What does it mean to be “accepted in Christ?” Those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior have much to rejoice about. As believers, we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the King of kings and Lord of lords. We are on our way to heaven where Jesus is now seated at God’s right hand after He shed His blood and died for our sins. He was raised from the dead, and at the appointed time he ascended to His Father.
Accepted in Christ means we are “eternally secured” in Him. Has He not declared. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27,28). Shouldn’t these positive statements by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself make us rejoice and be glad with unspeakable joy and full of glory, with a strong commitment to live for Him. Consider the following hymn where the writer must have been inspired by the quoted scripture to write, “What from Christ the soul can sever, Bound by everlasting bands? Once in Him, in Him forever, Thus the eternal covenant stands. None shall take thee From the Strength of Israels hands” (John Kent, 1766-1843). Note: “Once in Him, in Him forever.”
Accepted in Christ means we are “partakers of the divine nature , having escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust.” The apostle Peter writes, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire” (2 Peter 1:3,4). The christian life means Christ living His life in and through us because He saves us and keeps us in His love, mercy, and grace. Accepted in Christ also means we are in Him by a vital union, which is the unity that exists between Christ and born-again believers.
On the subject of being partakers of the new life, Dr Charles Stanley wrote. “As believers, we are partakers of a brand new life (2 Corinthians 5:17)—a divine nature by which Jesus abides within us—and anything is possible by His power. We are also given awesome promises through which He develops His character in us. As we wait in faith for these promises to be fulfilled, we learn to flee from sin, rely on Him, take comfort in His Word, and listen for His voice. And it is when Christ reigns in us that we become all He created us to be” (Life Principles Bible p. 1526). Accepted in Christ is God’s guarantee that we are a “new creation” because the old life has passed away and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Accepted in Christ means that Jesus took our place on the Cross so that we could receive forgiveness for our sins. And because we received His forgiveness, we become children of the Most High God. Furthermore, we also become heirs of God and “joint heirs with Jesus Christ.” In his letter to the Romans, Paul writes, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8:16,17).This means that we inherit everything of what Christ is to God. Paul further states, “And God sending forth the Spirit of God into your hearts, crying out Abba Father” (Galatians 4:6). The Spirit confirms the believer’s sonship.
There is so much to be gained by being accepted in Christ, why shouldn’t anyone not want to trust Him as their Savior and “have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace?” (Ephesians 1:7). You can be “accepted in Christ” right now, right where you are, if you believe that Jesus Christ shed His blood and died for you, from sin to set you free, and trust Him as your personal Lord and Savior.