by Pastor Afolabi Oladele

What does it mean to be blameless? The Thesaurus defines blameless as innocent, guiltless, irreproachable! I am sure the house will be divided on this matter, but we can get clarity from the word of God on how God, who called for us to be blameless at His coming, defines it in His word. Consider the following scriptures:

Blameless: Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are the undefiled (the upright, truly sincere, and blameless) in the way [of the revealed will of God], who walk (order their conduct and conversation) in the law of the Lord (the whole of God’s revealed will) (Psalm 119:1 (AMPC); I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity (Psalm 18:23); Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. (Psalm 19:13).

Uprightness: My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart (Psalm 7:10); Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide (Psalm 11:7); The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory (Psalm 64:10).

Integrity: The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me (Psalm 7:8); Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide (Psalm 26:1); And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever (Psalm 41:12).

Righteousness: For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous (Psalm 37:17); Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved (Psalm 55:22); The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous (Psalm 146:8).

These are very bold statements by the writers of the Psalms, but can you boldly answer the question of whether you and I can be numbered among the righteous, the upright, the blameless, and those who walk in integrity today? If you are a Christian, you should answer Yes, the imputed righteousness assures this answer, Romans 3:25. Paul in supporting the justification of the ungodly in Romans 4:5-8 quoted from Psalm 32.

But this imputed righteousness, based on Christ alone, is not the sum of what the psalmists refer to when they speak of their blamelessness and uprightness and integrity and righteousness. Forgiveness and imputation are the foundation, but not the summation of Christian righteousness. The faith that unites us to Christ and His perfect uprightness is real only if it also produces new attitudes and behaviors in us. Paul expresses this in several scriptures that are at the heart of this short exhortation that we will examine and will lead us to the points of prayers for today’s post. First, he expresses clearly the need for this understanding in Galatians 5:6. The faith that links us to Christ for justification also leads to sanctification. Let us savor the attitudinal and behavioral changes spoken to and why they are so crucial in our times that every believer must pursue them diligently.

• For I want you always to see clearly the difference between right and wrong, and to be inwardly clean, no one being able to criticize you from now until our Lord returns. Philippians 1:10 TLB  
• In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of people who are crooked and stubborn. Shine out among them like beacon lights, holding out to them the Word of Life. Then when Christ returns, how glad I will be that my work among you was so worthwhile. Philippians 2:14-16 TLB
• Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 NLT

In these times our response to the demands of blamelessness requires above all our trusting, waiting, being humble, covenant keeping, fearing the Lord, and taking refuge in Him; that we are bearers of His good news, not the lies of the media knowing that what you utter not only controls your mind, but the minds of your hearers – Galatians 6:8-9; Ephesians 6:8 – so do not despise the warnings of the Lord in Mark 4:24 (AMPC) and Luke 8:18 (AMPC). What about Matthew 10:41 and Luke 6:35 in our nation today?

He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. Matthew 10:41

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Luke 6:35

Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed. Psalm 37:3 AMPC

Selah

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