We've been in a series studying our blessed inheritance in Christ. When Christ died and rose again He granted us a generous inheritance that is available to all who believe right now. We don't have to die and get to Heaven to experience it. We can experience it and enjoy it here and now.
We have seen so far that we have received the gift of no condemnation in this glorious inheritance. We saw last time we are no longer separated from God ever again. Spiritual death simply means separation from God. We were separated and now because of Jesus we are forever His and He will never leave or forsake us. We will never be apart from Him.
Today, it seemed good to continue this amazing study looking at our perfect acceptance in Christ. In the first chapter of Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians, he speaks of our inheritance in Christ. We who believed have obtained an eternal inheritance.
In this inheritance, we can see that we are found accepted in the beloved. Christ's work has made us acceptable to the Father.
to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:6 NKJV
To the praise of the glory of His Grace. His glorious Grace has made us accepted. This word accepted means to be honored and to be highly favored.
God has bestowed divine favor upon us, His Church, His people. He has favored us and bestowed honor on us. We may not always feel so honorable or favored but nevertheless, we are favored.
In this world system, to be accepted or honored we must achieve much. We have to also conform to their ways of doing things. The stepping on others to get ahead, the seeking the favor of only those the world system already esteems. We must keep striving and doing more and more even if it means neglecting friends and family to achieve favored status.
Under traditional religion, we had to work harder and keep all the rules to be found worthy and favored. We struggled and strived to achieve a sense of acceptance from God and the ministries we were a part of. We sought acceptance and accolades from men by our works and performance.
We didn't understand we were already highly favored and honored by God the moment we believed. We were trying to earn what was free. We were trying to achieve what was already ours in Christ.
In our dealings with man, there is always someone who comes in the last place. Someone who is chosen last. Someone who won't qualify. In Christ, we are always picked first to be on Jesus' team. In Christ, we are never disqualified, we are chosen, we are loved, we are accepted eternally in Him.
In Christ, we are accepted. We aren't rejected. We aren't disqualified. Even in our worst, we are still accepted. He isn't accepting our misdeeds or mistakes, He isn't accepting our sins and shortcomings because He reminds us those deeds aren't who we are, that's not our identity, He accepts us. He reminds us of who we are and whose we are. We are always found acceptable to the Father because of Jesus.
In summation, rejoice in the Good News. See yourself as He sees you. Highly favored. Loved. Honored. Acceptable to the Father. The enemy works overtime to get you to think you are unacceptable to God. He brings his shame and points to your sins and shortcomings. Resist the enemy and reject his lies. When he points you to your sins and shortcomings you point him to your Savior whose work is superior to any achievements of man. Child of God you are accepted in Him, it's yours in this glorious inheritance Christ procured for you.
Image by Mustafa shehadeh from Pixabay
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