What do you think: Is it possible for a person to be holy and not walk righteously, or for a person to be righteous and not walk in holiness?  Or do you think they go hand in hand?  What's the difference?

Posted by Jay_Axt on Tue 11 Nov 2008 3:34:28 pm

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Justin_Cof on Wed 12 Nov 2008 8:50:54 am Says:       

great question Jay! I had to read it about 3 times to get it down. HAHA! I think they go hand in hand. I do not see a huge difference. what do you think?

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Jay_Axt on Wed 12 Nov 2008 5:51:56 pm Says:       

In my opinion Hebrew really captures more of what the essence of holy or holiness is and what righteous or righteousness truly are. Heb. - Qodesh means holy. That doesn't mean much to you and me, but the word implies a separateness as opposed to a thing performed or what one does. In Greek "holy" is haggios as in John Haggie :)but the understanding of the word in Greek does not capture the magnitude of Hebrew. Righteousness tsĕdaqah in Hebrew is right-ness, but it is based upon God's character. The name of God, Yĕhovah tsidqenuw, is similar to tsĕdaqah but indicates that God is self-sufficient and not dependent on anything or anyone. We are always dependent upon the Lord to impart to us righteousness.

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Jay_Axt on Thu 13 Nov 2008 11:19:36 am Says:       

There may not be a huge difference, but the word commands us in 1 Peter 1:15-16 (ESV), "but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”" We are commanded to be "other" or completely set apart "in Christ." There is no other way to be holy. The scripture also tells us that, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Co. 5:21 ESV). There is a 'becoming' in practice. We are then holy, completely set apart for God in Christ by faith, so that we might become the righteousness of God in our manner of living. This is a fuller response, but by no means do I have the corner on God's market of truth. I take baby steps to follow His huge footprints.