As we remember Shavuot/Pentecost, the giving of Torah, Covenant, and the giving of Fathers Holy Spirit/ Ruach haKodesh, renewed Covenant; we may ask who are the kedoshim and what are the requirements to be one?

At the time of the first Shavuot, the children of Israel were called to be holy. Leviticus 19:1-2.

This was so they could enter into a relationship with the Holy One of Israel. Lev. 19 focuses on identifying a code of holiness, one that contained guidelines and restrictions regarding practical ethics; more than all the precious portions of the Torah.

In our desire for freedom and a life under grace in modern Christianity, we have neglected the need for personal holiness. Oftentimes we disregard the need for the reverential respect we should be showing towards our Heavenly Father Who is Holy, also to our Messiah Who is Holy and to Ruach HaKodesh, Whose very Name is Holy. If we are to have Him abide in us should we not be a prepared holy vessel?

The disciples counted the Omer from Pesach/Passover to Shavuot/Pentecost, 49/50 days, waiting, preparing themselves to receive the promise. Every year along with every Jewish male they followed the Moedim, especially the ‘shalosh regalim’, the 3 moed to be present in Jerusalem. This year the Joel 2:28-32 prophecy was fulfilled in their sight, the Fathers’ Holy Spirit was poured out on all flesh and Messiahs promise to be with them and us always began and has not diminished.

So what is holiness?

In the Hebrew the word kedushah comes from the root k d sh,

 קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qof, dalet, shin) [sounds like k’desh/k’dosh]

The root word kodesh actually means “to consecrate”

and also means:

sanctity or set apartness. Strong’s 6918, 6944)

There are other words in Hebrew that use this root and include kadosh-holy, Kiddush-sanctifying the wine, kaddish-sanctifying the Name, kiddushin-the ring ceremony at a marriage, and so on. Kadosh means the realm of the sacred that is completely separate from all that is sinful and profane.

As noted in Is.59:15 it is elevated, lofty and beyond all comparison and entirely unique, Is. 40:25; entirely righteous, Is. 57:16 and in Psalm 99:3 glorious and awesome. (We have reduced this word awesome to a descriptive term for everyday usage when its root is in holy fearfulness, the sort that men fall face down on the ground and cannot move). Full of light and power, Isaiah 10:7.

Holiness and our Heavenly Father cannot be separated and it is His Name –

The Holy One blessed be He – Ha kadosh barukh hu.

The concept of what is said and meant as holy, is clearly a differentiation in realms. The realm of the holy is completely set apart from the common, the habitual everyday, or the profane. It is unique, awe-inspiring, can be dreadful, terrible, awful, as noted in Ps. 68:35 and Nehemiah 1:5. Our Heavenly Father as the Holy One is completely unique, sacred, distinct, and set apart as the only One of His kind, there is nothing and no one like Him. He alone is to be adored and worthy of true worship because He alone has no equal, no peers; He is without any rivals and His relationship to the world is as its Creator, Lord and King. Only He is eternally and infinitely known to Himself as, I Am That I Am. Ex.3:15.

Holiness by implication is more than an indifferent separation but it’s separation from that which is common, mundane and evil. Holiness implies absolute moral goodness and perfection and it’s impossible that the Holy One could agree with sin because this would destroy the distinction between the profane and the holy and undermine the very nature of holiness itself. That which is Holy, is in direct opposition to the profane and our Father must reject, hate and oppose that which violates the holy and sacred.

In Gen. 1:4, one of the first acts in the creation was the separating of heavenly light from spiritual darkness, suggesting that the realm of the holy which is represented by the divine light, is completely different from the world with its imperfections; however His Holy presence could be seen within the world as long as its integrity was not compromised. For people relating to our Heavenly Father, holiness describes a state of consecration which is achieved by set-apartness, ethical separation from profane culture which is rampant in this fallen world.

For them to be fit for a relationship with God, there were various commandments given through which the children of Israel were sanctified, set apart, to be kadosh-holy.

Because our Father is not just transcendent but is also immanent – that is He fills all of His creation, those who are called into His presence must be holy themselves. This holiness results in sanctification achieved through the obedience to His commandments, which included doing certain things and not doing certain things. There were also decrees given to further separate them from the customs and profanity of the nations that surrounded them. Because the Lord is Holy the Israelites could not be in relationship with Him if they took part on idolatrous and profane practices. They were called to be separate from all that was unholy. Lev. 11:44-45. The call to holiness was based on the fact that they were Gods possession because He had separated them from the nations. Lev. 20:26. We are also called to come apart and be separate because He has saved us out of this worlds systems. 

The list includes:

Honoring parents and keeping Shabbat,

ish immo ve’aviv tira’u, ve’et-shabtotal tishmoru. Lev. 19:3.

Honoring the Lord by abstaining from idolatry,

al-tifnu el-ha’elilim, veilohel masekhah lo ta’asu lakhem Lev. 19:4.

Leaving gleanings of your harvest to the poor,

Lo te’khaleh pe’at sadekha

Not cursing others– lo-tekaliel cherish ve’lifnei iver titein mikhshol

and judge them favorably – be’tzedek tishpot amitekha.

Avoid gossip –  lo-telekh rakhil be’ameykha

We must not hate our brother – lo tisna et-achikha bilvavekha

But love him as yourself – ve’ahavta le’re’akha kamokha

as Messiah referred to in Luke 10:29-37.

Although we are redeemed by the Blood of Yeshua/Jesus and His grace and mercy sustains us, we are to keep His commandments; and those just listed are not impossible to do. If you love Me keep my commandments. John 14:15 He did not come to abolish or do away with Torah Matthew 5:17 He came to complete it and show us how to live it correctly without all the human additions and doctrines of demons. Matthew 23:4

This command to be Holy as He is Holy, is not a suggestion, and it’s echoed in 1Peter 1:16 and 1Corinthians 6:19; this is relevant to those who consider themselves redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb, Messiah Yeshua haMashiach. Many are believers and followers, however not many are true disciples. We are without doubt in the end of this age and as spiritual darkness increases and evil is emboldened, we as the light of this world are called to a higher standard. To be a witness of His gospel, our personal testimony and lifestyle must reflect the standards given by the very Savior, Lord and King in Whom we say we believe and trust. We are to be His kedoshim, His Holy ones, to be Holy as He is Holy.

The call to holiness is without compromise and is based on the hope that will be fulfilled at the revealing of Messiah at His second coming. Paul outlines the same moral constraints that mark a separated- called out people of God, the ecclesia. Believers in Messiah are to be free from the sin that saturates the culture around us and in particular free from sexual immorality, which is actually idolatry. We must remember that a believer, a follower, a disciple of Yeshua/Jesus is not exempt from the call to personal holiness, since the Lord God of Israel is the same yesterday, today and forever and He is Holy, Kadosh,

…we are to be Holy- Kadosh,

His Kedoshim.

Shalom, shalom mishpachah/family

and cheverim/friends!

It’s all about Life and Relationship,

NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

NOT SURE?

YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.