"ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED" (Pastor Tom Henry) ~ 8/6/26

“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1:6)

Acceptance is a condition that meets a basic need of mankind. People are willing to go to great lengths to satisfy the inborn desire for acceptance, including conformity of dress, conformity of speech, conformity of manners, conformity of opinions, etc. Sadly, human beings of all ages will speak and act in ways that are contrary to their real beliefs rather than run the risk of not being accepted.

Since the fall, the human race has felt out of harmony with their Creator, with themselves, and with their world. All-natural religion is man’s attempt at acceptance with God. Beginning with Adam and Eve sewing fig leaves together to cover their nakedness, there have been countless other “inventions” (rearrangements of the fig leaves), with some more abominable than others. Our history reveals innumerable heathen religions that call for such things as human sacrifice, the practice of gross immorality, and other unthinkable abominations. Just as atrocious in God’s sight are all forms of “works religion,” which are no more than factories of self-righteousness.

That which magnifies the grotesqueness of all forms of false religion is the consideration of where and in whom acceptance with God lies. Acceptance with God is possible only in His Beloved Son. What a glorious condition we have in our text: “Accepted in the Beloved.” This is that glorious name that the ancient people of God, in their great exuberance, ascribed to the Anointed One: “My Beloved.” (Song of Sol. 5:9, 10) What a lovely, special acceptance! This may well be the Father’s most endearing name for the Son, and now we, as believers, share that name.

What a contrast, compared to our former state. We were by nature children of wrath. (Eph. 2:3) Our choices were unacceptable. (Isa. 53:6) Our thoughts were unacceptable. (Rom. 8:7) Our affections were unacceptable. (Rom. 3:11) Our wills were unacceptable. (John 5: 40) But now we are “accepted in the Beloved.”

This tells us something about our blessed Savior: He is God’s Beloved. Thus, it tells us something unbelievably wondrous about every believer: we are, because of our union with Christ, not only accepted, but just as beloved as the Son in the Father’s eyes. Just as God loves, delights in, has complacency in His Beloved Son, so does He also in us believing sinners. The word rendered “accepted” is found only here and in Luke 1:28. There it is translated “highly favored” or as in the margin, “graciously accepted” or “much graced.” That redeemed sinners like us should share in this acceptance along with God’s own Beloved Son is the highest honor that a creature can know. We are indeed graciously accepted. Much graced!

This infinite, marvelous, matchless grace is powerfully set forth in this passage. It is owing to God’s eternal purpose of grace. God has by grace blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus (Vs. 3). These spiritual blessings include our being chosen in Christ before the foundations of the World (Vs. 4); and our being predestinated unto adoption of children (Vs. 5); and, of course, our acceptance in Christ. (Vs. 6)

Acceptance with God is indeed a wonderful blessing that answers our most basic and essential need. If acceptance with God means rejection by the world, so be it. But greater still is to be “accepted in the Beloved.” Even could there be some other way by which to be accepted, why would anyone prefer it to the love of Christ and being in eternal union with Him in Whom we receive “all spiritual blessings.”? (Vs. 3)