Acceptance With G.o.d
[Ill.u.s.tration.]
Noah"s Sacrifice. "He hath made us accepted in the Beloved." Eph. 1:6.
1. In whom has G.o.d made us accepted?
"Blessed be the G.o.d and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings ... in Christ: according as He hath chosen us in Him ... to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us _accepted in the Beloved_." Eph. 1:3-6.
2. What great gift comes with our acceptance of Christ?
"And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have _everlasting life_: and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:40. See also John 17:2.
3. What is the first and primary evidence of our acceptance with G.o.d?
"If we receive the witness of men, the _witness of G.o.d is greater_: for this is the witness of G.o.d _which He hath testified of His Son_.... And this is the record, _that G.o.d hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son_." 1 John 5:9-11.
NOTE.-The primary basis of all faith and acceptance is the word of G.o.d,-that which G.o.d Himself has _said_. To receive and believe this is the first essential to salvation,-the first evidence of acceptance.
4. Why did John write his testimony concerning G.o.d"s love and purpose in giving Christ?
"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of G.o.d; _that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of G.o.d_." Verse 13. "These are written, _that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of G.o.d; and that believing ye might have life through His name_." John 20:31.
5. What witness does the true believer in Christ have that he is accepted of G.o.d?
"He that believeth on the Son of G.o.d _hath the witness in himself_: he that believeth not G.o.d hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the _record_ that G.o.d gave of His Son." 1 John 5:10.
NOTE.-Faith and feeling should not be confounded. Faith is ours to exercise in the Word of G.o.d, regardless of our feelings, and often in opposition even to our feelings. Many fail to accept the pardon and a.s.surance of the acceptance of Heaven, because they do not take G.o.d at His word, but instead turn their attention to their changeable moods and feelings. _Faith_ always precedes the _joyful feelings_ which naturally result from the a.s.surance of forgiveness and acceptance. This order is never reversed.
6. How only do any become children of G.o.d?
"Ye are all the children of G.o.d _by faith in Christ Jesus_." Gal. 3:26.
7. What is the foundation of faith?
"Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing _by the word of G.o.d_." Rom. 10:17.
8. What a.s.surance has the believer of his union with G.o.d?
"Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, _because He hath given us of His Spirit_." 1 John 4:13.
9. What three definite witnesses of acceptance are mentioned by John?
"There are three that bear witness in earth, the _Spirit_, and the _water_, and the _blood_: and these three agree in one." 1 John 5:8.
10. How does the Spirit witness to our acceptance with G.o.d?
"Because ye are sons, G.o.d hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, _Abba, Father_." Gal. 4:6. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of G.o.d." Rom. 8:16.
[Ill.u.s.tration.]
The Prodigal"s Return. "This my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found." Luke 15:24.
11. Of what is Christian baptism an evidence?
"As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have _put on Christ_."
Gal. 3:27.
NOTE.-In baptism, the water and the Spirit both bear witness of G.o.d"s acceptance. The same Spirit which, at Christ"s baptism, said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,"
witnesses to the acceptance of every sincere believer at his baptism.
12. To what does the blood of Christ witness?
"These things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.... If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son _cleanseth us from all sin_." 1 John 1:4-7. "In whom we have redemption through His blood, _the forgiveness of sins_." Eph. 1:7. See also Rev. 1:5, 6.
13. When may we find acceptance with G.o.d through Christ?
"I have heard thee _in a time accepted_, and _in the day of salvation_ have I succored thee: behold, _now is the accepted time_; behold, _now is the day of salvation_." 2 Cor. 6:2.
14. To whom, therefore, should we ascribe glory and honor?
"_Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood_, and hath made us kings and priests unto G.o.d and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." Rev. 1:5, 6.
15. What is another evidence of divine acceptance?
"We know that we have pa.s.sed from death unto life, _because we love the brethren_." 1 John 3:14.
16. What blessed a.s.surance is given all believers in Christ?
"And the peace of G.o.d, which pa.s.seth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:7.
Arise, my soul, arise, Shake off thy guilty fears; The bleeding Sacrifice In my behalf appears; Before the throne my Saviour stands, My name is written on His hands.
Five bleeding wounds He bears, Received on Calvary; They pour effectual prayers, They strongly speak for me.
Forgive him, O, forgive! they cry, Nor let the contrite sinner die!