JESUS, THE GREAT ACCOMPLISHER -- Tomorrow:
"And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled, in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight." (Colossians 1:20-22)
Devotion 28 of 32
UNBLAMEABLE
" . . . and unblameable . . . "
This may appear to be identical with being holy, but it is not. Being "holy" focuses upon character, and belonging wholly to the Lord. Being "unblameable" emphasizes morality, or the expression of our persons. Etymologically, "unblameable" means without blemish and faultless – free from faultiness (THAYER). Doctrinally, it means that before God Himself we appear "faultless." This is a condition in which there is no flaw, no imperfection, no defect, and no blemish in ANY sense.
This is the stated objective of the reconciliation accomplished by the Lord Jesus: "to present you holy and UNBLAMEABLE." This is the condition to which the Spirit refers when He shouts out the challenge, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us" (Rom 8:33-34).
Elsewhere this condition is described as being "BLAMELESS in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 1:8). From "before the foundation of the world," the Lord determined that we "should be holy and WITHOUT BLAME before Him in love" (Eph 1:4). Paul stated that aim of increasing in love toward one another was "to the end He may establish your hearts UNBLAMEABLE in holiness before God" (1 Thess 3:13).
Our earnest desire is to be this way now, blameless in the world: "That ye may be BLAMELESS and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; (Phil 2:15). The salvation of God is intended to assist us in meeting that objective. Being unblameable begins in this world, but it is not culminated here. When we come into Christ, we begin without blame. However, the objective is that your "your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess 5:23).
The goal is to be characterized as "blameless," or "unblameable" at the time of presentation – when we stand before the "judgment seat of Christ." Therefore it is written, "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and BLAMELESS" (2 Pet 3:14).
Suffice it to say, it would radically alter the entire landscape of modern Christianity if this purpose was perceived and heartily embraced by those who profess to be followers of Jesus. It would change the program and purpose of most churches, eliminate many of their leaders, and so change the disposition of their members that they would scarcely be recognized. Oh, that men would pursue holiness, without which no man will see the Lord!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for providing a salvation that can bring us to a state of being blameless in Your sight.