Do You Accept Jesus?

Do You Accept Jesus? 

For some it may take a bit of effort to remember your teenage years.  Perhaps you would concur with me that the teenage years can be difficult.  You’re not quite sure who or what, you will become, but you are no longer the child that you used to be.  You want to find enjoyment for yourself and explore the possibilities of new freedom, however, you find yourself being held back by your peers who can’t quite recognize the transition you have made.  Remember your first day of entering through those high school doors?   You wanted to fit in and be accepted, but more often than not, you came to the realization, in order to attain this it would involve compromise and abandoning who you were in order to be accepted in certain social circles.

Let’s face it although our surrounding have changed, the issue of acceptance continues to plague many adults, as they seek to find serenity within their social circles of life.  The secular society reason, “Relational acceptance is the answer to problems today”.  However, what society is doing is such a travesty.  In fact an individual’s worst enemy will never bring the destruction that one can inflict upon them self.  The mainstream society is more concerned about reputation then Character.  Character is truly who we are when no one else is looking, whereas reputation is merely what others think and say about us.

The gospel of the Lord Jesus, according to 1 Cor. 15:1-4;

1Cor 15:1

Moreover, brethern, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

1Cor 15:2

By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

1Cor 15:3

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1Cor 15:4

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

The gospel message of the Death, Burial and Resurrection which is made applicable by the obedience to the scripture of Acts 2:38;

Acts 2:38

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The saving message of Repentance, baptism in Jesus name and receiving the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking with out tongues is diametrically opposed to the culture we live in and are even influenced by.  Sadly, the SECULAR social realms have tried to mingle the SACRED with their idealistic ways.  Modern day “Christianity” boasts of their numbers that “accept” the Lord as their personal savior.  It stands to reason that doctrinally speaking, this theology is inconsistent with the scripture and thus stands in grave error.  Paul tells us in Ephesians, it is not to our qualifications that Jesus must conform to, but rather it is we that must conform to him.  It is not for society to make demands of the Savior, in order that evil may be called good, or to make a mockery of Biblical commands and call it a “new day”.  The Word of God is very clear, it is not for us to accept Jesus into our lifestyle, for the Creator of the Universe to adapt himself to our order of convenient religiosity, because the scriptures declare that our hearts are deceitfully wicked, rather it is for Jesus to accept us.

Eph 1:6

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 

According to Paul the meaning of Grace that he defined to the Ephesian believers is, “acceptance in the beloved”.  Who is the beloved?  The beloved is none other than Jesus.

 John 14:16

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

John 15:4

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

John 15:6

If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

John 15:7

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

John 15:10

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

 The real issue for salvation concerning acceptance, is Jesus accepting us.  The only way that we will find acceptance, that is “His Grace” is to get into Jesus.  How?  The only way to Abide in Jesus is through His Death (Repentance), His Burial (Baptism in Jesus Name) and through his Resurrection (Receiving the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues).  This is the only saving message of truth!  For too long society has been abandoning who they were in order to be accepted in secular social circles, while trying to maintain their individuality and their rights when it comes to the Sacred Truth of the Scriptures.  Its time to get it right, its time find what real acceptance is.