“Am I accepted by God?”
Ephesians 1:6-7
Ephesians 1:6 “to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved”. In Him we have redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”
The doctrine of salvation provides acceptance. We all long for acceptance because we long for identity. God doesn’t accept us based on our merit but based on the merit of His Son. Your salvation is an act of grace and love on Gods part. God has provided in Jesus Christ forgiveness, acceptance and identity that will last forever. In John 5:40 Jesus said “but you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” Sadly, many people refuse Jesus because they don’t want to lose their current identity. They have found acceptance and identity in something fleeting and futile. For years I refused Christ because I found acceptance with and identified with my heavy drinking. Deep down I truly desired Him, I knew I needed Him but was afraid that I couldn’t live the Christian life. I didn’t understand the doctrine of salvation. I saw Christianity as a religion not a relationship. So, for years I settled for acceptance in the only life I knew. Sadly, I had no idea how close to an eternity without Christ I was. Our church has heard my testimony many times so I will leave out all the details. But one night in a hotel in Corsicana, Texas, and by the grace of God, the Lord Jesus came into my heart. I accepted Him that night as my Savior. He changed me, saved me and gave me a love and acceptance beyond anything this world can offer. I felt accepted, forgiven, loved and thankful.
Consider this: Christ offers us eternal life instead of judgment and hell. He offers us Christ instead of condemnation. He offers us a new nature and a new heart. He offers us Himself. God is worthy of worship and in Christ we get to worship Him. To be able to sing praises from the heart and magnify the Lord is one of the most amazing things in the world. Worshipping the Lord is a God thing, never take it for granted. The bible says in I Corinthians 12:3 “Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit” If you have been born again and surrendered your all to Jesus, then you are accepted. You are identified in all the goodness of the Son. Your sin was buried and your soul redeemed. Paul said in Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” In our flesh we are inadequate and undeserving, Gods acceptance of you is by His acceptance of His Son on your behalf. I will unpack this a little bit to make it easy to see.
Why can God accept us? (Eph.1:6)
Its by grace. Somebody came up with this acronym for grace. Gods Riches At Christ’s Expense.
Grace is that attribute of God that found a way to satisfy the justice of God and at the same time pardon the unjust. I will never deserve my pardon but I will forever worship Him and thank Him for it.
Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
How God can accept us? (Eph.1:7)
It’s by blood. God paid for your redemption by blood. Jesus gave His life for you. He spilled His own sinless, divine blood on Calvary’s cross, the saving Lamb of God. Atonement is made by blood and that’s how the repentant sinner is saved. The blood washes away our sin. You may feel less than, or guilty or unworthy, in Christ you are loved, you are a recipient of Gods abounding grace and according to verse 6 “accepted in the Beloved”. The “Beloved” is Jesus. When your heart begins to condemn you, remind yourself that God is greater than your heart. I John 4:4 says “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” Remind yourself of His amazing grace and the blood that never loses its power. Remind yourself that God says by the promise of His Word, you are “accepted in the beloved”.
I John 3:20
“ For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.”
Amazing Grace by John Newton
Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear,
And Grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come.
‘Tis Grace hath brought me safe thus far
And Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His Word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.
Bro. Bruce Rudd