“And I pray God your whole spirit and soul, and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23
In Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, after dealing with many subjects and teaching, he concludes with a position of faith, and this based upon the covenant work of God, and His promises. He writes, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly…” (5:23) He goes on to specifically show where that work of sanctification is to be applied…to their spirit, soul, and body. In other words, Paul is declaring to the believers at Thessalonica that which he is specifically believing God to do in them, it being very real, tangible, and effective. He speaks of being “preserved blameless.” Does he mean being absolutely without sin and faults? No. John, in his first epistle wrote concerning this, and the balance one must have. But he is speaking of walking in the light, being kept from sin, its effects, and in particularly its shame and blame. The believer is to walk, looking unto Jesus, trusting Him to not only save him for eternity, but to save him day by day, so that being kept clean and with purity of heart, he is “blameless” before the Lord Jesus, with nothing between. How then can the believer do this?
Let’s consider two solid stepping stones, which we will call active positions of faith, for though the highest motive for walking with Christ is love, the basic principle by which one can love and serve Him is by exercising faith. But true faith has a basis, and that is the holy nature of God, revealed in His word, specifically in His covenant relationship with His children. Faith has but one object, and that is God. However, God has given the believer certain stepping stones of faith, which, if the believer will trust God according to these active positions of faith, God will bless in a manner that will not only enable the believer to be blameless, but as Habakkuk put it, “… to make my feet like hind’s feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places.” (3:19)
The first of these positions of faith is the blood of Christ. There are many things that one needs to know about the meaning of the blood of Christ, but also, how it applies to the life of the believer. Foremost is found in Jesus’ declaration to His disciples: “For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission (forgiveness) of sins.” (Matt. 26:28) The blood of Christ is the declaration of a covenant between God and man. It is so powerful, eternal, and applicable in the greatest and possible measure, that God in Christ declares that ALL sin can be washed away, removed forever from the one who will truly trust in Christ’s saving power. Scripture tells us that the blood washes away sin, cleanses the believer from all sin. The blood also justifies man before God, enabling him to draw near to God in full assurance of faith, and overcome the enemy because of it saving, and delivering properties and power. Hence, the blood of Christ is to be claimed, to be applied to the full extent of its power and purpose, “on earth as it is in heaven.” This is the covenant commitment of God, total freedom from sin, from its guilt, consequent shame, and any condemnation that goes with it.
The cross is the second stepping stone, for by Christ’s immutable, perpetual, finished and completed work on Calvary, God declares His way of totally dealing with all that concerns the sinner, setting the sinner free from sin’s power, grip, and destiny. In Jesus Christ’s death, the believing sinner was crucified and buried. He died with Christ. The covenant God declares that this work was finished, thus having tremendous, and very tangible applications to the life and walk of the believer. It is essential to claim the blood and cross by faith.
Dear Father, Sanctify us wholly today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.