Introduction
   What is the definition of holy? What about definition of unholy? What is clean vs. unclean? Light versus darkness? Good vs. evil? We can look around at the world today and see both, but the unholiness and darkness is growing ex-ponentially at an increasingly rapid rate. It can remind us of the passage which says the devil knows he has but a short time (Rev. 12:12). Indeed, it is even a shorter time now.
   About 35-years ago, in my late teens, I had made a wrong decision and picked up the unclean habit of smoking. A couple years after that, I then made the right decision and committed to quit smoking. To make sure I didn’t retrieve the last few cigarettes from the garbage can – yes, the addiction to the nicotine is that strong – I put them into a glass of water (it’s also hard to light up soggy cigarettes) which turned a dirty looking, dark brown muck. That provided me with a lasting impression. I realized then what I had been doing to my body.
   Fast forward years later – I was biking and approached another. He was paused on the side of the path to smoke a cigarette. He reminded me of the clear glass of water turned into the dirty looking, dark brown muck years earlier.

Definition of Holy
   What is the definition of holy? Holy means, sanctified or set apart by Yahweh for a special purpose. The Holy Spirit, for example, literally means, Set-apart Breath in the Hebrew language.
   The Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition, renders holy, as “perfect in goodness and righteousness.”
   Do you not know that you are a temple of Elohim and [that] the Spirit of Elohim dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of Elohim, Elohim will destroy him, for the temple of Elohim is holy, and that is what you are, 1 Corinthians 3:16–17. New American Standard Bible used throughout, unless otherwise noted.
   We are a temple with Yahweh’s Spirit living inside us. We have been made holy by the blood sacrifice of the Messiah Yahshua. We abide in His Holy Word and His Holy Spirit, not walking contrary to either, but walking in Both. Each confirming the Other, and thereby confirming (and conforming) us with the Father and the Son.
   We are set-apart. We don’t do our own will. We study, worship, and keep our conversations set apart from the world. And we keep the Sabbath, holy.
   Are we perfect? No, but we are sanctified, and we strive to live a life reflecting Yahweh and His Son in our own lives.
   We seek to walk unto all pleasing (Col. 1:10), both willing and doing His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13). These are the first steps toward perfection.
   Are there other things that are made holy by Yahweh?
   Then he said to them, This is what Yahweh meant: Tomorrow is a Sabbath observance, a Holy Sabbath to Yahweh. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning, Exodus 16:23.
   Early on during the Exodus, the people had to be instructed on very basic things concerning the 7th Day Sabbath. Why? Because Yahweh set it apart and wants us, His people, to keep it holy.

Remember the Sabbath Day
   Why? To keep it holy (Exod. 20:8). Of the Ten Commandments, this is a basic instruction for everyone that desires to serve the Father the way He wants us to. It’s His Way, not our way.
   Therefore you are to observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to Yahweh; whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall surely be put to death, Exodus 31:14–15.
   Is Yahweh serious about us keeping the Sabbath holy? His Word is clear.
   So the sons of Israel shall observe the Sabbath, to celebrate the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased [from labor], and was refreshed, Exodus 31:16–17.
   This passage may bring up the question, “Isn’t this just for Israel and a covenant specifically with them?” Yahshua affirmed the Sabbath was clearly given to all mankind.
   The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath, Mark 2:27.
   He did not say, the Sabbath was made for Israel alone. In fact, in other places in the Torah, Yahweh decreed that whosoever of Israel and the stranger among them would serve Him, there should be one law for both the native-born and the stranger (Exod. 12:49; Num. 15:15–16). Sabbath observance is given as the sign that one is obedient to the One Who gave the instruction in the first place. It identifies us, like a sign identifies a people who are of Yahweh.
   Yet, there are those that will argue we don’t need to keep the Sabbath holy or that we can keep another day holy. However, Yahweh clearly shows there are six days to work during the week, but the 7th day in particular is set apart.
   To make the 7th Day common, by regarding it as every other day is to disobey Yahweh. And disobedience to Yahweh is not a good place to be.

Who Are We, Really?
   Israel is mentioned 2,583 times throughout Scripture: as the land, as a people, as a person (Jacob’s name was changed to Israel). And ancient Israel was to be holy unto Yahweh.
   And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel, Exodus 19:6.
   This verse speaks to us today, as a people – once not a people; not having received mercy; separated, and far off and excluded from the Commonwealth of Israel; strangers to the Covenants of Promise having no hope and without Yahweh in the world (Eph. 2:12-13). But now they are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, the people for Elohim’s own possession; called out of darkness into marvelous light; brought near by the blood of Messiah, and become fellow citizens with the saints in Yahweh’s household (1 Pet. 2:9–10; Eph. 2:13, 19). This process of becoming grafted into Israel is explained in Romans, chapters 9–11, and is the fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham through Isaac that they should be the progenitors of many nations.
We are a holy people, partakers of a heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1), and committed to a life without sin. It’s still a mystery to many who claim they know the Messiah of Israel. (Read our free mini-study entitled, The Hope of Israel).
   Israel repeatedly failed to adhere to Yahweh’s Word, transgressing His commandments. So, He divorced them because of their sins (Isa. 50:1). But He has made a way back through faith in Messiah.
   For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED,” Romans 10:10–11.
   Who forgives us of confessed sin and Whose Spirit enables us?
   We can be thankful that our names are written in the Book of Life. We adhere to Yahweh’s Word, not only out of love for the Father and Son, and what They’ve done for us, but also because “man is to live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh” (Deut. 8:3, see also Matt. 4:4; Luke 4:4). And, as already mentioned, we do this with the help of Yahweh’s Spirit.
   The Holy Spirit, called the Helper, is sent to help us to “abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1 Pet. 2:11); to maintain such behavior, so that they which would speak evil may observe our good deeds and have reason to glorify Yahweh in the day of visitation (1 Peter 2:12), and to live a holy life in Him, to the glory of the Father.

Understanding the Word
   There is also the need to rightly divide (2 Tim. 2:15 KJV) or understand the Word of Truth, as Timothy was instructed to do:
   Be diligent to present yourself approved to Elohim as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth, 2 Tim. 2:15.
   The Word of Truth is the Word of Yahweh, the Scriptures which are in your hands today. We read It. We study It. We live by It, in the Spirit of Yahweh.
   Understanding the Word is a process for us. Its entrance into our hearts, enlightens our understanding (Psa. 119:130). The Holy Spirit was first poured out in the first century upon those who accepted (and who were obediently keeping the Day of Pentecost) and received Yahshua the Messiah.
   The purpose of the Word today, in addition to reproving the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8–11), is to,
      • teach us all things (John 14:26);
      • bring to our remembrance all things spoken by the Master (John 14:26);
      • guide us into all Truth (John 16:13);
      • disclose to us what is to come (John 16:13).
   Among these things which the Spirit will teach, guide, and disclose to us what is to come, is an understanding of the priesthood during the Millennial reign of our Messiah. That is, the re-institution of the Levitical Order with its regulatory practices as outlined in the Torah and foretold in the prophecies of Ezekiel, chapters 40-46. The priesthood after the Melchizedek Order, will also be there for the spiritual people brought into Messiah.
   As for the physical people, under the Levitical priesthood, during that time, all people will learn that sin causes death, and learn from the sacrificial process. They will be tutored in the Levitical laws, all the statutes which Yahweh has spoken through Moses (Lev. 10:11). They will need to distinguish “between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean” (Lev. 10:10). Because then, the Law (Torah) will go forth from Zion. Priests of both the Levitical and the Melchizedek Order (i.e., we who have endured and overcome to the end, neither quenching the Spirit nor forsaking Yahweh’s Word or His Messiah) will be helping the physical people.

Good Deeds Follow
   He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Yahshua Messiah our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to [the] hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed Elohim will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men, Titus 3:5–8.
   We must follow the lead of His Spirit. It is not our own deeds which make us holy. For we become defiled (made unholy), in continuing to do unrighteousness.
How should a holy people be unto Yahweh? Do we need to even change our previous associations to be on the right road with Yahweh? The word is clear, Do not be deceived: bad company corrupts good morals, 1 Cor. 15:33. We must then, change various things to be in line with Yahweh’s Way.
   Today, there are many who disregard Yahweh’s Word. They cast it into the street to be trampled upon, and trodden under foot. From such, withdraw and do not participate in their unfruitful deeds of darkness (Eph. 5:11).
   Yahshua declared this of Himself, “the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me” (John 14:30). Our walk is different from the world’s walk. The ruler of the world is coming, and is here now, seeking to distract, draw away, tempt, entice, beset, and pierce us through with many sorrows before drowning us in perdition.
   Even men of the apostate religion who, through their tradition transgress the Commandment of Yahweh (Matt. 15:3), invalidate the Word of Yahweh for the sake of their tradition (Matt. 15:6). They teach as doctrines the precepts of men and honor Him with their lips (Matt. 15:9), manifesting their separation from Him by those things which proceed from the abundance of their hearts (Matt. 15:18–19).
   Surely, these in their day (and maybe more in our day, claiming Messiah) standing before that Just Judge, will receive their commendation, “I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS” (Matt. 7:23). Their lawlessness, is a testimony against them. Today, they put forth much effort to explain away Yahweh’s Word.

Food Laws Explained Away?
   Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 – the food laws – are essentially canceled out, taken out of the way, and nailed to the tree (Col. 2:14), they claim! They further explain away the law, by Paul’s writing to Timothy that everything created by Elohim is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude, 1 Timothy 4:4.
   Moreover, proponents of this error like to substantiate their having twisted the Word by citing Peter’s vision. And beholding the sky opened up with a great sheet coming down and in it, all kinds of four footed animals and crawling creatures of the earthy and birds of the air and a Voice saying, “Arise, Peter, kill and eat” and the Apostle protesting, “I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean” and the Voice’s reply, “What Elohim has cleansed, no longer consider unholy” (Acts 10:9 –14). Is that really a green light to eat unclean foods? (Read our in-depth study called, Yahweh’s Food Laws.)
   They find further support from some of the erron-eous translations they prefer, too. For example,note the parenthetical content added to Mark 7:18–19 by the New American Standard Bible:
   And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.)
   The Message Bible version adds this: “(That took care of dietary quibbling; Yahshua was saying that all foods are fit to eat.)”
   Incidentally, in the New American Standard Bible, the translators’ parenthetical comment attached to Mark 7:19 is not found attending the parallel account in    Matthew 17:17, thus confirming their hypocrisy. Perhaps it was an oversight, but we think not.
   What does Yahweh say about adding to or taking away from His Word? Don’t do it?
   Nevertheless, Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 are avenged by verses 4–5, of 1 Timothy chapter 4: For everything created by Elohim is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the Word of Yahweh and prayer.
   In other words, we can’t sanctify by our prayer what has not first been sanctified by the Word of Yahweh.
   A proper appreciation of, and a more accurate translation of Mark 7:18–20 comes from The Scriptures, and expresses well that it is not so much what enters into a man by way of his mouth, as what proceeds from his heart.
   And He said to them, “Are you also without understanding? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside is unable to defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purging all the foods?” And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men proceed evil reasonings, adulteries, whorings, murders, thefts, greedy desires, wickednesses, deceit, indecency, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these wicked [matters] come from within and defile a man,”
   Nevertheless, Yahshua intended to get to the heart of the matter, which is the matter of the heart. That is, becoming defiled spiritually!
In doing so, the defiled heart continues to reason away even The Family Name.

His Name Is Holy
   You shall not take the Name of Yahweh your Elohim in vain, for Yahweh will not leave him unpunished who takes His Name in vain, Exodus 20:7.
   This Third Commandment says one will not go unpunished who uses His Name in a vain way. But the very word vain (Strong’s H.7723 shauv) means to cover up, bring to nothing, make worthless so as to have no purpose.
   L-rd is not His Name! L-rd is connected to the deity, Baal, as in “Baalzubub,” L-rd-of-the-flies. And G-d, “the deity of fortune,” finds its origin in Genesis 30:10–11:
   Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son. Then Leah said, “How fortunate!” So she named him Gad, Genesis 30:10–11 pronounced Gawd.
   One wonders how any could think that L-rd and G-d are innocent titles, when these are used to cover up the Creator’s Name and thus, transgress the Third Commandment which if broken – and it is by many – will not go unpunished.
   Some, out of a false respect toward the “ineffability” of His Name – a taboo against using the Proper Names of Father and Son – substitute titles of Elohim and Adonai, to the utter exclusion of Yahweh’s and Yahshua’s Proper Names. But Yahweh commands us to use His Name and with respect to His Son Yahshua, There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other Name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12. (Read our free booklet, The Mistaken ‘J’ to find out more details.)
   Those who indiscriminately use titles of G-d and L-rd, don’t realize the damage they are doing. They even think that is the Sovereigns’ Names. Perhaps, withholding this knowledge from them, who would profane what is Holy – the Names of Father and Son – fall under the instruction of Matthew 7:6:
   Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
   Given all of this, shouldn’t a Holy people be using His Holy Name?

Keep His Moral Laws
      • “… obtained the witness that … he was pleasing to Yahweh” (Heb. 11:5);
      • “… found favor in the eyes of Yahweh … blameless in his time; walked with Yahweh” (Gen. 6:8, 9);
      • “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of Yahweh, to do justice and judgment …”
         (Gen. 18:19 KJV);
      • “… and that man was blameless, upright, fearing Yahweh, and turning away from evil” (Job 1:1);
      • “… righteous in the sight of Yahweh, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of Yahweh” (Luke 1:6);
      • “… righteous and devout …” (Luke 2:25);
      • “… serving night and day with fastings and prayers …” (Luke 2:37).
   Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Job, Zacharias and Elizabeth, Simeon, Anna – but common, ordinary people throughout the ages who were more than moral people. They were wholly consecrated and set apart for Yahweh.
   So, can a person be moral without walking with Yahweh? Yes. Can a moral person be holy without walking with Yahweh? NO.
   A person becoming reformed (changed) to be a good upstanding citizen may be moral, but is not considered holy unless he fully submits to Yahweh’s Word.
   It’s human nature for people to make private interpretations of what constitutes morality. It is possible to keep the moral aspects of the law for example, without keeping the spirit of the law just as it is possible for one to demonstrate his good works without faith (James 2:18). It is understood, a man is justified by his faith with works and not by his works without faith!
   “Moral relativism” is a morality of convenience – so long as what is thought or done doesn’t impose much upon one’s will. Thus the Commandment, “And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him” (Prov. 3:5, 6). (Please be sure to read our mini-study called, Why Biblical Law?)

Conclusion
   Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His Bride has made herself ready. It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright [and] clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the Saints, Revelation 19:7–8.
   Rejoicing, being glad and giving glory to Him; clothed in fine linen, bright and clean – this is the estate of the Bride-Saints, made ready by her righteous acts for the marriage with the Lamb. Should we ask, how can one be blameless righteous, holy? The short answer is, walk according to the Word of Yahweh.
   And put on the new self, which in [the likeness of] Elohim has been created in righteousness and holiness of the Truth, Ephesians 4:24.
   Once cleansed of sins by the Blood of Yahshua (1 John 1:7), and kept clean by the pure washing of the Word (John 15:3; Eph. 5:26; Heb. 10:22), Yahweh promises to perfect the good work He has begun in us (Phil. 1:6).
   We are well equipped to take down strongholds and to put away anything that would exalt itself against the Truth (2 Cor. 10:4–5). But to turn again to, and become overcome by the defilements of the world (2 Pet. 2:20) is spiritual suicide – making our last state of uncleanness and unholiness worse than our first. Remember Lot’s wife, Luke 17:32. Therefore, we are instructed, be Holy as He is Holy.