Most people in the church know that the pastors, church staff, deacons, and other ministry leaders are to live a life that glorifies God and is holy. What most in the church do not realize is that the call to live a life of holiness is the call for all Christians. The Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote:
Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world (Philippians 2:14-15, NASB).
Paul is writing to the saints of Philippi along with the elders and deacons (Philippians 1:1). No where in the prior passages or the ones after this one is he saying this only applies to the leaders of the church. Being above reproach is a call for all believers.
What does above reproach mean? It simply means without accusation, blameless, and some would define it as perfect. Other translations have above reproach translated as "without blemish" (ESV), "faultless" (CSB), and "without rebuke" (KJV). Does this mean Christians are to be perfect or sinless? No.
We will still struggle with sin, but the difference is we repent of sin. 1 John 1:9 says if we confess our sins, God will forgive us. Being above reproach is simply living the life of a believer, which constitutes faith and repentance. The Apostle exhorted the believers in Colossae:
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 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 (Colossians 1:21-22, ESV).
One day, Christ will present His bride, the church, as holy and above reproach to the Father. Till then, we are to "put to death therefore what is earthly in you" (Colossians 3:5, ESV) and live as citizens of heaven while we wait for our Savior to appear (Philippians 3:20-21).
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