BLAMELESSNESS

BLAMELESS

 

 

"An overseer, then, must be above reproach..."  1 Tim. 3:2

 

America as well as the world and especially Europe has been busy redefining words as well as what they mean and the churches have followed suit. Too many times the news media is glad to report of a situation in a church that reflects the tolerance of men in the office and work of a bishop, pastor, overseer, shepherd (all the same person according to Acts 20) as not having the character trait of blamelessness. Not only is the pastor not blameless, the followers of that man are also sinning daily that grace might abound. And their state that they live in will eventually fix as stated in Rev. 22:11 "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." All those trips to the confessional and those that counsel endlessly on a prevailing sin go into eternity sealed in their sinning behavior. They might be politically correct in their minds and probably are. Walking as He walked is not possible in the environment created. Therefore I took a trip through the Bible to see what Jesus says is the correct definition of that word and find that political correctness has invaded the church house.

 

According to the Word of Jesus, the Bible, it defines blameless as:

Guiltless, free from sin and error in a legal sense, not able to be punished, innocent. Judges 15:3
Greek, "unexceptionable"; as the result of public investigation unaccused [TITTMANN].
The character trait needed to qualify for the pastorate. 1 Tim 3:2.
The servant of the Lord from the beginning was to be of that character to serve. Gen. 44:10.
Qualification of keeping an oath. Josh. 2:17.

Qualities of John's parents Zacharias and Elizabeth in Luke 1:6 as well as further described as righteous and walking in ALL of His commandments and ordinances.
Seen to be the perfect reflection of the Lord Jesus Christ made possible by the faithfulness and calling of Him in 1 Cor. 1:8.
Also further described as the harmless sons of God without rebuke in the midst of others who are not in Phil. 2:15.
As concerning the law found to be righteous as well as zealous (dedicated, consecrated, persistantly vigil, bringing all your powers to a consecrated effort of attaining) for your belief as Saul in Phil. 3:6
How the true christian is KEPT through the power of the sanctifier work of the word and Holy Spirit unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in 1 Thess. 5:23.
The whole person is promised this <spirit, soul, and body> The physical, psychical, pneumatic nature of man. There will not only be the perfecting of each part, but the perfecting of all three in their proper relationships, absolutely blameless. That is a recognition of the threefold fact of human personality finally reached. Man is essentially spirit and flesh, and he has a mind, or consciousness, or soul. The spirit is the essential, the body is the expressional, and the mind is the consciousness, which is either spiritual or fleshly according to whether spirit or flesh is in the ascendant in the life. The distinction between spirit and soul is sharply maintained throughout the Scriptures.... I think the teaching of revelation concerning the nature of man was most lucidly expressed by Justin Martyr, "As the body is the house of the soul, so is the soul the house of the spirit."
The spirit is justified when you believe, the mind is sanctified through processes, but not until the perfected body is given to us can we come to the ultimate meaning of our salvation in Christ. In this tabernacle we groan, not until the body is made the perfect instrument of the spirit life.
*ITS NATURE-A work wherein God will wholly finish the process of sanctification. This sanctification is based on past sanctification, but it is personal and progressive, moving toward the point of perfection.
*ITS TIME-It will be finished at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Either by resurrection or transformation. See Phil 1:6 which speaks of "until the day of Christ." The completion of the process.
*ITS RESULT-We are made like Christ. See 1 John 3:2 where we are "like Him." Similiar, not gods, but like Him as a perfect man.
*ITS MEANS-It will be accomplished by the unhindered vision of Christ. See 1 John 3:2 where it says "see Him as He is." For then we will have better eyes to see Him with. Better mouths to praise Him with. Better ears to listen to His truth. A perfected body with better parts.
*ITS CERTAINTY-It is pledged by the faithfulness of God. 1 Thes 5:24 w/ 23.
Therefore the state of the true believer who awaits the final step of perfection - the replacement of the present body with the one which is the perfect instrument for His service and with which we will never groan again.
The overseer, pastor, elder is to be of this character trait in 1 Tim. 3:2. (His role as the superintendant of the church body he has been alloted by Christ). Also the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach.He is unrebukeable. (Greek anepileptos.) Titus 1:6-7 further qualifies them with faithful children. (anegkletos)
Quality of the deacon also in 1 Tim. 3:10. (Different Greek term used - anegkletos.) Found to be blameless then they are allowed to serve.
Trait of true poor widows after their family have cared for them and can't do anything further, the church household then are to treat them as Christ would so that they might remain blameless in 1 Tim. 5:7.
God's children are to be diligent to be found in that state with that quality in 2 Pet. 3:14. (Unblameable, in peace and without spot). Some need to get busy.

These are the qualities of one who has been close to His Lord and Teacher of John 13:13, who have received the cleansing words of Christ and make corrections furnished by the ministry of the Spirit, having used the feetwashing commandment as well as 1 John 1:9 as well as James 1 instructions concerning the anointing with oil - all commands of the Lord and Teacher to keep one of His own spotless and therefore blameless.

O.T. naqah, naw-kaw'; a prim. root; to be (or make) clean (lit. or fig.); by impl. (in an adverse sense) to be bare, i.e. extirpated:--acquit X at all, X altogether, be blameless, cleanse, (be) clear (-ing), cut off, be desolate, be free, be (hold) guiltless, be (hold) innocent, X by no means, be quit, be (leave) unpunished, X utterly, X wholly

anaitios, an-ah'-ee-tee-os; from G1 (as a neg. particle) and G159 (in the sense of G156); innocent:--blameless, guiltless as the temple priests asked who were guilty.

N.T. anegkletos, an-eng'-klay-tos; from G1 (as a neg. particle) and a der. of G1458; unaccused, i.e. (by impl.) irreproachable:--blameless

amemptos, am'-emp-tos; from G1 (as a neg. particle) and a der. of G3201; irreproachable:--blameless, faultless, un-blame able.

anepileptos, an-ep-eel'-ape-tos; from G1 (as a neg. particle) and a der. of G1949; not arrested, i.e. (by impl.) inculpable:--blameless, unrebukeable.