Being accepted by God is needed in this world. We crave acceptance. It is one of the base needs that we desire. We learned how rejection can have an effect on being accepted. In the most recent post about rejection, we learned how Jesus was rejected by many, which ultimately led to Him being crucified on a cross. But there is hope in that story and in ours too.
Why is being accepted by God needed?
God is the one who created us. We were made in His image (Genesis 1:27) and He created us to be in a relationship with Him. God is Holy (Leviticus 21:7) and cannot be around evil. Darkness is the absence of light. Where there is light, there is no darkness. Therefore, the two cannot exist together.
When Adam and Eve sinned, they were removed from the garden of Eden and unable to be in the presence of God. There isn’t a single one of us who has not sinned. Every one of us has sinned.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 ESV
Due to sin entering the world, all of us will die a physical death but there is also a second death that is eternal. Eternal death is in hell and eternal life is in Heaven. We all deserve eternal death.
Even Paul, a wonderful man of God, admitted to Timothy that he was a sinner who needed Jesus because of his persecution of the Jews prior to his salvation.
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 1 Timothy 1:15 ESV
Jesus sacrificed His life so we could be accepted
But God doesn’t want anyone to perish with this eternal death! He is so patient and waits for us to come to Him. He sent Jesus to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins so that we could have eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 ESV
We celebrate Good Friday to remember the sacrifice that Jesus did on our behalf. Then three days later, He rose again and conquered sin and death!
This is a miraculous feat that no other god has been able to do or repeat. ALL other men who claimed to be a god or are a founder of a religious sect have died. NONE of them defeated death and rose again!
In Jesus, we can have eternal life! Since the Jews rejected Jesus, God offered His gift of salvation to all of us non-Jews, called Gentiles. By accepting Jesus, we are able to have this eternal life!
For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead! Romans 11:15 ESV
Jesus is the reason for being Accepted by God
God sent Jesus to die for us because He loves us so much! Our acceptance comes from that love.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV
It is a sacrificial type of love that one has for a family member or for a friend. One that a person would be willing to lay down his life for them.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 ESV
Paul, in his letter the Romans, how death rules because of Adam. Yet that doesn’t even compare to what Jesus has done. God accepts us because of what Jesus has done.
Death ruled like a king because Adam had sinned. But that cannot compare with what Jesus Christ has done. God has been so kind to us, and he has accepted us because of Jesus. And so we will live and rule like kings. Romans 5:17 ESV
Jesus conquering sin and death allows us to be accepted by God! And we are able to be in a Holy God’s presence!
We are Chosen and Special to God!
Being accepted by God and accepting Him as our savior, not only allows us to be accepted by Him, but now God sees us chosen, holy, and righteous before Him.
God chose every one of us! And each of us is special to Him.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 ESV
We are no longer part of the darkness but part of the light like Him! Do you see now how we can be in the presence of a holy God?
My Acceptance Story
For many years, I was looking for satisfaction in this life. I looked for it in achievements – graduation from high school, college, and graduate school. I had wanted a boyfriend for years and then a husband hoping that would fulfill me. Or having children to bring me happiness. My husband and my children (and now grandchildren) bring me a lot of joy, but they don’t ultimately fulfill me.
And for years, I had been looking for the right job to feel that satisfaction and peace. But even once I became a manager for 10+ years, I wanted to be a director to have the acceptance that I had arrived.
We have a nice house, two vehicles, a dog, and plenty of clothes and food. And several really close friends that we love spending time with. Even though I have had a close relationship with God for many years, I still felt like there was something missing.
It wasn’t until my job changed two years ago that I realized, I was trying to find my fulfillment and acceptance in relationships, things, and jobs. The things and the jobs are really a means to an end. The people in my life are very important to me and I love spending time with them.
But the most important relationship is the one I have with God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. If I am not looking to Him for my acceptance and my peace, NOTHING in this world is going to give me the peace and satisfaction that I desire.
Being Accepted by God Summary
Due to sin and death, we can either be separated from God forever or live with Him eternally. So we could be able to be in the presence of a holy God, Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again. This allowed us to be accepted and escape hell so we can live with God in Heaven for all of eternity!
This is our part in the story – we can choose which path to take. The path to God won’t always be smooth BUT it leads to freedom, peace, and hope for eternal life to come!
If you haven’t made a decision to follow Jesus, read You can Know Peace and do so today. You will never regret having the love and acceptance of God for now and all of eternity!
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Resource Library
This month’s verses about Acceptance are in the resource library for you to study verses each day. There are other free downloads as well: Bible verse cards, bookmarks, Bible study worksheets, etc. Check them out today!
