditioning has led you to fully miss the power of the gospel. You can't mix testaments into one jumble that fulfills neither one. It's apples and oranges. I hope you consider what I'm saying.
 
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TLHKAJ

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I think your heart is in the right place, but your conditioning has led you to fully miss the power of the gospel. You can't mix testaments into one jumble that fulfills neither one. It's apples and oranges. I hope you consider what I'm saying.
I agree with your post. For some reason, I read the OP as the OT pointing to the NT ...fulfilled in Christ. Perhaps I should re-read it. (It was early and I woke with a headache. lol)
 
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stunnedbygrace

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I can understand saying something or someone is “holy to the Lord” means being set aside for Gods use and ONLY for Gods use. I can even understand saying someone is becoming more and more “holy to the Lord,” or more and more set aside for His use.

And I can understand that holy means without sin, not even a pinch of sin. No sin at all. There is only one holy.

But once any talk starts of a man being more or less holy in varying degrees based on how little or more he sins, to me, the concept of holy has been profaned and seriously misunderstood.