Holiness Contradiction?
 

The bible says, "our righteeousness is as filthy rags". The bible also says, "be ye holy for I am holy". Can someone explain this apparent contradiction theologically? What is it that makes us holy? Do our actions contribute to the process of holiness/sanctification?

Re: Holiness Contradiction?
 

Holiness/sanctification means set apart or consecrated to God. It means separated unto the Lord and separated from sin. When Jesus comes in He washes away all sin --so our sin is gone-- and we receiver the holiness of God because the Holy Ghost is living in us-- and we are therefore e. We have been set apart unto God. This is our position in God's sight. We ARE holy because the Holy One lives within.

As far as our condition, holiness/sanctification is something we grow into. We are a work in process as we cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of he flesh and spirit. We are not saved by giving up stuff and separating from stuff, but if we do not give up stuff and separate from stuff we were not saved in the first place.

Righteousness is right actions, etc. When Jesus comes in we receive the righteousness of Christ. This is our position. When God looks at us He sees Christ's righteousness instead of ours. However, we need to walk that righteousness out in our every day life so that our actual life looks somewhat to God like what He has given us. The Holy Spirit or Jesus in us will not allow us to walk in habitual sin. Any righteous deeds we may try to do to impress God or earn His favor are like menstual rags to Him

Re: Holiness Contradiction?
 

To me it isn't a contradiction; it's more like two sides of the same coin. It illustrates that fact that we only have control over our outward man. We are to be "holy" (morally pure; consecrated), but in the end, all our "righteousness" does nothing to create a new man on the inside. God has to do that work, and with that knowledge should come some measure of humility on our part.

II Corinthians 12:9 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness...."

Re: Holiness Contradiction?
 

:thumbsup

Re: Holiness Contradiction?
 

Just a thought God gave me a couple of years ago. In the garden when Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of knowledge of good and evil. Thier eyes were open and they saw that they were naked. Oop I have to stop a minuet, thier naked ness was the only thing the bible says they came to understand after eating the fruit. HMMM,

Any way they saw they were naked, what did they do? well they sewed leaves together and made aprons to cover themselves. Now note what God did. He Made coats of skins, there is much more here that can be addressed but I just want to note this. Nothing we do can come close the the covering God has provided for us. We know enough to not run around naked, beyond that we worry too much about how much to cover and how much to hang out. Common people you don't need a preacher to tell you that. It is common sense. If you want to be known as easy and looking for sin you will dress the part. We walk by thousands of women a day that dress with the same style, that we don't think twice about, then we see that one or two that manifest a spirit and we notice.

What am I saying here is that anything that man thinks up as a holy dress is only filthy rags in the eyes of God because God has already provided us with his robe of righteousness.

Re: Holiness Contradiction?
 

Righteousness and holiness are free gifts God gives to us. It is God's own righteousness. We are holy simply because He made us His own, since holiness means BELONGING TO. All we can do it receive it. So there is nothing we can do that makes us holy. All we can do is behave like we're holy. Eph 1-2 says we are sated with Christ in heavenly places. Eph 4 says to act like it now.

Re: Holiness Contradiction?
 

Are you righteous and holy?

Re: Holiness Contradiction?
 

As righteous and holy as Jesus!

Re: Holiness Contradiction?
 

It is unfortunate I have seen standards to be worn as..or put out to be..holy garments as righteousness..the closer to God you are the more you put on etc..if one is not careful this could easily be turned into a WORK..:icecream

Re: Holiness Contradiction?
 

I am as righteous and as holy as Jesus is in the sight of God.
Jesus is my righteousness and my holiness.