God Accepts Those Who Receive

Something I have been thinking about lately is a common term used among Christians:  "accepting Christ."  It is biblical to believe and receive the Gospel, and to place our trust in Christ.  But "accepting" Him?  The vast majority of times in the KJV this term is used is not man accepting God, but God accepting man and his sacrifices.  The term almost puts man in the place of God, in the role of a judge or ruler.  We trust Christ and receive the Gospel by faith, and then God rejoices to accept us.  It is only through Christ's righteousness we are made acceptable! 

There is a massive difference between accepting a truth in your mind and placing your faith or reliance in the thing.  The Gospel of Jesus is not simply to be accepted (to generally deem as valid or correct), but we are to put our complete reliance in Christ in how we live every day.  Paul wrote in Colossians 2:6-7, "As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, ⁷ rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving."  Acknowledging the Gospel is not enough:  we must be born again.

I believe Satan accepts God is real, and that Jesus is the Son of God.  The demons tremble in fear before Christ, but this will not save them from eternal punishment.  It is important therefore people not only acknowledge or accept God's existence, rule, or promises, but receive the Gospel and the indwelling Holy Spirit through faith.  All who repent, believe in the LORD Jesus Christ and His resurrection, and place their trust in Him will be saved.  It is not we who accept God, but He who has graciously accepted us.  As it is written in Ephesians 1:3-6, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, ⁵ having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved."