Does God command that which is impossible? Can we be sinless? Can we be obedient? Notice from Gen. 17:1-2, what God COMMANDED of Abraham: “…I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee...”.
Notice that the command to “be blameless” was the CONDITION upon which the covenant rested. It was the 'foundation' upon which the blessings would come. The condition of “be blameless” has characterized EVERY covenant offered to man by God. Was obedience possible from Abraham? Whatever definition is put forth for ‘blameless’, one thing ought not change....IT WAS A COMMAND given to Abraham. Being a command......IT WAS “DO-ABLE”!
The significance of being a command provides us with the evidence as to what ‘blameless’ both cannot mean, as well as what it MUST mean. ‘Blameless’ cannot mean 'sinless' (remember Rom. 3:23); it must therefore mean 'obedient'. Obedience is possible because of God’s grace/mercy, but still, obedience is commanded! However, grace/mercy are not commands, but promises from God. A promise cannot be obeyed; a command, however, can be. In connection with obedience, there is a command to repent, and it is this that God commands of ALL (Acts 17:30-31).
By this, we understand another aspect of God's grace/mercy; the long-suffering
of God (cf. 2 Peter 3:9). God'
s long-suffering demonstrates His desire
for man to repent (turn from) his sins and become obedient (submit to) His
Son. In turning from sinful living to a submissive life of obedience, each does
as God commanded of Abraham: “walk before me AND BE BLAMELESS”.
This was what
God purposed for man. In this, we understand the teaching of the apostle Paul
in Eph. 2:8-10: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should
boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”