Paul said blameless not sinless

Wait what? Mr.Eddryll what did you just say? Read through it all first and worry not on the overly detailed phrasing and definitions and see whether you would make sense of it. Our calling as Christians is to be blameless. Yes I am highlighting one part of it in your Christian faith. Amazingly, this also applies to non-believers. To be blameless. Not sinless. Because let's face it, the human race is imperfect, marred, broken and sinful. I had one student came up to me once saying "Sir week in week out you keep saying we are broken and imperfect and it sounds really patronizing....but it's true lah, it's true". Hahaha. But in no way I wanted to patronize, the whole reason I emphasize that is that by first understanding that position only then can I spur you to true excellence. Not by having the pride and ego that you can do it but knowing that on your own you cannot. I too come from the same position of being broken.

So what do I mean by blameless? It is this. When people look at you they cannot find anything wrong with you. Yes you have your quirks, bad habits, mistakes for a simple reason in which we are only human. But being blameless is when people go "Hmmm I find nothing wrong with her, yeah she is a little perfectionist and overly organized...but nothing wrong". Because she knows who she is. Her identity is stable and secure. The Hebrew word for blameless is tamin which means 'whole' and 'integrated'. For Christians, they are called to live blameless lives in where it refers to public respectability that flows from the individual's character. It is when people talk about the individual, it becomes hard to talk bad about him or her. Because you find them blameless. Take note I did not say perfect. You can say Eddryll talks to much, his jokes are not funny, he speaks without thinking for example and on and on I could go. That is just normal talk. You can laugh it off.  But if I am blameless, it is saying "Yeah he talks too much, but he is all right. I find nothing wrong with him anyway". It usually should conclude as such.

Here are few simple rules on being blameless.
Two verses that are pregnant with this idea is in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued,[c] not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must[d] be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. (Timothy)

6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife,[c] and his children are believers[d] and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer,[e] as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction insound[f] doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.(Titus)

1.Knowing Your Identity 

          In there mentions blameless in Timothy and to be 'above reproach' in Titus. Verse 9 of Timothy says that they hold the mystery of their faith with a clear conscience. Verse 9 in Titus- hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught. In this case, to be blameless is to first know your identity. The mystery of the faith is that we are all sinful people in need of God's grace. Jesus died for our sins to be our Lord and saviour and we believe it by repenting and turning our hearts back to Him. That creation that once tried to live as the creator now submit to the true creator and we live according to how we were designed to be as creations created in God's image. Knowing your identity. 

2. Must be tested

           Head knowledge and heart are two different things. That is why knowing is just not enough. It is believing it. Knowing that Christ died for you is not enough. It is believing with your heart. Romans 10: 10 "For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved". A friend once gave an analogy of making tea with our lives. If you leave the tea only in the cup it will only stay at the bottom. Only when you pull it up and down does the tea truly permeate the whole cup. Same goes for us. Sometimes for us to grow, God really needs to invade our lives are toss it around for the faith to be tested. To make it your creed. To live what you believe till the hope of Christ is all that's left in you. to truly come to know the weight of His glory as you walk closely with the Father.

3. Wife as a litmus test (Vice versa)

           The wife! They play a part. Or at least are evidence of you being blameless.Verse 11 in Tim mentions that they too should lead exemplary lives because their lives reflects how the husband exercise his headship in the family. Both Timothy and Titus emphasized husband of ONE wife. Sometimes the best way to see how one is blameless is by looking at their marriage. The marriage that is to portray to love of Christ with the Church as the bride. The marriage that is to reflect the gospel of unconditional grace and love. A family is the basic unit of a society and if you fail at the family level what more to the higher stages? Same goes for the female in them being blameless. Are they emasculating their husbands? Are they not being the helper that their husband needs? 

4. Humility and you will fail

             Perhaps the most important one of all. This is where all 3 points above are combined under this foundation. The foundation of being humble. Humility then takes out pride and ego out of the equation. Only through humility can a Christian discover the depth of their identity. Identity as sinner and finite. Unable to make right with God with your own strength. Only through humility would you understand your position as creation in regards to the creator. Only then can you be tested as you learn to trust God who is ever more ready and capable to bring you through the storms.

             And here is the thing. You will fail miserably at it.(Read more on brokenness here). Because we are humans. All the 3 points above would not matter if you do not realize this and for this to happen you need to be really honest and humble yourself. That is why for us, we can truly say how amazing God's grace is. How beautiful is his grace that is overflowing that it is more than sufficient. Again, God never called us to sinless perfection but as sinners saved by grace to continue depending on God as he continues to sanctify you. Perfection is already found in Christ.(For more info on perfection in Christ read here). We continue to persevere as we look to Jesus our author and perfector of our faith. 

              God told Abraham in Genesis 17:1 "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless". What does it mean to walk before God and be blameless? To walk just like Adam first walked with God in my opinion. To walk with nothing to hide, perfect and spotless(now because of Christ), in perfect harmony of trusting Him surrendering your all to Him, and finally simply by his amazing grace as you continue to fail.

              It just dawned on me how much there is to cover and this is too lengthy. But to conclude, as you walk in tandem with Christ and understand his love that surpasses all knowledge, you will begin to see and experience the fullness of his glory and him being your ultimate and only treasure. Then you would be as how the rest of Timothy and Titus puts it. Dignified, not double-tongued, not arrogant, not quick tempered, not a drunk, holy and disciplined. 

             Why? Because in all humility you understand that we are oh so finite and sinful and that God's grace abounds way way more than our sin and knowing that being in a relationship with him we come to love him, trust him more day by day as he sanctifies us. When we know our secure safe identity that would stand the testing being lived out in how we are as people like to your husbands and wives we are on the journey of being blameless. Remember, perfection is found in Christ not by your effort.