"Accepted in the beloved."
- Ephesians 1:6



What a state of privilege! It includes our justification before God, but
the term "acceptance" in the Greek means more than that. It signifies that
we are the objects of divine complacence, nay, even of divine delight. How
marvellous that we, worms, mortals, sinners, should be the objects of
divine love! But it is only "in the beloved." Some Christians seem to be
accepted in their own experience, at least, that is their apprehension.
When their spirit is lively, and their hopes bright, they think God
accepts them, for they feel so high, so heavenly-minded, so drawn above
the earth! But when their souls cleave to the dust, they are the victims
of the fear that they are no longer accepted. If they could but see that
all their high joys do not exalt them, and all their low despondencies do
not really depress them in their Father's sight, but that they stand
accepted in One who never alters, in One who is always the beloved of God,
always perfect, always without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, how
much happier they would be, and how much more they would honour the
Saviour! Rejoice then, believer, in this: thou art accepted "in the
beloved." Thou lookest within, and thou sayest, "There is nothing
acceptable here!" But look at Christ, and see if there is not everything
acceptable there. Thy sins trouble thee; but God has cast thy sins behind
his back, and thou art accepted in the Righteous One. Thou hast to fight
with corruption, and to wrestle with temptation, but thou art already
accepted in him who has overcome the powers of evil. The devil tempts
thee; be of good cheer, he cannot destroy thee, for thou art accepted in
him who has broken Satan's head. Know by full assurance thy glorious
standing.
Even glorified souls are not more accepted than thou art.
They are only accepted in heaven "in the beloved," and thou art even now
accepted in Christ after the same manner.