Acceptance With God

In whom has God made us accepted?

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” Ephesians 1:3-6.  

What great gift comes when we accept Christ?

“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise hum up at the last day.” John 6:40 (See also John 17:2.)

God’s Word as Evidence of a Acceptance

What is the foundation of faith?

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17.

What is the first and primary evidence of our acceptance with God?

“We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has testimony has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

1 John 5:9-11.

Note – The primary basis of all faith and acceptance is the Word of God – that which God himself has said. To receive and believe this is the first essential to salvation – the first evidence of acceptance.

Why did John write his testimony concerning God’s love and purpose in giving Christ?

“But these things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31.

Evidence Within Us

What witness does the true believer in Christ have that he is accepted of God?

“Anyone who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony of God has given about his Son.” 1 John 5:10.”

Note – Faith and feeling should not be confounded. Faith is ours to exercise in the Word of God, regardless of our feelings, and often in opposition even to our feelings. Many fail to accept the pardon and assurance of the acceptance of Heaven, because they do not take God at His word, but instead turn their attention to their changeable moods and feelings. Faith always precedes the joyful feelings that naturally result from the assurance of forgiveness and acceptance. This order is never reversed.

What is another evidence of divine acceptance?

“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 1 John 3:14.

Three Witnesses of Acceptance

What three definite witnesses of acceptance are mentioned by John?

“The Spirit, the water and the blood; and these three are in agreement.” 1 John 5:8.

How does the Spirit witness to our acceptance with God?

“Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:6. “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:16.

Of what is Christian baptism an evidence?

“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

Galatians 3:27.

Note – In baptism, the water and the Spirit both bear witness of God’s acceptance. The same Spirit which, at Christ’s baptism, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” witnesses to the acceptance of every sincere believer at his baptism.

To what does the blood of Christ witness?

“We write to you to make our joy complete. This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:4-7. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”

Ephesians 1:7. (See also Revelation 1:5,6.) 

Jesus and Acceptance

How only do any become children of God?

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26.

When may we find acceptance with God through Christ?

For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:2.

To whom, therefore, should we ascribe glory and honor?

”And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever.” Revelation 1:5,6. 

The Man With the Steamer Ticket

There is a story told of a man who purchased a steamer ticket to Europe, and then proceeded to get together a supple of food to last him for the trip. He has a somewhat miserable time of it, until one day someone found him eating cheese and crackers in a secluded corner. He was informed that his ticket entitled him to fine, appetizing meals at the dining table. Thereafter he was well fed. God has provided salvation through Jesus Christ. Many promises are given to us. Faith accepts the blessings Heaven proffers, yet there are too many today that are like the man with the steamer ticket. They do not realize that through neglect they are being robbed of the opportunity to gain eternal life through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.