Understanding "BLAMELESS"

BLAMELESS ~ SINLESS, or OBEDIENT?

Does God command of us something that is impossible?

~ Can we be sinless?

~ Can we be obedient?

Notice from Genesis 17:1-2, what God COMMANDED Abraham to DO:

"When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I am God Almighty; walk before me, AND BE BLAMELESS, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly'.”

Notice, that the command to "be blameless" was the CONDITION upon which the covenant rested; it was the 'rock'; 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 of Abraham? Didn't God command it of him?

What does "blameless" mean? Whatever definition is put forth, one thing does not change....IT WAS A COMMAND given to Abraham. Being a command......IT WAS "DO-ABLE"! Being commanded, provides the evidence as to what "blameless" cannot mean, as well as what it must mean.

"Blameless" cannot mean 'sinless' (remember Rom. 3:23), but rather 'obedient'. Obedience is only possible because of God's grace/mercy. But obedience is commanded! However, grace/mercy are NOT commands of man, 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 (2 Peter 3:9). God's long-suffering demonstrates His desire for man to repent of (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."