Some claim that we can achieve sinlessness. They cite the
fact that some believers have been called “blameless” or even “righteous.”
However, we have to understand the Bible’s use of its terms. What then does it
mean to be “blameless” or “righteous?” It certainly doesn’t mean to be sinless:
·
“If they sin against you—for there is no one who
does not sin—“ (1 Kings 8:46; ESV)
·
as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not
one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together
they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12)
Well, what do these terms mean? We need to understand them
as the Bible uses them. Paul referred to himself as “blameless”:
·
as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to
righteousness under the law, blameless. (Philippians 3:6)
However, “blameless” evidently only pertained to certain specific
performances under the law, not to sinlessness, since Paul also admitted that
he had been a “persecutor of the church” and the “worst of sinners” (1 Timothy
1:15).
We can understand Zechariah and Elizabeth in a similar way:
·
And they were both righteous before God, walking
blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. (Luke 1:6)
Were they sinless? Apparently not, since the archangel
Gabriel charged Zechariah with disbelief:
·
And behold, you will be silent and unable to
speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe
my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” (Luke 1:20)
Elsewhere, “blameless” is used to denote the absence of great sins:
·
Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent
from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let
them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of
great transgression. (Psalm 19:12-13)
What then does it mean to be “righteous before God?” Under
the Mosaic Law, it meant to be forgiven or reconciled. King David had committed
adultery and then had killed the woman’s husband. However, he considered
himself among the “righteous before God” and the “upright in heart”:
·
Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! (Psalm 32:11)
How could he conceive of himself in this manner? Because he
had confessed his sins to God and had received mercy:
·
I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not
cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and
you forgave the iniquity of my sin. (Psalm 32:5)
We find the same principle at work in the life of the most
righteous man, Job. Even he had sin, but he confessed it to God on two
occasions (Job 40; 42). As a result, God regarded Job as if he had never made his wild accusations against
God:
·
Now therefore [you three friends] take seven
bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for
yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer
not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me
what is right, as my servant Job has.” (Job 42:8)
Evidently, Job was not sinless, but, more importantly, God
regarded him as such.
We cannot ignore the many verses that teach that we all are dependent upon the mercy of God
because all sin:
·
If we say 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. (1 John 1:8-9)
·
For we all stumble in many ways. (James 3:2)
These verses do not in any way justify a cavalier attitude
about sin. We are commanded to be holy as Christ is holy (1 Peter 1:15). Instead,
they point to the glory of our merciful God and Savior, Jesus, who took our
sins upon Himself that we might become the righteousness of God (1 Cor. 5:21).
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