For this series in Philippians, I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

2:15   that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

In our last post we began this challenging verse and discussed the first two descriptions of the believer when Paul used the concepts of blameless and innocence.

Lets continue with the apostle Paul’s teaching for the believer.

Without Blemish

Can anyone hear the book of Leviticus when this phrase is written. That particular English phrase is used 17 times in the book of Leviticus (and an additional 17 times in the book of Numbers), always speaking of the quality of a sacrifice for the Lord. A good example is in Number 6:14, where Moses is trying to make a point!

Numbers 6:14 and he shall bring his gift to the LORD, one male lamb a year old without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb a year old without blemish as a sin offering, and one ram without blemish as a peace offering,

Obviously, Paul is not speaking of lambs or rams without blemish in our passage today. The thought has morphed into a characteristic of the believer, an outgrowth of the thought life described in the passages previously. Some passages translate the greek word ἄμωμος (amōmos) as above reproach, as in Colossians 1:22.

Colossians 1:22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

To be without blemish (above reproach) speaks of a life lived that no one may find opportunity of criticism, no reason for someone to bring a just complaint against the believer. It is to be without fault, which begs the question of our being weak and frail in our lives. We sometimes fall, and we may find mercy from the Lord, yet in this description of the believer, we must admit that to be above reproach in this world requires humilty in front of those who may be against us, of our admission of sin in front of those who know not the Lord.

Is there no limit to the topic on humilty in Pauls message in this chapter? Yet we need to keep short accounts of our failings with Him, as we often speak, and of our failings with those who are watching us, those who are in the Lord and those who are not!

Shine as Lights in the World

Lights in the world.

Let’s consider the effect of light for a moment. Paul speaks to one effect of light in Ephesians 5:13

Ephesians 5:13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible

Light is that which reveals. But, at the risk of being picky, I want to remind my reader that Paul uses the term in the plural, not the individual. Of couse the individual is required to be a light in this world, but Paul is going “congregational” here. He is looking for the body of Christ to be as lights in this world, a unified humble presence that as we interact with our neighbors, our combined character and presence would be that which reveals the unrighteous and evil nature of the culture we walk in. A counter culture, fueled by the love of God, not motivated by some impending judgement from God, living to His glory, rejecting the self glorification that is so pernicious in this old world.

My friends, take note of Paul’s admonition in this verse to maintain a singular thought life, of keeping or repairing relationships with our neigbor, and of living together with our brothers and sisiters in unity, humbly considering others better than ourselves. (See Philippian Bits – 2:3). For this we desperately need the Lord’s Spirit to be active and obeyed as we seek His kingdom.

Be blessed my friend. May the Lord be working in our lives to produce that which is pleasing in His sight!

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