Unconditional Acceptance

Post date: Aug 7, 2014 2:15:28 AM

How do you know if God has accepted you?

This is a question that I am often asked after sharing my testimony with others. It was difficult for me to answer at first since I thought that it was necessary for me to justify my reasoning for choosing Christ rather than sharing how the power of God had changed me.

Mark 2: 17 “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick. I am come not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

My life prior to salvation can be summed up with these words; if I had known the mercy of God I would never have been fearful of the judgement of God. The bible teaches “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Despite my own sinful track record God miraculously intervened in my life by sparing me from death. This unanticipated act of mercy swept away a lifetime of fearfulness, solidified my belief in His existence and produced in me a truly repentant heart. Salvation comes easily to a man whose heart has been made ready to receive the Lord. John 14:23 "Jesus answered and said unto him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our home with him."

2 Chronicles 16: 9 "… For eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show himself strong on behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him."

The concept of Heaven that I possessed before this accident included the existence of a Creator but it didn't include the manifestation of the spiritual nature of God that I had just experienced. As you can well imagine it was somewhat overwhelming for me to reconcile the culturally derived concept of God that I possessed with the spiritual one that I had just encountered.   

1 Peter 2: 2-3 “ As newborn babes desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby if you indeed have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

The Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God. God is a spirit. (John 4: 24).  It is written that “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us”. (John 1: 14) Jesus stated during his earthly ministry “as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father so he who feeds on me will live because of me.” (John 6: 57) Ironically the book that I feared the most became my main source of spiritual nutrition. The Holy Spirit is the revealer of God’s Word who unlocks the mysteries of the bible. I find stability for my life while I feast on the spiritual treasures of Gods’ word. (James 1:22)

Hebrews 11: 6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”

There is a story in John chapter 9 of a blind man who like me had an unexpected life changing encounter with Jesus. His eyesight was miraculously restored after choosing to faithfully follow the instructions given to him. His words to Jesus’ critics about his miracle echoes my own feelings when he said, “Whether He be a sinner or no, I do not know, one thing I do know that whereas I was blind now I see.” (John 9: 26) And salvation came easily to this man whose heart had been made ready to receive the Lord. Jesus sought him out and asked “do you believe in the Son of God’.  He answered and said “who is he Lord that I may believe in him.” (John 9: 35)     

Romans 1:16 "…For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes." 

It’s hard for me now not to proclaim the goodness of God after having experienced His life changing power. It is written “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38) God commissioned Jesus who, before He ascended into heaven, also commissioned his disciples to follow in His footsteps. He instructed them to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) This is the gospel that I have experienced and now proclaim. 

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