ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED

In his let the Ephesians, the apostle Paul expresses an important principle about acceptance. He tells us, "He [God] hath made us accepted in the Beloved [Jesus]." (Ephesians 1:6)

We all crave acceptance in our lives. We want to be accepted by our

parents, our boss, our co-workers, our friends, our classmates, our fellow church members, our spouses, or the world in general.  The approval that we seek, however, is all based on our own efforts and accomplishments; and the measure that we use is someone else's expectation of us, and not God's.  This can be a very deceptive trap to some.  Instead of allowing ourselves to be transformed into the image of our Lord and Savior, we become conformed to what someone else thinks we should be; and then there are those who we just can't please no matter how hard we try. 

Later on in his letter, Paul makes a distinction between being men-pleasers and doing the will of God from the heart.  (6:6)  He equates pleasing other people to eye service, or doing things that you think will please others only when they are watching you, but doing something altogether different when they are not.  Oh, how we need to be delivered from such duplicity!  We have been purchased by the blood of Jesus and are now become His servants.  It is Christ and Christ only Whom we must please; and it is in Christ and Christ alone that we find acceptance with God.  Whether it is before man or before God, our own efforts to secure acceptance are feeble at best.  Like the apostle Paul, we must come to the realization that, "...in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not."  (Romans 7:18)  We need to give up this quest to find something redeemable about ourselves and accept the fact that, as fallen beings, we often have the best intentions, but we lack the power in ourselves to perform what we know we ought to do.

The good news in all of this is that God has made us accepted in His Son Jesus Christ.  If Christ is in you, and you are in Christ, then you are accepted in the Father's eyes.  In Jesus we find the power to be all that God intends for us to be.  "But of Him [according to God's purpose] are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."  (1 Corinthians 1:30, 31)  In other words, as we trust in the saving, regenerating power that is in Christ, we find that the life of Jesus flows into us just as simply as fruit appears on the branches of a fruit tree: just because it is attached to the trunk.  In the same way, we just naturally receive wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption because they are all flowing into us from the Vine, Jesus Christ.

We must understand that there is a beautiful balance between grace and works.  Scripture is very clear: our own works cannot save us.  Only by God's unmerited favor do we find redemption and salvation.  The result of such grace upon our lives is that we are transformed.  Our desires become different, and our pursuits become different.  Old things are passed away; behold, all things become new.  Works follow our lives because of the faith that we have in Christ.  Paul says on one hand that, "...by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast," but in the very next verse he plainly states that, "...we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."  (Ephesians 2:8-10)

 

Therefore, it is essential that we be found in Christ, abiding in the Vine, and enjoying this powerful resurrection life that is in Him.  If we are not bearing the fruit of the Spirit, and being changed into the likeness of our Lord, then we must beware.  Jesus said, "If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."  (John 15:6)  Many start out well with the Lord, but then are in danger of perishing because they do not abide in Him.  It is "in the Beloved" that we find our acceptance - only "in the Beloved" can we be saved.