"Accepted By Christ" - September 28, 2008

   "Receiving Christ" or "accepting Christ" are catch phrases, like, "getting saved."  But are these accurate images of what salvation entails?

   When most people say they have "received Christ" or "received salvation," what they have actually done is they have believed that they have accepted a promise of salvation from God. They do not usually mean that they actually obtained anything tangible from God.

   There is merit in accepting and worshiping God right now, yet this is not salvation.  And all mankind is going to "accept Christ."  Whether they like it or not...

Romans 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

   The fact is that Mankind, in our current state, is unacceptable to God, and there is nothing we can do about it. There is no amount of "accepting," worshipping, or any other work that can be done in order to put us in God's good graces. We have to be made acceptable.

Eph1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

In order to become acceptable we have to first be chosen, predestinated, sanctified, adopted, and even created.

Eph2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

   That word "predestinated" means foreordained, but do not let the word "destiny" escape us, it is our end that has been predetermined for us, Predestination is not (as some falsely claim) the idea that if we make the right choices we can get on the right train that is destined to go on to eternity.

   We may receive many things from God in our lifetimes, but we are waiting for the work of salvation to be completed and that only happens when we are finally raised from the dead. We (and the Apostles) use the language "saved" (in the past tense) because the works are finished (from God's perspective) from before the foundation of the world. They are finished, but they do not yet appear (1John 3).

   We believe in his salvation, without doubt, but do not let a man think his course finished by mere words of acceptance. The reason the apostles say things like the following is because we need convincing, not God.

2Pet1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: (giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue; knowledge; temperance; patience; godliness; brotherly kindness; charity)

   When we see those works happening, we feel sure of our election, because these are the kinds of things which accompany salvation. But if we see the opposite things... Well, we may not admit it, but those are tokens of perdition.

If you are interested in contacting us, please email the Pastor.

Follow the links below to the various sections of this site.

Jump to Sermons - Jump to Worship - Jump to Foundation

Jump to Newsletter - Read the Bible