I realize that this is the delusion Protestants hang on to, but this is not what the scriptures say.
First, the OT God calls on Israel (the people of God) to be holy all on their own, without the need for an "intermediary."
Second, the author of Hebrews insists "we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." I you have been made holy, then you are ontologically holy and can not be something different. It's an either or state.
If you are human, then you are human no matter how good or evil you are—you are still ontologically human.
Hebrews doesn't say we are made holy in [Greek en] Christ...but through [Greek dia] Christ.
The problem with Catholics and agnostics ( I guess ) is they confuse holiness with morality ....
No, the problem is that Protestants apparently believe one can be "holy" and immoral.
“you are ontologically holy and can not be something different”
But you can act different. Just today my said to me “why don’t you act your age”. I’m 70, but apparently she didn’t think I was taking things seriously enough.
Holiness is coming in contact with the deity. “Christ in you the hope of glory”. Ethical holiness is the deity working out His plans through you. “Don’t quench the Spirit”.