Holiness

What is true Holiness?

True holiness is mentioned in Eph 4:24

Ephesians 4:20–24 ESV

But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

The word true is from the Greek word is G225 aletheia. This word means objectively what is true in any matter under consideration. So this is the objective side of the truth, like absolute truth. It is not a subjective truth.

In Eph 4:21 “if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,” . Again the word truth here is G225 aletheia and it is used here. It is saying that this absoluteness is in Jesus.

There are several words used in the NT that are translated as holy. One word used is G3742 hosiotes. The word hosiotes is closely associated with the word righteousness, which is right standing. The word Hosiotes has nothing to do with performance based holiness or conduct based holiness.

This aletheia as an adjective is true is for both holiness and righteousness. So in effect, means absolute holiness and absolute righteousness (right standing). Absolute hosiotes thus refers to what God has.

So clearly, Paul is saying that when you are putting on the new self, you are putting on the absolute or objective right standing with God and absolute or objective holiness. This is not a holiness that can be increased or decreased.

Whenever Paul talks about conduct based holiness he talks about Hagios (G41). This is different from Hosiotes.

The Case of Jesus

Was Jesus Holy because of what Jesus did? or was he unholy because of what He did not do? Or was Jesus holy because He was Jesus? Jesus was holy because he was the Son of God. Even if Jesus would have sinned, he would have still remained holy. Jesus would not lose His righteousness if He had sinned. Jesus, being fully God and fully man, was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). His righteousness is inherent to His nature and cannot be compromised or lost. Scripture affirms that Jesus is the perfect, spotless Lamb of God (1 Peter 1:19) and that in Him, there is no sin (1 John 3:5). His righteousness is eternal and unchanging.

So if Jesus was Holy because of who He is, his holiness is not predicated on what He did not do, or what He did do, but He was holy because He was holy. So this means that Jesus is not holier when He does something good, or not less holy when He does something wrong. He is who He is, because He is who He is.

You shall be holy, for I am holy

1 Peter 1:13–16 ESV

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 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.”

It says “You shall be holy, for I am holy”. It is not saying that you shall be holy to imitate my holiness, but rather you shall be holy because I am holy, or because you are wearing me.