Alrighty folks, brace yourself.
Because I’m about to destroy one of the biggest linguistic misperceptions currently floating around in the Hebrew roots Messianic world.
Are you ready?
Okay, here we go.
The Hebrew word KADOSH does NOT really mean “Holy“!
That’s right folks.
You read that right.
What KADOSH or KODESH really means is to be “separated away from” or “to set apart“.
For example, you know how when you’re doing your laundry, you separate the coloreds from the whites.
You’re literally KADOSH-ing the the colored clothing away from the non-colored clothing.
Again, KADOSH just means “to separate away from” or “to set apart” in the plain normal sense of the word.
It is only the context that determines whether the word KADOSH is going to carry a religious or spiritual meaning or not.
And here’s the thing.
When used in a religious sense, the word KADOSH is NOT always used in a positive way.
Something or someone could be KADOSH for destruction just as well as it could be KADOSH for creation, good, or blessings.
And someone or something could be KADOSH for Satan just as well as he, she or it could be KADOSH for God.
It is only when something is KADOSH for God, that it is correct to use the word “Holy“.
Obviously, “holy” is not a Hebrew word and to use it for every instance that KADOSH appears in the Bible is a big mistake.
Remember, when something or someone is KADOSH for God, it means that person or thing has been set aside for service to the Lord.
So understand that the Red Heifer sacrifice, is NOT KADOSH for service to God but rather KADOSH for destruction.
But this destruction will be used to cleanse the impure.
It is a mistake to apply the Christian idea of “HOLINESS” to the Red Heifer sacrifice.
This animal is being set aside for destruction.
Another awesome takeaway we get from all of this (actually this is nothing new as I’ve talked about this many, many times before) is that God uses the act of division and separation to achieve HOLINESS.
Although some would argue that this is Rabbinical and not Biblical, the Kosher laws that call for the separation of meat from dairy is all about HOLINESS.
During religious services at an Orthodox synagogue, the physical separation of the men from the women is also an act of HOLINESS.
However, in marriage, the opposite is true.
The man and woman coming together as ONE FLESH is considered an act of pure HOLINESS.
I’m done.
DARRYL V PERRY says
What resource do you get your creek translations from?
richoka says
Greek? This particular post deals with Hebrew. I use all kinds of resources. Most notably, Alter’s Torah Commentary. You can get it on Kindle.
DARRYL V PERRY says
Thanks for the information. I was talking in general, not on the post I replied to. I would just like to have more study on the creek .
EMMANUEL CHIBUZOR says
GOD BLESS YOU RICHLY
KATHY COFFELT says
*SH🕊LOM*
HOW-EVER, RICHOKA MAY N🛇T KNOW THIS,, BUT
N🛇T IN THE MODERN HEBREW LANGUAGE IT ISN’T FOUND, BECAUSE IT AIN’T “TAUGHT”,, BUT IS “LEFT OUT, N🛇T – HONORED”,. HOW-EVER,, THE OLD, OLD,, ORIGINAL,
*ANCIENT*-*♡F*-*DAYS*
HEBREW-LANGUAGE, AND “WHAT I “M-E-A-N TO SAY”, IS, THAT IT IS EXACTLY
“W-H-A-T” *G♡D* STILL DESIRES TO BE TAUGHT TODAY AND ON THE MORROW, IS ALL ABOUT,👉”*US “BEING *HOLY*-*ONE’S THAT ARE PURPOSELY & COMMITEDLY SET APART FOR “ONLY” *SOVERIGN*-*GOD’S*-*PURPOSE* FOR “TJAT” IS *G♡D’S* PURPISE “FOR” *US, THROUGH, BY, IN *YAH*shua*, AND THE ONLY *WAY* DIRECTLY TO & FOR *F♡THER*-*G♡D*,
👉”P-E-R-I-O-D.👈
Timothy says
Thats is good insight.
Did you also know its forbidden to use the title god to refer to our Elohim?
Many people dont know that god is actually the title of a pagan deity.
YaHuWaH is the name of the most high, and our messiah name is YaHshua,
we are commanded to make His name known, and not to utter the names of other mighty ones, and not to use His name is vain, with empty names that aren’t even Hebrew, there is no deeper meaning, no character, no power in the wrong names. For some reason all the woke people still have their eyes closed,
instead of using a vain pagan empty titles that are forbidden to use
consider using the correct term El, or Elohim instead.
Tbag says
YHWH or Yahuah should be used in place of the word god or lord. But you’re close
Darlene McKnight says
So is what you are saying is that a more accurate translation of the word Kadosh is to Sanctify or to be sanctified?
richoka says
I’m saying what I said in my article. Shalom.
Jeanni says
Thank you! I’ve enjoyed listening to you…and always learning something new…Praise the Lord!
richoka says
Amen Jeanni! Be blessed!
Steve says
I like your comments on “kadosh”.
But your kosher reference to the separation of meat and dairy is misplaced as the repetition of thing does not make it something other than what it was when mentioned the 1st time. A calf shall not be cooked in its mother’s milk…that is all.
Jairo says
Kidush, Kidush, Kidush.Seraphim. repeat…
Kadosh/ kodesh it’s a feminine name and it was used for something that has nothing do with KIDUSH.
Please be advised, the word for Holy is: Kidush.
richoka says
Obviously the same root word. Thanks for sharing.
KATHY COFFELT says
P.S.
AND B.T.W., = BY THE WAY, “*F♡THER*-*G♡D* IS DEFINETILTL N🛇T “RELIGIOUS”! “*AT ALL*”! “*NEVER HAS BEEN, N🛇T EVER WILL BE*”! *HALLELU-*YAH*!!!!!
Anna J Zylstra says
Holy is a Greek abstract thought. Not hebrewor ancient Hebrew.
KENNETH says
THANKS ALOT FOR THAT
Scott Schmitt says
Just found your website. I like what I see so far. Enjoyed your posts on Ephraim.
richoka says
Hi Scott, Glad you enjoyed this article and others. Please share this site with your friends. Be blessed and shalom!
Ray Herrera says
Actually the most Ancient Hebrew writings the Name for Elohim is is AhaYah which literally translate into English as I Am. Messiah’s Name is translated from Hebrew as Yahusha- Sha means savior, Salvation Yah is my Salvation Shua in Hebrew means wealth not Savior, Salvation but in Aramaic Shua means Savior,Salvation so the Hebrew word Yasha means Yah is my Savior. Jesus came in his Father’s name he bears the name of Yah Yahusha or Yahshaya. The name Iesous or Jesus hardly sounds like the Fathers name AhaYah or Yahuwah. Elohim and messiahs name have been mistranslated many times. Our Elohim anx Messiah are Hebrew names anx must not lose their paleo pronunciation or meaning
Gary says
When it says He came in His Fathers Name – this means He is His Fathers perfect character — Messiah is the Word of Elohim literally and the Word was with Elohim and was Elohim… the question is do you His name or His Name ( character ) and know Him and be known by Him
Shaar Peters says
Amen, Gary!!!
Anthony J Brown-Hovelt says
Hi, all very interesting. I suppose the biggest problem here is defining words and translations from Hebrew to Greek to Latin and then into English! The old English word Holy means, healthy, complete uninjured! As in “Hale” a welcome wishing one to be healthy and whole and happy! My understanding of the New Testament was that it should, of course, be read with the prayer book! Much of the original work done in English for the Protestant movement was carried out by men like Bishop Ridley, the Bishop of London, who supported Lady Jane Gray and of course followed her to the scaffold (sadly for him a botched burning) at Oxford; as an example to others to recant! The language and poetry of the prayer book and bible were worked on, after the fall of the Tudors but the material was pretty much written by them! I suppose the issue here is that the Catholic and presumably the Orthodox Churches since they retain a holy and separate enclosed place for the priests to carry out the holiest sacraments away from the congregation. This separation was reinforced by the use of language (Latin and in the Russian church an archaic form of Russian not now understood by modern Russians) and the idea that lay people could read the bible for themselves was anathema to church authorities because then people could question the scriptures without any learning! As for “Your Pastor” not knowing things I would agree but the fundamental difference and the major article of faith for a Protestant is the personal dialogue with God, no need for intercession by the Church or a Minister, on one’s behalf! That being the case the idea of holy in terms of a sacred place is no longer needed to have a dialogue with God! The sacrament is, of course, your body and mind and soul! 3 in one just as God is 3 in one! God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost! God does like things in 3s as the Russians say! you may want to do a piece on things in twos and threes! Not sure about the Torah but if I remember correctly God is divided into 4 in Judaism; Yireh – God provides; Rapha – healing; Niss”i – leadership the Banner to follow as in Exodus;
Shalom – Peace” and Ra-ah – Shepherd” (Psalm 23:1) I have no idea why the Christian church went for 3 although the idea of a shepherd is very much a part of Christianity. 3 in 1 plus then!
Julia Glattfelt says
You wrote: As for “Your Pastor” not knowing things I would agree but the fundamental difference and the major article of faith for a Protestant is the personal dialogue with God, no need for intercession by the Church or a Minister, on one’s behalf!
Why, then, do we learn in the book of Hebrews that Yeshua is now our High Priest? We have a heavenly advocate, speaking on our behalf. That is, I think, why he said, “No one comes to the Father except by me.” He has been given this authority by the Father, and at the end all will be returned to the Father.
Pawel says
Trinity doctrine is pure catholic fantasies, not based on biblical Hebrew faith. Even Jesus believed the one Elohim. New Testament was heavily edited by catholic scribes (famous J1 was wholly made up).
Daniel says
ELOHIM is plural for GOD. Meaning Father Son and Holy Spirit!!! Jesus(Yahoshua) is ELOHIM
Robert Moore says
You may wish to research the term ‘malakh YHVH’ or ‘Angel of YHVH’ a term used 100 times in the Bible….
And notice the words spoke… “I ….” thus speaking as though this is God in person.
So we have Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and Malakh YHVH….
…. and try to use exogesis rather than isogesis.
Carlene says
I agree with you. Trinity is not biblical. It is was edited by the catholics. The scripture said in Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: Yahweh our Elohim is one. This one in Hebrew is ECHAD, WHICH MEAN ONLY ONE. Israel was coming from a polytistic nation where they worship many different deity and he was teaching them that he’s not like the nation deitys. He Yahweh is one. And they should not wirship him like the nation do their deitys. However, the catholic have done violent to the scripture by adding this error of trinity leading people into idolatry unknowingly.
Evgeny melechson says
The holy Trinity is an established church Doctrine by the early church fathers Who were commissioned by the apostles themselves verified by early church creeds is hat affirmed the “holy trinity”this is why the “Shema” ( Deuteronomy 6:4) mentions God’s name three times and says that he is one= Echad. And Why the Angels in Isaiah ch. 6 said “ Holy, holy holy…(3 times) not 4 times .. is Yehovah of hosts.”
Rabbi Gavriel says
Good teaching. As a Hebrew teacher, I must add that the Hebrew word “Kadosh” acts as the adjective “set-apart/separated”.
When we read “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh” we read the adjective form of the word. What then does the word “kodesh” mean that we and Paul use for Holy Spirit/ ru’ach HaKodesh”?
Kodesh is actually what is called in grammar a substantive adjective, or an adjective which is used as a noun. We use many of these as circumlocutions to address HaShem, such as “the Almighty”, the One”, “The Merciful One etc…. As such, the word kodesh means “the Holy One”. The two nouns, spirit and the Holy One make a contraction in Hebrew which equals to: The Spirit of the Holy One.”
richoka says
Thank you for sharing Rabbi Gavriel.
DR BAGHDADY says
The most sensible answer of all “the spirit of the wholly one”. Extrapolated from Angelic praise by savaoot. The Greek ward kydos have a different concept.
Lg says
After huge amount of study I have come to conclusion that Kadosh->Hagios means special. Separated apart and because of that special. So not just separated apart but the end result of separated apart is being special, different.
Some guy was taken in heaven and said that there were angels going around God and when they came around, they looked to Gid and were excited, amazed and said Holy,holy.. going around again speaking Holy,holy.. again..
Why would they be excited about God being separated? But every time they looked to God, I think they saw something so (separated apart and therefore so) special, so different, so kadosh, that they couldn’t help thrmselves but run around and cry: so special, so different, so kadosh…
He is the beginning and the end. He is kadosh. He is special, different from everything. Allways the same yet we are discovering aspects of his kadosh, specialness, differentness.
Eben says
Please, am I permitted to copy and share this with people???
This is a great insight?
richoka says
Of course Eben. Please feel free to share.
Chad says
‘Not sure why this is revelation to anyone as the word HOLY means to set apart or separate for special intent… That appears to be what he is saying here but what is the surprise? I’m not meaning to cause strife or anything here but doesn’t everyone under’stand Holy as “Set apart”?
I’m reading that Kadosh doesn’t really mean “set apart” …it means ” set apart”..
Can someone help me understand this??
Tess says
Lol ! Agreed
Gilbert Harolds says
I was prompted to research on the meaning of the word ‘Kadosh’ after listening to one of my now favourite songs-‘Kadosh’. Great Song though. Thank you to all contributors. I have understood the meaning considering all the various perspectives put forth here. God Bless you all.
Laura says
As a Hebrew Teacher, I must say No, no, no you cannot “kadosh” your laundry! Chad is correct, it does mean to set apart. Kadosh also means to “set aside and elevated.” Unless you are setting aside a set of clothing for prescribed and specifically holy purposes, that word doesn’t work in this scenario at all. Also, kiddush is most definitely related. It is the ceremony which sanctifies Shabbat.
richoka says
Laura, something can be KADOSH for BOTH holy purposes and even evil purposes. Hence, in its most simplistic sense KADOSH just means “to separate”. Sorry but I’m gonna stand by what I wrote here. Shalom.
Anna Dove says
Hi Richoka
Perhaps the word really has important significance to the Israelites, in THE SENSE OF THE MEANING “SET APART ONES”because the Bible does say that they will be set apart for Holy use. If we look at the following verses of the Bible (especially the words capitalized)
Matthew 2:6 NKJV
6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you SHALL COME A RULER
WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.
Isaiah 44 2-5 (NKJV)
God’s Blessing on Israel
44 “Yet hear now, O Jacob My servant,
And Israel whom I have chosen.
2 Thus says the Lord who made you
And formed you from the womb, who will help you:
‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant;
And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,
And floods on the dry ground;
I WILL POUR MY SPIRIT ON YOUR DESCENDANTS AND MY BLESSING ON YOUR OFFSPRING
4 They will spring up among the grass
Like willows by the watercourses.’
5 One will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’;
Another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
Another will write with his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’
And name himself by the name of Israel
Jeremiah 33 31-34
A New Covenant
31 “BEHOLD THE DAYS ARE COMING SAYS THE LORD, when I will make a NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, [h]though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I WILL PUT MY LAW IN THEIR MINDS, AND WRITE IT ON THEIR HEARTS AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ FOR THEY SHALL KNOW ME, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM
Galatians 4-6
Sons and Heirs Through Christ
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the SPIRIT OF HIS SON INTO YOUR HEARTS, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ
1 Peter 2:9 NKJV
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light
Romans 8:30-31
30 And so those whom God SET APART, HE CALLED; AND THOSE HE CALLED HE PUT RIGHT WITH HIMSELF, and he shared his glory with them. 31 In view of all this, what can we say? If God is for us, who can be against us
richoka says
Thanks for sharing.
Kobe says
So what is the chief end of the point you’re trying to make here? What are you arguing for or against? What’s this discovery in support of or against?
Veronica Adu says
That’s exactly the big question running through my mind.
Love says
To be holy refers to a state of being set apart from defilement. The Hebrew word translated “holy” comes from a term meaning “separate.” Thus, what is holy is separated from common use, or held sacred, especially by virtue of its being clean and pure.
Diadem says
What does “Holy” mean in Hebrew?
Various people in the Bible encountered manifestations of God’s Holiness. One key text that always comes to mind is the experience of Isaiah the prophet when he saw the vision of Israel God sitting on the heavenly throne. Remember?
It was the year of death of a righteous King of Judah and the people found it very hard to cope with the loss of such a good king. That is when it all happened. In that vision, Isaiah saw something that caught his attention. He saw the angels of God’s presence before the great throne of God. They were calling out to each other:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. The whole Earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:3)
“קָדוֹשׁ קָדוֹשׁ קָדוֹשׁ יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת; מְלֹא כָל-הָאָרֶץ, כְּבוֹדוֹ”
“kadosh kadosh kadosh adonai tsvaot; melo hol haarets kvodo”
The word Kadosh (holy) is recorded here not once, not twice, but three times in a row – a common Hebraic way to emphasize something. So what does Holy mean in Hebrew?
The word “Kadosh” (holy) means something that is “other” (set a part) – the exact opposite of the something that is common. The word is pregnant with the sense of sanctity and consecration. When Moses thought of the word to use in describing the most important place in the Tabernacle, where Israel’s God dwelled, he called it – the Holy of Holies
Robert Moore says
It would help greatly in the dialogue between ‘Jew’ and ‘Gentile’ if the non-biblical ban on the use of the name of God was lifted…..
Isaiah 6:3 declares who God is, not what God is….. see Rabbi Gavriel’s comment earlier
Izaiel says
Hahaha! I like how you ended the topic. You have a great sense of humor! I just searched “Kadosh” because of this song I c came across on YouTube! This is it: https://youtu.be/CJX43l9-Qx0
Daniel Makokha says
PLEASE SHARE MORE ON THE HEAVENLY WORSHIP WHERE THE TWENTY FOUR ELDERS AND THE FOUR BEASTS WORSHIP
pepe says
WHen applied to objects – people it makes a lot of sense the meaning of kadosh. But when God applies it to Himself, what is the meaning that God is separated? Separated from man?
Bob D Harms says
Iam no expert, but God is Spirit, and we are created to be His temple…there is a distinctive of flesh and spirit, but Jesus came to make us one with the Father
Bob D Harms says
While I was in prayer the Lord spoke to me and in 2003 I was startled by the clarity with which He spoke, but stunned by what He said.
“I was kicked out of my creation”
My pastor in a sermon spoke of the “separation ”
aspect of the word for “holy” in the Hebrew.
We live in a dark dry desert with the greater and lesser lights, but spiritual reality is known fully in the “shekina” glory of God.
“The true light that lights every man who comes into the world….come out from among them and be separate “…..
I am on this journey to understand to know Him, and be one with Him through the blood and the cross of Jesus
Truman Coates says
You got that right!
Elvis David says
Wow! my life is being blessed here. but i think, no one will still be able to conclude this. Whether KADOSH MEANS HOLY OR SET APART OR SEPERATED, my friends, that’s why HE is GOD. They that know their God, shall be STRONG and do EXPLOIT.
Whatever you know GOD as, HE should be that to you. There is power in KNOWING; I know KADOSH to be HOLY and GOD, Because He is the holy of the holiest, so He is the KADOSH.
Reasons saying all this, is because many false teachings will come out from this word call KADOSH, in NIgeria, precisely. But those that know their GOD shall be strong and do exploit. Exploit is the end product of KADOSH.
So finally know YOUR GOD.
Mark Redden says
Ummm… Yeah… That’s what holy means… “To be set apart”. It can have a “positive” or “negative” connotation. The reason people misunderstand terms is because they choose to listen to what the world has re defined them as. One way the world (HaSatan) does this through hyper-actively using certain words purposely in certain cases while completely annihilating their uses elsewhere in order to brainwash the masses into believing false definitions. Just look at the world falsely understands “love” to be. It would be correct usage of the word holy to say the following: “יהוה is holy.” or “The ways of the world are holy.” Both would be correct and here is why: When one says, “יהוה is holy.”, this means that He is set apart FROM the world (because His ways and the world’s ways are opposites); AND when one says, “The ways of the world are holy.”, this means that the ways of the world are set apart from יהוה (because they are opposites). The ways of the world is sin, and יהוה Himself said He cannot/will not dwell with sin. So my question to you would be: If you believe that “kadosh” means “to be seperate away from/to be set apart” but does not mean “holy”, then what do you believe the word “holy” means?
Deborah says
I read this on Got Questions. Which I thought it would be good share what it means to be Holy.
Perhaps better than any other chapter in the Bible, Leviticus 19 explains what it meant for Israel to live as a holy nation. Through Moses, God spoke to the people, saying, “Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). Both the Old and the New Testament stress the importance of cultivating personal holiness in the life of every believer: “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15–16).
In Hebrew, the words translated “holy” and “holiness” have to do with being “set apart,” “separate,” “different,” or “dedicated.” The absolute moral purity of God’s character sets Him apart, making Him different from every other living creature. Yet He calls His people to be holy as He is holy. Humans generally think of holiness as obeying God’s law. But, for God, holiness is not a mere action or a set of behaviors. Holiness is His essence. God is morally and ethically perfect by nature. So how can we set ourselves apart to reflect God’s holiness in the way we live?
The Bible reveals that God’s holiness of character is a model for believers’ lives and our shared communion with others. Both passages (Leviticus 19:2 and 1 Peter 1:16) and their surrounding verses stress that those who wish to replicate God’s holiness must reflect His holy nature in their relationships with other people and their sincere love for fellow believers.
In Leviticus 19:1–37, God applies the Ten Commandments to various areas of life, spelling out in great detail for the Israelites how to be holy as He is holy. They were to honor their parents, keep the Sabbath, not practice idolatry, worship and offer sacrifices properly according to God’s instructions, provide for the poor, not steal, cheat, seek revenge, and not follow pagan customs and rituals. The commands continue, covering every aspect of spiritual, moral, family, work, and community life. Included is the charge to “love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:18).
Peter also lays out how we can live in the light of God’s command to be holy as He is holy. First, he says to discipline our minds: “So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world” (1 Peter 1:13, NLT). We are to exercise self-control and stay alert both mentally and spiritually. This mental discipline requires a concentrated focus on trusting in the Lord to get us to our final destination, where we will experience the fullness of God’s grace in Jesus Christ.
Paul expresses it like this: “Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12–14, CSB). If we focus only on the short-term—our current situation—we run the risk of straying off course. But if we live with total trust that Jesus Christ will return to accomplish all that He started in us (Philippians 1:6), it will make a significant difference in how we live.
“You must live as God’s obedient children,” says Peter, “Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires” (1 Peter 1:14, NLT). When we “do not conform to the evil desires” (NIV) we had before we came to know Christ, we live in response to God’s holiness, adopting His behavior as our pattern.
This change of behavior begins on the inside with our attitude and mind-set. When our inner thought life, our purpose, and our character are changed into the image of Christ, our outward selves and outworking behavior will alter naturally. This process is the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification: “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
As part of his teaching on cultivating holiness, Peter instructs believers to “live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear” (1 Peter 1:17). Living as strangers here on earth hammers home the idea that our earthly lives with all their challenges and struggles are only temporary. Even in our pain, we can live with hope as citizens of a future heavenly reality. Reverent fear refers to humble, respectful awe of God, which motivates us to live obedient, holy lives.
Finally, Peter makes the point that living in the light of God’s holiness means demonstrating “sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart” (1 Peter 1:22, NLT).
Believers ought to be notably different from non-believers and their old selves because of their relationship with God through Jesus Christ. His holy presence in our lives produces in us a loving obedience to God’s Word, which ultimately forms God’s character in us. If we are set apart for God’s use, separated from our old, common way of living, we are following God’s command to “be holy for I am holy.”
richoka says
Great thoughts. Thanks for sharing.
James van Leuven says
Hi!
Two things
1: seriously? Scroll to the end of the comments fi leave a comment? Is it 1995?? Please adjust your WordPress settings because that’s just wrong 😑
2: yes you are correct — good idea to actually list sources because we have a G’D given command to test all things so no one is excempt. “I use lots of resources” as well. Here use my iPhone to call someone who gives a poop 😉
I can literally go on for hours on the “why you not giving a reference with details to check you means that you’re on the wrong side of being a servant of the Most High ADONAI (who will be blessed in praise forever!) because no messenger or teacher of HaShem wouldn’t encourage those listening to search for the Truth [מ] which envelopes the Aleph [א] and Tov [ת] for The Most High is Truth [אמת].
(Did you see what I did there? Pretty slick right? Yeah I know — here all week! 3 shows a day! Really! You should try the veal!)
Jeffrey Hill says
Duh! (About the article) Wow, so many comments… I did not read them.