WHEN an Israelite was permitted to bring an offering to God, this was one of God’s distinctly stated requirements. Again and again we hear it repeated, “without blemish,” “WITHOUT BLEMISH!” “It shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.”
Every thoughtful person will freely admit that nobody is quite perfect. But how few stop to consider that this is a plain acknowledgment that no man in his own personal merits can be accepted before God. Who can honestly say, “There is no blemish in my character”? Who can claim purity of motive even for his best deeds, to say nothing of the shady acts which would not bear the close investigation of a dozen decent men?
Man only tolerates his fellow-man because he does not thoroughly know him, and the little he does know becomes a welcome off set against all he knows of himself.
No blemish! Why, “the whole head is sick, the whole heart is faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it” (Isa. 1:5, 65Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. (Isaiah 1:5‑6)). Only One upon earth could ever claim perfect suitability to God. Only One could face both friend and foe and say, “Which of you convinceth Me of sin?” (John 8:4646Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? (John 8:46)).
He, Jesus, met all the malice of the enemy, all the opposition of man, without a word or even look that was not in perfect accord with the heart of God. With His word He foiled the gainsayer, dispelled disease, and made death give back his prey. With His word He comforted the brokenhearted, and invited the weary to share His own rest. In His holy life He was accessible to all, and even in the moment of deepest shame and suffering found leisure of heart to entertain the appeal of a dying robber. Ah, there is none like Jesus! Blessed Savior! Without blemish? Yes. But far, far more. No negative could express what He was. All that God could wish for in man He found in that Man, and heaven and earth were called to listen to an expression of His delight in Him (Matt. 3:16,1716And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:16‑17)). “The pleasure of Jehovah” ever “prospered in His hand.” No blemish. All perfection there.
But some troubled soul may inquire, “Of what avail is it to me that He has no blemish, since I have so many?”
Of what avail? Why, don’t you see that it is the unblemished perfection of Jesus that constitutes Him a fitting, acceptable sacrifice for such as you? A sacrifice must be “perfect to be accepted.” Therefore, of what avail would be His sacrifice and death for me a sinner if God had not accepted Him as my Substitute?
Notice this. All a believer’s hopes are centered on His perfections. “He offered Himself without spot TO GOD.” “He gave Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God” (Eph. 5:22And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor. (Ephesians 5:2)). Mark, it was not to us He offered Himself, but
TO GOD
FOR US.
“He once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might
BRING US
TO GOD.”
You have not, therefore, to turn in upon yourself for any proof of acceptance. You must turn to God and let Him tell you what He thinks of the acceptability of the work of Christ for you.
Jesus is worthy of the exalted place He now occupies in heaven, and God seeks to give Him an exalted place in your heart. On the ground of your own personal merits you are forever debarred from all hope of acceptance. On the ground of His merits you may stand in perfect acceptance today.