Is Acceptance with God Possible?

The big debate about acceptance boils down to understanding how we can truly know that God has forgiven our sins. Religion in its many forms continues to be man’s attempt to reconcile himself unto God, all futile. Let’s take a minute to review what Scripture has to say about “acceptance.”

Acceptance is defined as “a favorable reception or approval.” The favor of fellowship that man had with God at creation was forfeited when Adam sinned. (Gen. 3) Now, God’s approval is withdrawn from Adam’s lineage without exception. (Rom 5:12) The lie of Satan which promised a measure of equality with God (Gen 3:5) only pushed man from the presence of God and made him a god unto himself.

To many the idea of acceptance with God is inconsequential. They choose not to believe God exists. They just don’t care. (Ps 14:1) Still others believe He exists yet take no interest in knowing Him.

To others, however, acceptance with God is a matter of genuine interest. The result being the attempts of the human mind and heart to answer the question, “Is acceptance with God possible?” Yet, neither the reasonings of human wisdom nor the offerings of human religion can assuredly answer.

Man, by sin and in sin is responsible for his separation from God. It is man therefore that needs to be reconciled to God, not God to man. Sin is an offense to God. Yet, “acceptance with God” requires a sufficient offering for sin, and God rejects any offering that is fabricated in the shops of human merit or achievement. God has not left the conditions of reconciliation to the efforts of man.

God accepts righteousness alone – a divine quality that man does not have. (Isaiah 64:6, Rom 3:10) If man therefore is to be accepted he must be righteous. How man becomes righteous and thereby accepted is the basis of our reflection today, and it is of eternal importance. (Ps 24:3-4, Heb 12:14) Job asks in chapter 9, “…how should man be just with God?”

Righteousness is God’s defined standard of acceptance!

Despite the clear teaching of scripture, people are convinced they have the ability by their own works to achieve a righteousness which God must accept. (Rom 10:3) They choose to busy themselves in dead work trying to make righteousness out of unrighteousness and hope out of hopelessness. “Trusting in themselves to be righteous (Luke 18:9)”, they boast of their works and compare themselves with others they think unworthy. (Luke 18:10-14)

• Righteousness is not earned but given. (Titus 3:5)
• Righteousness is not works but faith. (Rom 3:28)
• Righteousness is not perfected on earth but positioned in heaven. (Rom 3:25)
• Righteousness is not by works, not by merit, and not by YOU!
• Righteousness IS by faith, it is by grace, and it is through JESUS CHRIST.

To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us ACCEPTED in the beloved.

Ephesians 1:6

To reason subjectively as to the possibility of acceptance with God opens the “black hole” of “ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (II Tim 3:7)

To reason objectively is to submit to the authority of Scripture and believe II Cor 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

In conclusion, take time to review the two verses I’ve shared below from Matthew 25 which show that the right and wrong paths to acceptance with God have very different endings. Our hope for “acceptance with God” is in Christ and His righteousness alone!

ACCEPTANCE

Then shall the king say unto them on His right hand, come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:”

Matthew 25:34

REJECTION

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, depart from me , ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”

Matthew 25:41