Holy and Blameless
Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. Ephesians 1:4 NASB
If you were to describe God with only one word that encompasses His whole character what would it be? Would you choose “faithful” or “true” or “love?” I would have chosen “Love.” First John 4:7-8 says that God is love, and that has been my personal experience.
However, God’s chief attribute is “holiness.” How do I know this? Scripture says that the heavenly hosts are constantly singing, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord” (Is. 6:3). From eternity past to eternity future, all of heaven is singing, “Holy” in the superlative. Yes, God is “love.” Yes, God is “true.” Yes, God is “faithful.” However, His attribute of “Holiness” is “Holy, Holy, Holy.”
God calls us to be holy as He is holy (Lev. 19:2). Holiness is not something we do, such as good deeds. Holy simply means “set apart for a purpose.” There is a connotation that we are set apart from what is unclean and to what is pure. In that sense, we are set apart for purity. When God calls us to be holy, He is calling us to have the attribute of being set apart for purity.
The good news is that our holiness is the result of God choosing us in Christ (Eph. 1:4). Once we invite Jesus into our hearts, we are set apart for purity.
Blameless, on the other hand, requires action on our part. We are “blameless” as we walk out that holy (pure) life that Jesus purchased for us.
Maybe at this point, like me, you are thinking that you have not done a particularly good job at walking out that holy (pure) life. Do not despair! God foresaw that problem too. Jesus also purchased our forgiveness on the cross (Eph. 1:7). And God put His Spirit in us to empower us to live out that holy and blameless life that He has called us to. The more we yield to God’s Spirit, Who lives inside us, the more we become holy and blameless in Him. Praise God! His plan is perfect!
Beloved, soon and very soon, we will add our voices to the chorus in heaven singing, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, Who was and Who is and Who is to come (Rev. 4:8). I am excited about that!