To Love the Truth Day 14: Blameless

Blameless.  Let's talk about this word for a moment.  If you google the definition you will see this: "innocent of wrongdoing."

Synonyms include - faultless, guiltless, above reproach, unimpeachable, exemplary, flawless.

When I think of someone who is blameless, I think of a classroom of students.  Someone has taken something from the teacher's desk but the teacher isn't sure who.  She narrows the list of possible suspects to five.  Four of those five are not guilty, but they've done enough other questionable things to be considered in line with their character.  The other students in the room are blameless.  She dismisses them as ones who would never have done it...above reproach, not at all sketch.  She wouldn't even consider blaming them.  

1 Corinthians 1:8 - He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:25-27 - ...Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Because of Jesus, God declares us blameless.  He calls us innocent.

The word choice is powerful.  Many times in a court of law, defendants are declared "not guilty" because there is not enough evidence to convict, or reasonable doubt.  Many people are found not guilty as a technicality though the public may be generally convinced of their guilt.  "Not guilty" and "innocent" are not the same thing.

Innocence goes a step beyond.  Not only does God say we aren't being found guilty and saddled with the consequences, He says we are blameless.  We did not do it.  We are flawless.   There is no doubt.

Truth to Love Today: He's made me blameless.  He will keep me blameless.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 "May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it."