Accepted by God

Accepted by God

Question:

I am 16 years old, and I gave my life to Christ at a summer youth camp two years ago. How do I know that I have been accepted by God? Would you help me with some Scripture passages that give me that assurance? To be honest with you, I don’t feel very accepted by the others in my youth group; I’m not ugly, I come from a good Christian home, I seem to get along with others. This makes we wonder if I am really accepted by God?

Answer:

What a great and honest question you have asked. Thanks!

As I noted in last month’s answer to a question on “security,” we have two adopted children. When we stood before a judge at the time of adoption, he reminded us that they are as much a part of our family as our biological son. He didn’t tell us this, but I was re­minded of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians where he writes: “He predestined us to adoption as sons [and daughters] through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.” (Eph. 1:5) As you may recall, the Hebrew nation, as we read in the Old Testa­ment, were God’s chosen people, but “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) As the judge said at our children’s adoption, there is now no distinction—they are our children, and we are His children!

Here are some other helpful passages that assure us that we are accepted by God.

John 1:12: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His Name.” Notice Jesus said that for those who received Him, “He gave to them the right to become children of God.”

John 15:14-15: “You are my friends, if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” Look at the underlined words: He calls us His friend! You cannot have a closer friend than Jesus. His promise to us is that He will never desert you nor forsake you. (Heb. 13:5) That promise is not true for many of our earthly friends, but it is always true in our friendship with Jesus because Jesus never breaks a promise.

Another great passage that affirms our acceptance by Christ is found in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” Are you accepted by God? Yes—for God paid the penalty of our sins by allowing His Son to die on the cross for our sins. What earthly friend would do that for us?

Over the years, it was my policy that my wife and children always had access to me. No matter where I might be, they could always reach me by telephone or pager. Even more so, Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:18 that “through Him (Jesus) we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.” Think about that for a moment! You might call one of your friends on the phone and get a busy signal, but God’s line is never busy! Our president has his hot, secure line to many world leaders, and we have our own hot line to heaven—through prayer, and the line is never busy!

Though I could share a number of other passages with you, let me share one final Scripture from Ephesians 2:10. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” The fact you and I are “His workmanship” means that we are “His work of art—His masterpiece.” He had planned for us before the beginning of time for a special work and ministry that He has equipped us to do. If you are His work of art, then you are accepted by Him.

You are God’s special adopted child; Scripture affirms this and don’t ever forget it! Thanks for such a good question. God bless you.