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Acceptance
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Dictionary of Biblical Words
:
This
word is commonly
used
to mean
salvation
. In
Scripture
, however, it is
only
so used in
Acts 10:35
35
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. (Acts 10:35)
, and
perhaps
Eph. 1:6
6
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)
.
This,
however, is literally “hath
graced
us.” Elsewhere it is always used practically, and alludes not to salvation, but to
the
Christian
’s walk and ways. Such passages as
Rom. 14:18
18
For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. (Romans 14:18)
, and
2 Cor. 5:9
9
Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. (2 Corinthians 5:9)
, are most mischievous if misapplied.
The word
used is elsewhere rendered
“well-pleasing,”
Rom. 12:2
2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)
;
Phil. 4:18
18
But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. (Philippians 4:18)
;
Col. 3:20
20
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. (Colossians 3:20)
;
Heb. 13:21
21
Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:21)
. It would be well if Christians would believe that, as to salvation,
Christ
has been accepted (
Lev. 1:4
4
And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. (Leviticus 1:4)
)
for
us, and that our pair now is not to seek to patch up His
work
, but to do our own, and see that we are practically “acceptable to the
Lord
.”
Concise Bible Dictionary
:
This
means being “brought into favor.” As
God
is
holy
, and
man
is a sinner, he
can
only
be brought into acceptance by means of a
Mediator
,
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
. To effect this the Lord had to die, to vindicate the justice of God, and atone
for
the sins of those who believe. In
Him
risen and glorified the
believer
is brought into favor according to the value before God of Christ’s
person
and
work
, wherefore the
apostle
says, “to the
praise
of the
glory
of His
grace
wherein He hath made us accepted
in the beloved
” (
Eph. 1:6
6
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)
). It is then a fact that the
Christian
is accepted or brought into favor in the Lord Jesus Christ; compare
Romans 5:2
2
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2)
. How far his
spirit
and conduct is acceptable or wellpleasing to God is entirely a different question.
2 Corinthians 5:9
9
Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. (2 Corinthians 5:9)
should read “We labor that whether present or absent we may be
acceptable
to him.” Being accepted we should be zealous that in
all
things our ways may be well-pleasing to God.
From Anstey’s
Doctrinal Definitions
:
“Accepted”
is a term that refers to believers on
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
being
“taken into
favour
”
with
God
through receiving Christ as their
Saviour
(
Rom. 5:2
2
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2)
;
Eph. 1:6
6
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)
– J. N. Darby Trans.). As a result,
they
have
a
new
standing before God in Christ that is beyond the reach of
judgment
.
To properly understand the
Christian
’s
acceptance
, it is necessary to first understand Christ’s acceptance,
for
they are one and the same. Not
only
has Christ’s
work
of
atonement
been accepted by God as that which has satisfied the claims of
divine
justice, but Christ Himself has been accepted before God.
This
is witnessed in His
resurrection
and
ascension
(
1 Tim. 3:16
16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Timothy 3:16)
). God has seated
Him
in the highest
place
in
heaven
—at His own
right
hand (
Eph. 1:20-21
20
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: (Ephesians 1:20‑21)
;
Phil. 2:9-11
9
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9‑11)
). He is
there
now as a glorified
Man
with
all
the favour of God resting on Him. The wonderful thing
about
this
great
fact is that the
Bible
states that believers on the Lord Jesus are
“in Christ”
(
John 14:20
20
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. (John 14:20)
;
Rom. 8:1
1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)
;
1 Cor. 1:30
30
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)
;
2 Cor. 5:17,
17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
etc.). This is a technical expression
used
in
Paul
’s
epistles
to denote that the
believer
is in Christ’s place before God. Hence, the
measure
of His acceptance is ours! We are
“accepted in the Beloved!”
(
Eph. 1:6
6
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)
) The
Apostle
John states this same great fact:
“As He is
(accepted before God in heaven),
so are we in this
world
”
(
1 John 4:17
17
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17)
).
Scripture
indicates that those with
faith
who have not had the privilege of hearing
the
gospel
of God’s
grace
, who are therefore, not part of the
Church
of God, are accepted
“with”
Him (
Acts 10:35
35
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. (Acts 10:35)
). Christians, on the
other
hand, are said to be accepted
“in”
Him (
Eph. 1:6
6
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)
). This indicates a nearer relationship to the Lord, resulting from having the indwelling
Spirit
of God.
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“Study to show thyself approved unto God, … rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
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