Characteristics of Living Innocence in Scripture
Innocence, in biblical terms, describes a state of moral purity, freedom from guilt, and blamelessness before God and humanity. This characteristic is attributed to God, to Christ, and is an aspiration for believers [1, 2, 3].
God's own character is defined by perfect uprightness and justice, taking pleasure in those who reflect these qualities [1]. Humanity was originally created in this state of uprightness, though this was subsequently lost [1].
Jesus Christ is presented as the ultimate embodiment of innocence. He is described as "altogether lovely," "holy," "righteous," "just," "guileless," "sinless," "spotless," "innocent," and "harmless" [2]. His innocence was a dominant theme during his suffering, as highlighted in the Gospel of Matthew, where even his accusers and the Roman governor acknowledged his blamelessness [8]. The sacrificial lamb in the Old Testament, which was required to be "without blemish," served as a type of Christ, symbolizing his perfect purity and suitability as a sacrifice for sin [10].
For believers, living innocence is characterized by several key aspects:
- Moral Purity and Blamelessness: Saints are described as "blameless and harmless" [3]. This involves purity of heart, speech, and walk [1]. Isaiah 33:15 details this as walking righteously, speaking blamelessly, despising ill-gotten gain, refusing bribes, and turning away from evil sights and sounds [6]. The psalmist speaks of those with "innocent in hands, and clean of heart" [4].
- Guilelessness and Sincerity: A guileless spirit is a mark of the saints [3]. This implies honesty and integrity, without deceit or hidden motives. Christ himself was guileless [2].
- Righteousness and Justice: Saints are characterized as "just" and "hungering after righteousness" [3]. This involves living in accordance with God's moral standards and seeking justice.
- Faithfulness and Obedience: Faithfulness is a characteristic of saints, demonstrated in their service to God, declaration of His word, and care for others [3, 7]. Christ's obedience to God the Father is a prime example [2].
- Humility and Meekness: Saints are described as "humble" and "meek" [3]. Christ exemplified these qualities, being "meek" and "lowly in heart" [2].
- Resistance to Sin: While believers are not sinless, those "born of God" are secured against the full dominion and guilt of sin [11]. The concept of being kept from "presumptuous sins" is necessary for uprightness [1]. God's new covenant promises to forgive wickedness and remember sins no more, cleansing His people completely [9].
- Perseverance: The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints suggests that those who are justified and regenerated will continue in a state of grace and attain everlasting life, unable to totally or finally fall away [5]. This perseverance is rooted in God's immutable decrees and the provisions of the covenant of grace [5].
Innocence is not merely the absence of wrongdoing but an active state of moral uprightness and purity that reflects God's character. It is fully embodied in Christ and is a goal for believers, enabled by God's grace and the work of the Spirit [3, 9].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Uprightness — God is perfect in -- Isa 26:7. God has pleasure in -- 1Ch 29:17. God created man in -- Ec 7:29. Man has deviated from -- Ec 7:29. Should be in Heart. -- 2Ch 29:34; Ps 125:4. Speech. -- Isa 33:15. Walk. -- Pr 14:2. Judging. -- Ps 58:1; 75:2. Ruling. -- Ps 78:72. The being kept from presumptuous sins is necessary to -- Ps 19:13. With poverty, is better than sin with riches -- Pr 28:6. With poverty, is better than folly -- Pr 19:1. They who walk in Fear God. -- Pr 14:2. Love Christ. -- Song 1:4. Countenanced by God. -- Ps 11:7. Delighted in by God. -- Pr 1”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Christ, Character Of — Altogether lovely -- Song 5:16. Holy -- Lu 1:35; Ac 4:27; Re 3:7. Righteous -- Isa 53:11; Heb 1:9. Good -- Mt 19:16. Faithful -- Isa 11:5; 1Th 5:24. True -- Joh 1:14; 7:18; 1Jo 5:20. Just -- Zec 9:9; Joh 5:30; Ac 22:14. Guileless -- Isa 53:9; 1Pe 2:22. Sinless -- Joh 8:46; 2Co 5:21. Spotless -- 1Pe 1:19. Innocent -- Mt 27:4. Harmless -- Heb 7:26. Resisting temptation -- Mt 4:1-10. Obedient to God the Father -- Ps 40:8; Joh 4:34; 15:10. Zealous -- Lu 2:49; Joh 2:17; 8:29. Meek -- Isa 53:7; Zec 9:9; Mt 11:29. Lowly in heart -- Mt 11:29. Merciful ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Character of Saints — Attentive to Christ's voice -- Joh 10:3,4. Blameless and harmless -- Php 2:15. Bold -- Pr 28:1; Ro 13:3. Contrite -- Isa 57:15; 66:2. Devout -- Ac 8:2; 22:12. Faithful -- Re 17:14. Fearing God -- Mt 3:16; Ac 10:2. Following Christ -- Joh 10:4,27. Godly -- Ps 4:3; 2Pe 2:9. Guileless -- Joh 1:47. Holy -- De 7:6; 14:2; Col 3:12. Humble -- Ps 34:2; 1Pe 5:5. Hungering after righteousness -- Mt 5:6. Just -- Ge 6:9; Hab 2:4; Lu 2:25. Led by the Spirit -- Ro 8:14. Liberal -- Isa 32:8; 2Co 9:13. Loving -- Col 1:4; 1Th 4:9. Lowly -- Pr 16:19. Meek -- Isa ”
- Psalms “Psalms 23:4 (DRC) — The innocent in hands, and clean of heart, who hath not taken his soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbour.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Perseverance of the saints — Their certain continuance in a state of grace. Once justified and regenerated, the believer can neither totally nor finally fall away from grace, but will certainly persevere therein and attain everlasting life. This doctrine is clearly taught in these passages, John 10:28, 29; Rom. 11:29; Phil. 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:5. It, moreover, follows from a consideration of (1) the immutability of the divine decrees (Jer. 31:3; Matt. 24:22-24; Acts 13:48; Rom. 8:30); (2) the provisions of the covenant of grace (Jer. 32:40; John 10:29; 17:2-6); (3) the ato”
- Isaiah “He who walks righteously, and speaks blamelessly; He who despises the gain of oppressions, who gestures with his hands, refusing to take a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from looking at evil— -- Isaiah 33:15”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Faithfulness — A characteristic of saints -- Eph 1:1; Col 1:2; 1Ti 6:2; Re 17:14. Exhibited in The service of God. -- Mt 24:45. Declaring the word of God. -- Jer 23:28; 2Co 2:17; 4:2. The care of dedicated things. -- 2Ch 31:12. Helping the brethren. -- 3Jo 1:5. Bearing witness. -- Pr 14:5. Reproving others. -- Pr 27:6; Ps 141:5. Situations of trust. -- 2Ki 12:15; Ne 13:13; Ac 6:1-3. Doing work. -- 2Ch 34:12. Keeping secrets. -- Pr 11:13. Conveying messages. -- Pr 13:17; 25:13. All things. -- 1Ti 3:11. The smallest matters. -- Lu 16:10-12. Should be to death -- Re 2:1”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 27:4: 27:4 an innocent man: Jesus’ innocence is a dominant theme in the narrative of his suffering (see 23:35; 26:55-56, 59-60; 27:18-19, 24; see also Luke 23:47).”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 8:12: 8:12 A final characteristic of the new covenant is that God would forgive their wickedness and never again remember their sins. The blood of Jesus cleanses his people completely from sin (9:13-15; 10:14-18, 22; 1 Jn 1:7).”
- Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 12:5: Your lamb shall be without blemish,.... Without any spot or defect in it. Maimonides (h) reckons no less than fifty blemishes in a creature, anyone of which makes it unfit for sacrifice, see Lev 21:21. This lamb was a type of Christ, who is therefore said to be our passover sacrificed for us, Co1 5:7 comparable to a lamb for his innocence and harmlessness, for his meekness, humility, and patience, for usefulness both for food and raiment, as well as for being fit for sacrifice; and who is a lamb without spot and blemish, either of original sin, or actual transgression”
- 1 John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 John 5:18: Here we have, I. A recapitulation of the privileges and advantages of sound Christian believers. 1. They are secured against sin, against the fulness of its dominion or the fulness of its guilt: We know that whosoever is born of God (and the believer in Christ is born of God, Jo1 5:1) sinneth not (Jo1 5:18), sinneth not with that fulness of heart and spirit that the unregenerate do (as was said Jo1 3:6, Jo1 3:9), and consequently not with that fulness of guilt that attends the sins of others; and so he is secured against that sin which is unavoidably unto death, o”