A Blameless and Upright Man

“Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil (Job 1:8)?”"Nearly every time someone brings up Job the focus is on his suffering and moreover how God allowed Satan to test Job. It gives many Christians biblical, albeit anecdotal, support to blame God for their present suffering. They feel as if Satan is picking on them and God is idly standing by letting it all happen. Compile this with the fact that most Christians still believe God is holding their sins against them or, at the very least, believe their sins separate them from God, and you have the recipe for a defeated Christian. When you throw this belief in along with all the trials and tribulations of life it can be tough to see any hope in it at all. However, there is one thing that many Christians do not know about their identity in Christ, but is also plain as day even in this Old Testament verse from Job. Job is 42 chapters long and mostly full of Job’s suffering and his interactions with his friends and with God. Yet, right here at the beginning of the book God says one thing about Job that often goes unnoticed; Job is a “blameless and upright man” in God’s eyes. God may have allowed Job to suffer at the hands of Satan, but it wasn’t because He was punishing Job for his sins. In fact, you could make the argument that God was bragging on Job by allowing Satan to test him. While I can’t say that God is doing this to His servants today, I am sure of one thing; in God’s eyes, all who have placed faith in Jesus Christ are blameless and upright.

In Colossians 1:21-22 we read, “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight…” The death of Jesus Christ has reconciled Christians to God and because of it we are holy, blameless and above reproach. To be holy means we are sanctified; set apart for works of righteousness. To be blameless means we are innocent, guiltless and perfect in God’s eyes. Above reproach means that no criticism can be made about us; we are flawless! You may ask yourself, “How can this be? I still sin and a holy God cannot have fellowship with someone in sin.” God answers that question. In Hebrews 10:17-18 we read, “"Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.” God knows you still sin, but He has chosen not to remember your sin or hold against you because of the eternal forgiveness we have through Christ’s once and for all sacrifice for sins. Therefore, we are able to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).” Our right standing before God and our fellowship with Him is not conditional on our being able to rid ourselves of every sin, but to recognize we can boldly approach God when we do to sin; not being afraid that He is going to punish us or send Satan to destroy our lives. That is why the Bible says, “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:9). ”God is faithful, not us! Despite the trials and tribulations of life, we are blameless and upright in the eyes of God just like Job because of our faith in Jesus Christ. The battle with Satan has already been won!