Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good morning, dear ones.
Besides some other plans for the day, we’re trying to get off to take Thano and his two little boys on a hike to the top of Multnomah Falls. In all this heat, that should prove to be an exercise in perspiration. We will carry lunches and plan to eat at the top.
Insofar as a declaration of personal independence is concerned, I think that our reading is very relevant.
Be dependent upon the One who won your independence from the tyranny of sin—and have a blessed day.
Love, Dad/Ray.
Think of it! By God doing His part (love and grace) and you doing your part (faith and obedience), you can actually come through this dirty, dark, dangerous, disturbing, and deceptive world BLAMELESS! Now is that good news or what? This is not to say that there will be no bumps and bruises or no frustrations and failures. It does mean that IF, through it all, we learn to prioritize pleasing God and appropriating His Word, we will be able to remove from ourselves the universal cause for man standing guilty and condemned before a Holy God, and be abundantly ready when Christ returns for His “glorious Church, without spot or wrinkle,” absolutely blame-free. (Read again Rom. 8:1-2)
Let’s take a moment here to look again at verse 23 in its entirety: “May the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Please understand that half conversion (if that is possible) and luke-warmness are not adequate antidotes to the wrath of God (see again verse 9). If we are at all concerned with being right and repaired and ready before God, we MUST understand the high importance of our striving to be sanctified completely—“through and through” (see 2 Corinthians 7:1) to the point that our entire “spirit, soul and body” are made and maintained BLAMELESS. I judge that this is a reasonable and attainable pursuit for one with A HEART AFTER GOD, but absolutely impossible for anyone else.