Blameless

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.”

-1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

I look honestly into the mirror and see a man who is not blameless—I see a sinner. My love for God and neighbor often waxes cold. In thought, word, and deed, I sin daily, even though my desire is always to do what is pleasing to my God. Perfection is the standard of a holy God, and my best day of religion only proves that I am an unprofitable servant. The Law of God is holy, righteous, and good, but in this flesh, I am not. If my best efforts of religious performance and obedience were judged by the Law, they would only condemn me.

So, what hope does a sinner like me have of entering the presence of a thrice-holy God? With man, it is impossible. But with God, all things are possible. God Himself does for His people what they cannot do for themselves.

God saves His people on a just ground that in no way depends on anything I can do or fail to do. All my sin—past, present, and future—was imputed (charged) to Christ, and He paid my debt in full by the blood of His cross. He died so that I may live. He rose from the dead for my justification and provides for me a perfect righteousness that is credited to my account and acceptable to a holy God. No charge of sin will ever stand against me, for it is God who saves me. It is His work, and He accomplishes all that He sets out to do. In this flesh, I am a sinner, yes—but in Christ, I am blameless.

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin” (Romans 4:7–8). Blessed is the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works. God, who sanctifies His people completely, is faithful to keep them blameless until the day they are called home and finally freed from the presence of sin. All by grace. All by imputation.

Do you believe this? Saving faith is the gift of God to His people—the ordained means by which they receive the blessing of salvation, full and free. It is a faith not burdened with conditions laid upon it by the religion of man, but a faith like that of a child who trusts his father’s care and safety. No worries, no fear—just true peace, true assurance, full confidence in the One who cannot lie, and true happiness in knowing that all is well.

Soli Deo Gloria!

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Greg Flannery is a Bible Teacher at Redeemer Church of Piketon, Ohio