Works (Vol 7) - Goodwin - IX - Book I continued (Of gospel holiness)

Required reading
The Works (Vol 7) by Thomas Goodwin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Book I (Of gospel holiness) by reading Chapters 3 & 4.

My summary
Today we continue Goodwin's exposition of Paul's prayer: 'And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.' (Philippians 1:9-11).

In Chapter 3 Goodwin explains what is meant by Christians being without offence 'until the day of Christ' rather than 'till the day of death'.

Then in Chapter 4 Goodwin teaches how it may be said that we will be kept blameless until the day of Christ.  It is through the promises of God and the special privilege of Christians.

What grabbed me
Some very interesting insights in this week's reading.

Particularly the need to be kept blameless till judgement day not simply till our death: 'Now observe it, that this prayer is plainly and directly for this, that then at that day their hearts might be established in holiness. Now it would seem strange, that for men who are to be in heaven a long time before that day, there should be supposed a need to pray that their hearts should be then thoroughly established in holiness, which they should have here in this life, to the end they might then be without wavering or fear established. Yet to me the reason is clear, for they are not then to be judged, nor is their condition to be sentenced by that holiness they have had in heaven, but barely by that which men have had here on earth, whilst in the body, as you heard.'

We are not judged blameless when we die, rather it is on judgement day that we will be established as holy for eternity because of the work of Christ.  Therefore we need to pray that we may be kept blameless till then.

Next week's reading 
Continue Book I (Of gospel holiness) by reading Chapters 5, 6 and 7.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.