WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO GOD?
In Religion today many preachers are preaching what makes for happiness and things that are acceptable to people. We should be concerned as to what is acceptable to God. Jesus Christ came to fulfill the prophecy found in Isaiah 61:1-3 which was "To preach the acceptable year of the Lord." This has a great deal of meaning because it refers to the entire Christian age in which we live. It is a time when we can be well pleasing to God through Jesus Christ. The Greek words translated "Acceptable" mean that which is pleasing to God. Also that which God will receive with pleasure and that in which God delights. It is interesting to note the things we are told to do and be that would be acceptable to God in many places. Let us look at some of those things.
1. We are acceptable in Jesus Christ "Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the beloved." In Galatians 3:27, and Romans 6:3 we see how to get into Christ so let's do it so we can be accepted in the beloved son of God.
2. Fearing God and working righteousness makes us accepted of God. "But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by him." (Acts 10:35). This is the introduction of the first sermon preached to the Gentiles. They were told to believe (Acts 10:43) and were commanded to be baptized in the name of the Lord (Acts 10:47,48). They were already a people who feared God (Acts 10:2).
3. Praying for all men is acceptable to God. I Timothy 2: 1-4 shows that "this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior." (vs.3). God wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. He wants the kings and rulers of the earth to see true Christianity for the good that it is to any people and so let Christians meet in quietness and peace and not be hindered from living godly and honestly.
4. When we receive the kingdom which cannot be shaken we serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. (Hebrews 12:28). Our worship is to be conducted with awe and respect for God in every item.
5. We are to offer spiritual sacrifices which are acceptable to God. I Peter 2:5 states, "You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." This would be such things as spiritual praise, the fruit of the lips, giving thanks to His name. (Hebrews 13: 15). We also are to do good and share for with such sacrifices God is well pleased (Hebrews 13:16).
6. Giving of our money to the cause of the Lord is also good and acceptable to God. "For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have." (2 Corinthians 8:12).
7. Sending support to a gospel preacher doing mission work Is acceptable to God. The Philippian church sent their preacher over to Rome to give a gift to Paul who was in prison because of his preaching. Paul wrote back, "Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Ephaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God." (Philippians 4:18).
8. Supporting a widowed mother or relative in need in one's family is acceptable to God also. "But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God." (I Timothy 5:4).
9. Presenting our bodies and minds as living sacrifices is acceptable to God also. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1,2). Holistic Christian service is what we are to render in this time of being acceptable to God. Jesus said we are to deny self and take up the cross and follow him (Matthew 16:24). Paul said he had been crucified with Christ but he lived a life by faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:20). Christians are called "new creatures in Christ" (2 Corinthians 5: 17).
10. Suffering patiently in the trials of this life is also acceptable to God. "But if when you do well and you suffer for it, you take it patiently, this is acceptable to God." (I Peter 2:20).
11. We should always remember that Now is the acceptable time. "For He says, 'In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you'. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2). The "Now" is in this the Christian age. Even more particularly it is the little span of time we live in this the Christian age. "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation." (Hebrews 9:27, 28).
Live acceptably before God, by fearing Him, believing on Jesus, Repenting and being baptized. Then continue to live faithfully. C. D.