The Blameless Life

By Jason Little, jasonlittle@homeforyourfamily.com

Text:   Psalm 101

 Introduction:

 1.                  David is writing this psalm.  Could have been soon after he was anointed to be king, soon after he actually took the throne, or soon after the kingdom was united under his rule.

 2.                  The tone is one of firm resolve and decisive action.  This is the type of psalm that proves that David was a man after God’s own heart.  This is the psalm of a believer.

 3.                  David realizes that as a king, the people of Israel looked up to him as well as the enemies of Israel.  David knew that the people who watched him would never rise above the spiritual plain on which he lived. 

 4.                  David was not perfect, but neither was he a hypocrite.  As he writes this psalm, he is sure that he is right.  He determines to set a good example of a believer.

 5.                  We live in a world where the resolve to be an individual of character is not very strong.  Integrity is not very popular although it is desired.  Shame and disgrace are fading.  A humanistic attitude prevails.

 6.                  What is even more sad than this is that this type of behavior and attitude has infiltrated the church.  A life that is unquestionably lived by the book is hard to find. 

7.                  We as believers must understand that we are called of God to be a blameless people.  Why?  We serve a blameless God.  Anything short of this is a shame to His character. 

 8.                  When God saves us He saves us FROM our sin and TO righteousness.  A cleansed heart should evidence itself in a clean life.  Blameless Christian living is not an option. 

Romans 6:16-18

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey,

his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death,

or of obedience unto righteousness?

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

I           The Definition of a Blameless Life

 *The word “perfect” in verse 2 is the same as blameless.  It does not mean sinless perfection, but the desire to be like God.

 *Other words in Scripture from the Heb  blameless, sincerely, without blemish, uprightly, undefiled, sound, whole  this is not an isolated command

 *Two ideas:      1) Complete  as in a complete circle

2) Without blemish  without stains (lamb in OT)

 *The entire psalm is centered on the decision in verse 2 for the writer to live in a “perfect way.”

 *Few others in Scripture were called “perfect” or “blameless”

Noah  Genesis 6:9

David  I Kings 11:4

Asa  I Kings 15:14

Hezekiah II Kings 20:3

Job  Job 1:1

Zacharias and Elizabeth  Luke 1:5-6

*Even though the command to blameless stands, few will actually

strive to live the blameless life!

 *A blameless life is not something easily attained, nor easily kept.  It takes constant desire and dedication.  But it is possible!  The blameless life is required of all believers  not just a few!

Matthew 5:48

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father

which is in heaven is perfect.

*The Blameless Life consists of inner character and outer reputation  to be truly blameless, they must be in harmony!

 *Read I Thessalonians 5:22-24

 *From Psalm 101, the blameless life is. . .

 1.                  A wise life (v. 2a)

2.                  A watchful life (v. 2b)

3.                  A unwavering life (v. 2c)  consistent, not unstable

*Consistency is tested the greatest in the home.

 II         The Decisions of a Blameless Life

 *The desire to be blameless is good, but decisions must first be made in order to attain it.  The truth is that most of us are not willing to pay the price to have a blameless testimony.

 *There are 9 “wills” and 5 “shalls” in this Psalm  indicates intentional, conscious decisions.  It is not a matter of ability, it is a matter of obedience.  (Again, this is not the command to be perfect)

 *To be blameless is a command; therefore a Christian who does not care if they are blameless is a choice of disobedience.  The blameless life does not just happen because you are saved.

 *Illus: “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.”

 *It is not a better/best decision.  It is a right/wrong decision.  God has commanded us to be blameless  take it up with Him!  Anything less than a desire to be blameless is an affront to God Himself.

*The desire to be blameless should be the natural instinct of a child of God!

*Read Genesis 17:1, Deut. 18:13, Luke 6:40

 *Others: Jn. 17:23, I Cor. 2:6, II Cor. 13:11, Phil. 3:15,

Col 4:12  being perfect is the will of God!

 A.        Remember who God is and remember who we are. (V. 1)

 *Remember His mercy and His judgment.

*Remember that He is the LORD  He is holy.

* “When you come before the throne of grace, remember, you still are coming to a throne.”

 B.         Remove all wicked pleasures from our life (v. 3)

 * “Set” means to place or to consider   remove the temptations!  Sin is pleasurable for a season.

 *Illus: TV, internet, literature (How would God see it?)

*Ref: Romans 1:32

 *We must not intentionally or unintentionally expose ourselves to the wickedness of this world!

 * “It shall not cleave to me”   don’t let it stick

*We are in the world not of the world.  We not isolated, but insulated.

 C.        Refuse to be identified with the wrong crowd (vv. 3-8)

1.                  Them that turn aside  rebellious  v. 3

2.                  “ froward heart  perverse  v. 4

3.                  “ wicked person  no close relationship (know)

4.                  Whoso privily slandereth  slander, lies, gossip (v. 5)

5.                  High look/proud heart  proud  v. 5

6.                  He that worketh deceit  liars/deceptive  v. 7

 *Birds of a feather flock together.  A Christian should never be closely identified with the wrong crowd.  The philosophy of Abe like them to win them” is not Biblical.

Psalm 139:21

Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

* The wrong crowd should be replaced  v. 6.

 *Who are you most comfortable around?  Who are your closest friends?  Do they uplift your or do they pull you down?  Do they encourage you or do they tempt you?  Who are you identified with?

 III        The Delights of a Blameless Life

 *Being blameless and perfect in the sight of God is not a dreaded action  it is much to be desired!  God’s greatest blessings await those who are willing to take the steps necessary to be a blameless Christian!

 A.        The right relationship with man  influence!

 *To make a difference, you must be different.

*The world expects Christians to be holy and pure!

*Ps. 51            sinners converted (v. 13)

leadership established (v. 13)

 II Peter 1:19

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

 Proverbs 4:18

But the path of the just is as the shining light,

that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

 Philippians 2:15

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

 B.         The right relationship with God

 1.                  Peace  I Thess. 5:23; II Peter 3:14; Ps. 37:37

2.                  Fellowship  Gen 6:9  Noah walked with God

3.                  Strength of God 

II Chronicles 16:9

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

4.         The will of God  Prov. 11:5, Col 4:12, Heb. 13:21

5.         Fulfillment  James 1:4

6.         Unashamed at His coming  I Jn. 4:17, I Cor. 1:8,

I Thess 5:23, II Pet. 3:14

                        7.         Eternal Rewards – James 1:12

*Don’t forget  there is a price to being perfect in Christ.  It is not going to happen immediately.

 I Peter 5:10

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

*God desires for His children to pursue perfection in every area of life.  He does not want us to be satisfied with any stain of sin. 

*We simply cannot ignore the command of God to be blameless.

*Are you a Christian?  Have your sins been forgiven?

*Are you a blameless Christian  complete/without stain?

*Is there some form of wickedness in your life?

*Who are you associated with?

*Do you have the right relationship with God?