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01v06 Accepted In The Beloved
"ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED"
Ephesians 1:6
Upon what do you rest your hope of acceptance before a holy God? Baptism? Church work? A religious experience? A moral
reformation? All these things, in themselves, are vain, empty, and
useless. They are worse! Apart from the knowledge of Christ, they are a
positive curse. If you and I trust anything in any measure, for our total
acceptance before God, other than Jesus Christ, we will surely perish!
"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."
Our text declares that "He
(God the Father) hath made us accepted in the Beloved (God the Son)". Here
is a doctrine full of consolation to our hearts. God Almighty has made all of
his people accepted, perfectly and completely in Christ! It is no marvel that
we should accept Christ. But there is wonder in this - God accepts us, sinners
deserving his wrath, in Christ Jesus!
Beloved, there
exists a positive and eternal union between Christ and his people. We are one
with Christ. A rapturous thought! Bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh!
"We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones." We are
one with Christ in his heart from all eternity. Our names are written beneath
his in the book of God's eternal election. We are in the hands of Christ, as
the Surety of our redemption and eternal glory. We are in the loins of Christ
spiritually. As in Adam we sinned and died; even so in Christ we died upon the
cross and rose again! And we are in his very person. By a living faith we are
joined to the God-man. He lives in us and we live in him! This is the vital
union of faith, enjoyed by God's elect. This is the beginning of heaven and
eternal glory.
Being accepted in
Christ, we have become the objects of God's pleasure. As God is pleased with
his Son, he is pleased with all who are in his Son, Think of this, believing
soul, God is well-pleased with you for Christ's sake! "He hath made us
accepted in the Beloved."
Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
More than all in Thee I find.