We are accepted. We are forgiven.
It is that simple. It is that hard. The simplicity lies in our Father unreservedly giving us His Son to satisfy the debt of our sin. The difficulty is for us to believe this truth. Certainly, God must require something of us? Surely, it is up to us to get our act together? And yet, this platform of grace, richly supplied (vs.7-8), is the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can’t do anything but receive it. Everything has already all been done.
Let’s consider God’s grace (New Testament Greek: charis). It is His divine favor, and strings-free gift that saves, maintains, and transforms us. Grace, the word that also means joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, and loveliness has already been bestowed upon us and is the platform we must stand upon-but do we?
When we stand on His platform of grace, no matter what our thoughts, emotions, or the enemy is shouting in our heads, we take the first steps toward freedom and realizing who we are in Christ. When we slip and fall – for we surely will – we must not let guilt become the ball-and-chain that binds our souls to our hurts, addictions, and behaviors. Yes, we must agree with the Holy Spirit’s conviction of our sin, confess it, and ask forgiveness for it, but then we must agree with God’s Word that His work of forgiving and cleansing us has already begun.
When we choose to believe Jesus at His word that we are already forgiven and accepted, we silence guilt’s accusations. Then, the power of God’s grace can begin to transform us from our hang-ups and hurts, propelling us toward our purpose.
The Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is the recovery of what we lost in Eden. We each have a God-given purpose, call, and destiny that includes His restoration. The mystery of the gospel (v.9) is Christ in us, living His life through us (Col. 1:27). The only part we can play is to say yes to Him and be responsive to the Spirit’s promptings.
We can’t fix ourselves, only He can. It starts with a Holy Spirit paradigm shift in our hearts and minds. I think I am less-than and don’t belong; He declares I am entirely accepted and loved unconditionally. My thoughts tell me I will never get it right; He states that it isn’t up to me, the Holy Spirit will do the work (Eph. 3:7). The enemy tells me I am guilty; Jesus says I am already forgiven, clean, and free (v.7, 1 John 1:9).
It is time to believe these truths with all our heart, mind, and strength.
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Taken from my YouVersion Bible App Plan, “Accepted: Who We Really Are and What He Has Given Us.” To locate the plan on the app, simply go to the spyglass at the bottom of the page and search my name, Sue Boldt!