In God the Father – holy and blameless

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.” Ephesians 1v4 (AMP)

So, God the Father in His love, chose us, picked us for Himself in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless in His sight. I began to wonder what does holy mean in this sense and started to do some Bible study. What does God really expect of us? Does holiness mean He has inferred upon us holiness just as we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21) or do we have some part to play in this? In the course of this study, some scriptures became highlighted. For example Romans 12v1 (AMP) which says “I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship).” From 1 Corinthians 3v16-17 (please see below) I draw an analogy - the temple in the olden days which was a physical building. Then it was the temple and approved of God because God will put His name on it and the ark of His presence. God had sanctified it in a sense to Himself. On the other hand, there were specific codes of conduct that the priest had to adhere to, and probably the people as well had to approach in certain ways. But now, we are that temple, chosen and inhabited by God’s Spirit.

Supplementary Text

“Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God’s temple (His sanctuary), and that God’s Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]? If anyone does hurt to God’s temple or corrupts it [with false doctrines] or destroys it, God will do hurt to him and bring him to the corruption of death and destroy him. For the temple of God is holy (sacred to Him) and that [temple] you [the believing church and its individual believers] are.” 1 Corinthians 3v16-17 (AMP)

Prayer

Father, I thank You for calling me to be holy and blameless before You. Thank You for setting me apart to be Yours. I yield my all to You and pray You will be glorified in and through me in Jesus name, amen.