… and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
Summary: Parsing Paul’s words is always a challenge and always rewarding.
This passage presents us with two enormous questions:
One is what it means to be “pure and blameless for the day of Christ,” and the other is what Paul means by the “day of Christ?”
The answers to these questions depend on how you personally view the Bible.
The Bible is either a book written by people about God, or it is a book written by God for people. These are two very different things.
Of course, almost all Christians will agree that the Bible is the “inspired” Word of God, but what does that mean? To clearly understand God’s Word, we need to be clear in our own minds about what this means.
From a human perspective, time is a sequential series of events. From God’s perspective, time does not seem to exist (See Psalm 90:4 and Revelation 1:8).
If we apply this to today’s passage, our human perspective wants to assign the “day of Christ” to a certain “day” in the future. From God’s perspective, the “day of Christ” could be any day or every day. For you, personally, the “day of Christ” could be the day you part ways with our human flesh and meet Jesus fully and completely in the spirit.
Returning to the question of what it means to be “pure and blameless,” let’s ponder what that means.
Paul prays that our love “may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ…”
There is a theme here that is echoed throughout Scripture. We need to love God above all else (Matthew 22:37). Loving God means we also love Jesus (John 10:30).
The miracle of faith in Jesus is that by his sacrifice of blood on the cross, we who are unrighteous are made righteous in God’s eyes. Through faith in Jesus, we become “pure and blameless.”
Loving God is not a one-time deal. Love that abounds in knowledge and depth of insight realizes that we need to put God’s will above our own, all day, every day. Then, whether you are waiting for Jesus to visit the whole earth on one day or whether you expect to meet him when you die, you know that you need to love God above all else, all the time.
Application: Love God above all else, 24/7.
Food for Thought: How does being ready for the day of Christ impact our days on earth?
Thank you for your devotion brother.
Another thought on this passage is that this is not just to an individual believer, but the whole church. That could make a difference in how we think of the day of Christ.
But we should live every day as this is our last. If that were the case, how would we live? What would we share with others? What would be our priorities? Perhaps then that is how we should live, what we should share, and what our priorities should be.
Thank you, Rich!
Interesting that you mention the whole church as opposed to the individual believer. To my way of thinking, the “church” is a name for a collection of individual believers. The church as an entity cannot read, think, or feel. Only the individuals that make up the church can do those things. So, for that reason, I tend to favor the idea that Paul’s words are to us as individuals.
And yes, as individuals, loving God above all else changes our priorities radically. 🙂
I hear you brother. But as Americans we tend to think individually instead of corporately. I only brought up the corporate idea as a thought. Not disagreeing. Just something I try to keep in mind in the context.
Thanks Rich!
Fair point! I didn’t take it as disagreement. 🙂
I hope I didn’t come across that way either!
Thank you!!
No worries brother. Not at all. Just clarifying I was not trying to be obstinate 😊.
How does being ready for the day of Christ impact our days on earth?
I think people can live out that idea into some extremes: legalism or apathy for daily life. Spending their life denying themselves everything or denying themselves nothing. I think if we are getting ready for the day of Christ, the day when we will bow before Him and give an account for the stewardship of our life, we would want our life to be a reflection of His redeeming power.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
Ephesians 5:15-21 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Thank you, Chris!
Nicely said!
Great Devotion and Meditation Guys!!
How does being ready for the day of Christ impact our days on earth?
Being a Christian is not a retirement program, it is a way of life. LIFE given to us by God as we turn from our own weak, human efforts of righteousness and to true righteousness which is freely given to each as we humbly receive His Lordship over our lives.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8
As Believers, we become acutely aware of the “true life” we have been given by God as He in His power and timing reveals and removes all that prevents our having a growing relationship with Him. It is His power that called us and His power that cleanses us of all sin, and His power that gives us righteousness. Freedom from the powers of sinful thoughts and actions, which become repulsive to the new person He is creating.
We simply become and remain alert to His will being revealed for our lives and submit to His leading as He in His power transforms us into the being He has known since before creation of all we see.
Praise God or the life we now have in our Lord Jesus Christ!
Should read, Praise God for the life we now have in our Lord Jesus Christ!
Thank you, Ron!
“We simply become and remain alert to His will…”
The Greatest Commandment, beautifully stated! 🙂