Reading today in Philippians 2, I came across this passage in verses 14 and 15.
Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,
In this chapter, Paul is discussing character. The two words “blameless” and “innocent” just seem to jump off the page as I read this passage. I wonder what it means to be blameless. How is it possible to be innocent, considering that I know that not just me, but all of us are guilty of sin? Doesn’t the bible teach that “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23)?
I belive there are 2 types of “blamelessness”. Both of these are important for Christians to udnerstand. The first is moral blamelessness. The second is positional blamelessness. Moral blamelessness is a concept that goes back to the old testament. Animals offered as sacrifices had to be completely without defect. This was a requirement of the physical nature of the animals. It is from this concept that we draw the idea of moral perfection on the part of people. In Psalm 19:13, David prayed, “keep your servant also from willful sin. Then I will be blameless.” David was praying for moral blamelessness in this psalm. Of course, David was no different than any of the rest of us in that he was NOT perfect. His example, however, shows us that it is something that we must seek. Christ, alone, was a human example of moral perfection. During his life on earth, he never committed an act that was sinful. His sacrifice on our behalf REQUIRED an unblemished and blameless man. Hebrews 9:14 and 1 Peter 1:19 both confirm that this is precisely what Christ was…unblemished and blameless.
As humans, we are not unblemished. As I said earlier, we have all sinned. How is it, then, that Paul said we should strive to prove ourselves blameless and innocent? This statement refers to the POSITIONAL blamelessness that we have in Christ. Colossians 1:22 reads, “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” You see, before God, because of his active sacrifice through Jesus Christ, we ARE blameless and innocent. This is the role of Christ before God as our High Priest.
Even though we are NOT morally blameless because of sin, we should, like David, strive to live in such a way that causes us to be above reproach (blameless) before men as well. This is what Paul meant by “…above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation…” This is a character that we, as Christians, should ALL be striving to have. This is who Christ was, and we are to live as he did. Christ, himself, said, “be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” This is a commandment of God that we strive to obey. Why is it important that we do this? Is it because we want to be “better” than those on the “outside”? NO! It is so that we can shine the light of God’s love in such a way that will draw them to Him. Note the last part of what Paul said in verse 15, “…among whom you appear as lights in the world…”