May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23, NIV
Paul prays that these believers would be “kept” blameless. He doesn’t pray that God would “make” them blameless. He says, “May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless,” implying that we already are.
You may say, “I don’t know if that could be said of me. I’m far from perfect.” Notice, Paul doesn’t say, “May you be kept sinless.” We are far from sinless. We all sin in many ways. Instead, Paul says, “May you be kept blameless.” What does that mean?
To “blame” means to find fault with for an offense, to fix the responsibility on, or to hold a person responsible. We all sin in many ways. But in Christ, God has chosen not to fault you over that. He has decided, in His mercy, not to fix responsibility for that on you. How did He do that? He put the blame for your sins on His Son, Jesus Christ. God held Him responsible for your sins.
He took the blame! He bore the wrath on the cross!
The reason you will enter heaven is not that you are without sin. Your sins are many. The reason you will enter heaven is that you are without blame, because Christ took the blame for you.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them (2 Cor. 5:19).
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21).
Jesus’ blood cleanses us from every sin, and it goes on washing you so that when He appears you will be blameless, kept by His grace. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.
How can a person who is not sinless, be blameless before God?
