Bible Study Holy vs. Righteous
Starting off this bible study homework we are going to take a look at the definitions of holy and righteous from my old dictionary.
Holy
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Hallowed; consecrated or set apart to a sacred use; having a sacred character or associations; as, the holy temple; holy vessels; holy words.
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Free from sin; pure in heart; immaculate in moral character; perfect in a moral sense: exhibiting holiness; righteous; as a holy man; holy zeal.
Righteous
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Upright; incorrupt; virtuous; acting in accordance with the dictates of religion or morality; free from guilt of sin: in accordance with the divine law; as a righteous man; a righteous act.
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Just; equitable: merited.
Righteous vs Holy
I am going to start off with a cut/paste from the VW website on this topic and then we are going to go through bible verses on each.
VW ANSWER:
This understanding comes with proper definition of terms. A standard English dictionary will define “righteousness” pretty well, but it muddles up the word “holy”, and I suspect therein is also the confusion as to their ‘sameness’ or not.
RIGHTEOUS: in the Hebrew/Greek lexicons and English dictionary, all share the same concepts as “conforming to law, justice, morality; in accordance with fact, reason, truth, etc.” The lexicons speak of conformity to “Divine” law. As Paul also speaks of “lawful” And the Bible speaks much of “obedience” (to God). Obedience to the Faith, etc. A person can be obedient (works) unto righteousness. (Rom6:16) And also be declared (imparted) righteous. (Rom5:19) But what is that “work” of righteousness? As Jesus said, to “believe into Him whom [God] sent” (Jn6:29) Thus, it is the “righteousness of faith” (Rom5:5) And John speaks a lot about Truth.
Without getting into a protracted theological discussion, righteousness has two aspects: 1) position and 2) obedience. Through faith into Jesus Christ God declares a person (positionally) righteous (in good/favorable standing) before God. And a person thus declared righteous will also do righteous deeds “befitting repentance” (Ac26:20, Eph2:10) But the first ‘obedience’ is that of “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ac20:21)
HOLINESS: on this the dictionary muddles things up, and gives the idea of what most people picture with halos, piously upturned fluttering eyelids, folded hands in prayer; and speaks of divine power, worthy of worship and veneration, deserving of respect, etc.; and the Biblical meaning gets lost.
The Hebrew word “qodesh” means to “cut apart” and speaks of “apartness, separateness, dedicated, set-apartness”
The intention of holiness can apply to what Israel was to God,
Ex 19:6 And you shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
A people -separated- from the surrounding idolatries, unto God.
It can also apply to what Israel was supposed to do,
2Ch 23:19 And he stationed the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of Jehovah, so that no one who was in any way unclean could enter.
The word “holy” can indicate something clean and righteous being separated from evil unto God. It can also, in the most technical terms, indicate the removing of the unclean, or keeping the unclean out. Thus, in their own respective circumstances, the righteous can be holy; but also evil and filth can be considered holy, when it is removed from the midst of that which is clean and righteous.
True Believers into Jesus Christ are holy unto God. But satan worshipers are also holy unto satan.
One Scriptural example of this ‘evil’ side of holiness is when Israel conquered Jericho. Any of the riches (and idolatrous objects) of gold and whatever, were to be “devoted” (Josh6:18) and were called “holy unto Jehovah” (vs19) In vs18 the word is one of destruction. In vs19 of dedication. They both include the aspects of “setting aside”. The riches of Jericho, representing its evil and idolatry were “devoted” (set apart), just as those who vowed the vow of a nazirite also “devoted” themselves and set themselves apart to their vow. Different words are used for these various things…but they all share the commonality of something that is ‘separated’ and “set-apart”, which is the root concept of the word “holy”.
There are those who “set-apart” themselves by doing rituals, observing good works, and such things. In that set-apartness, by definition, they are “holy” unto those vows. But such a holiness does not make them righteous. As Jesus said,
Mk 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men; the dipping of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.
They were keeping their traditions. They were “holy”. But they had laid aside the commands of God. By definition: they were not “righteous”
It is also possible for a “carnal” Christian (1Co3:3), to be (positionally) righteous, but not be living holily. They might be holy positionally, because they have the promise of Eternal Life, and as such they are (set aside) in the Book of Life; but they might be covered with the world’s dirt. Thus the exhortation to “be holy in behavior and godliness” (2Pt3:11) If such an exhortation is given to those of “like precious faith” (2Pt1:1), by the fact of such an exhortation being given, is it not obvious that some might not be living such holy lives.
So…. have I rambled along enough here? Is it not obvious that the two (righteousness and holiness) are not the same thing. Although, a righteous person should be holy in behavior. But a holy person, by definition, depending on the object and target of that holiness, might not be righteous before God.
Now onto some bible verses:
Holy/Holiness
“I am the Almighty God! Walk before Me and be perfect.” Genesis 17:1b
“For I am Jehovah your God. You shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy.” Leviticus 11:44a
“You shall be perfect before Jehovah your God.” Deuteronomy 18:13
“Depart from evil and do good, and live forevermore.” Psalms 37:27
“You who love Jehovah, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.” Psalms 97:10
“ALEPH: Blessed are the upright in the way, who walk in the Law of Jehovah. Blessed are those who keep His Testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity; they walk in His Ways.” Psalms 119:1-3
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for a tree is known by its fruit.” Matthew 12:33
“Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak to your shame.” 1st Corinthians 15:34
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity unto the obedience of Christ, and being ready to avenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2nd Corinthians 10:4-6
“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilements of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2nd Corinthians 7:1
Righteous/Righteousness
“For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your eyes, except You go with us? So we shall be distinct, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.” Exodus 33:16
“Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor has stood in the way of sinners, nor has sat in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the Law of Jehovah; and in His Law he meditates day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, and its leaf shall not wither, and all that he does shall prosper.” Psalms 1:1-3
“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” John 15:14
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be led astray. Neither prostitutes, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” 1st Corinthians 6:9-11
“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, elect, and faithful.” Revelation 17:14
So let’s sum this up. You are righteous because you are a Christian. Just that alone, being a child of God will make you righteous, however, are you being holy? Have you separated yourself from the world? Have you given 100% to the Most High God?
“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also become holy in all conduct, because it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.” 1st Peter 1:13-16
