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STUDY: John's First Epistle, BLAMELESSNESS

by linzy bruno
10/12/2023 / Bible Studies

“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” (1John 3:4-9)

Believers who become born again in Christ have the grace and anointing to follow HIM; providing they abide in Him, no longer overcome by the lusts of the world, or of the eye. (chapter 2:15-17)

Paul writes similarly with this parallel verse in 2Corinthians:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2Corinthians 5:17)

Through this study, it becomes clear that only those who have consecrated themselves unto Him in unfeigned spiritual circumcision will be enabled to walk in blamelessness. Subsequently, blamelessness and the joy that follows becomes an exciting spiritual reward.

However, difficulty with sin is an early sign reflecting the desire to cease in sin, hence, believers ought not be discouraged. Considering these struggles, John’s message may consequently become misunderstood. For he is not saying that believers can overcome sin entirely, nor is anyone blameless of ever having committed sin:

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.” (1John 1:8-10)

We are helpless to overcome sin on our own. However, through cooperating with Jesus working in us through His Holy Spirit, it is possible, as long as we do not disparage His Spirit and keep ourselves in submission to Him. This is challenging, but not hopeless.

What John is conveying is that born again believers who willingly use their own will to follow His Will can overcome the propensity to sin. It’s not that we ever become perfect, but we will not knowingly, habitually remain in a life of sin and error if we are abiding in Him because we have the same heart; His Heart.

God commands His children to walk in blamelessness:

“when Abram was ninety-none years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.” (Genesis 7:1)

“You shall be blameless before the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 18:13)

For God does not ask His children to do anything without first giving them the ability to carry it out:

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” (1Corinthians 2:12)

Moreover, those who live uprightly the LORD fills with a rewarding and exceeding joy:

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,” (Jude 1:24)

“Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the LORD; and King David also rejoiced greatly.” (1Chronicles 29:9)

Also See: 2Samuel 22:21-25 & 2Chronicles 15:15-18

More parallel examples on God enabling Blamelessness:

“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the way of the LORD!” (Psalm 119:1)

“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” (Job 1:1)

“that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” (Philippians 2:15-16)

“For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God.”

(Deuteronomy 18:12-13)

“And you, who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.” (Colossians 1:20-23)

“These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.” (Revelation 14:4-6)

Also See: Genesis 44:10, Numbers 32:22, Psalm 18:23

This state of blamelessness is depicted as pure living; void of the need for repentance. And inasmuch as it is impossible to live without sin, the sin of a blameless man is that of occasional mistake/ error, in which there is no need for repentance:

“I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7)

Confession and repentance leads to God’s forgiveness, but for the wicked of heart, in which there is no repentance, that’s ‘the sin that leads to death:’

“If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.” (1John 5:16-18)

Moreover, it is God who grants repentance, which aligns with the enabling to please Him with pure hearts:

“in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance so that they may know the truth,” (2Titus 2:25)

Interestingly, this Truth is not always readily embraced by believers, possibly due to the worry of risking overconfidence; coming to the point of thinking they themselves have everything under control, which may result from intelligent, godly concern and observation. However, we can proceed with great caution, as we keep ourselves under God’s Strong Arm and away from self-confidence and self-assurance; keeping ourselves in the fear of the LORD.

Furthermore, we must never use our helplessness or human weakness as an excuse to continue in sin but remain humble and lowly, as God Commands:

“with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:2)

“This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk….” (Ephesians 4:17a)

Much of Paul’s teachings is parallel to John, as this passage illustrates in Ephesians:

“that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)

“keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be innocent of great transgression.” (Psalm 19:13)

LORD, HELP ME! I JUST WANT TO BE BLAMELESS IN YOUR SIGHT!

NKJV

Linzy has been writing for many years; seriously since her 3 kids were still young and inspirational. She has taken 2 courses in Bible studies and completed "Four Soils" Bible study course in a 26-month period; earning her certification in Bible Counselling.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

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