Last spring, I went to a garden expo and learned about hydroponic gardening. It was interesting, so I thought I would give it a try. After killing a few plants, I learned that one key to proper growth is having the right amount of nutrients. The same could probably be said for our Christian growth. We need the correct nutrients in the right quantity in order to grow. Understanding our position in Christ, is vital for our growth in the Lord.
Ephesians 1:6 says, “He made us accepted in the Beloved.”
Miles Stanford wrote, “There are two questions that every believer must settle as soon as possible. The one is, Does God fully accept me? And the second, If so, upon what basis does He do so? This is crucial. What devastation often permeates the life of one, young or old, rich or poor, saved or unsaved, who is not sure of being accepted, even on the human level.”
That is so true.
Keith Hernandez was one of baseball’s top players. He had a lifetime batting average of 300. He won 11 consecutive Golden Glove awards. He won the American League batting championship for having the highest average. He won the American League Most Valuable Player award. He won World Series Most Valuable Player award. Yet with all his accomplishments, he has missed out on something crucially important to him–his father’s acceptance.
One day Keith said to his father, “Dad, I have a lifetime 300 batting average. What more do you want?”
His father replied, “But someday you’re going to look back and say, ‘I could have done more.’”
Keith Hernandez never felt accepted by his earthly father.
For years, I felt like I was on probation with the Heavenly Father. If I got out of line, God was there waiting with a big stick to get me back on the straight and narrow. I did not understand the fact that I was accepted in the Beloved. I felt that my acceptance was based upon my performance.
Lewis Sperry Chafer once wrote, “The child of God under grace has been delivered from the burden of … works. He is not striving to be accepted, but rather is free to live as one who is accepted in Christ (Eph. 1:6). The child of God is not now called upon to live by the energy of his own flesh. He lives in the power of the indwelling Spirit. What he does under grace is not done to secure the favor of God, but it is done because he is already accepted in the Beloved. It is not undertaken in the energy of the flesh, but it is the outliving and manifestation of the power of the indwelling Spirit. It is a life which is lived on the principle that: ‘The just shall live by faith.’”
A. J. Gordon concurred: “So far as the question of the Christian’s acceptance and standing before a righteous law is concerned, God sees nothing from His throne but Christ Jesus alone and altogether. And since the believer is in Him and one with Him, he shares His place in the Father’s heart, and unworthy as he is in himself, yet he may know without a doubt that he is ‘accepted in the Beloved.’”
Living in the light of that precious truth is foundational for our growth.
On Monday, I had the privilege of speaking in chapel and the theme of my message was “Accepted in the Beloved.” Sharing in chapel and speaking at Sanford Bible Church are a couple of ministries that I really enjoy. It’s kind of a change of pace from trouble shooting computer problems and writing a book.
Speaking of writing, the text book on Bible Interpretation is coming right along. I only have a few more chapters to go. But I find that I really need to budget my time so that I can see this project through to completion. I sure appreciate your prayers for good time management on my part. And less distractions would be helpful also.
There is certainly no end of ministry opportunities here. But one of these days, I am determined to get out my fishing pole and do some fishing. Yup. I definitely need to do that someday!
In Christ,
Bob
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The Just Shall Live by Faith
There are earnest Christians who are jealous for a free Gospel, with acceptance of Christ, and justification by faith alone. But after this they think everything depends on their diligence and faithfulness. While they firmly grasp the truth, ‘justified by faith,’ they have hardly noticed the larger truth, ‘the just shall live by faith.’ They have not yet understood what a perfect Saviour the Lord Jesus is, and how He will each day do for the sinner just as much as He did the first day when they came to Him. They know not that the life of grace is always and only a life of faith, and that in the relationship to the Lord Jesus the one daily and unceasing duty of the disciple is to believe, because believing is the one channel through which Divine grace and strength can flow into the heart of man. The old nature of the believer remains evil and sinful to the last; it is only as he daily comes, all empty and helpless, to his Saviour to receive of His life and strength, that he can bring forth the fruits of righteousness to the glory of God.
-Andrew Murray
