597 - The Implications of Being “Accepted in the Beloved”

Leaving Laodicea

The Antidote for Self-Doubt

To the praise of the glory of His grace,

by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Ephesians 1:6

As believers, one of the most incredible truths we can embrace is that God has made us, even with all our failures and shortcomings, “accepted in the Beloved” or “accepted in His Son” (Eph. 1:6). This short phrase reveals the depths of God’s love and the privileged position we now enjoy in Christ. And when we grasp the full implications of these few words, they will revolutionize the way we view ourselves and how we live out our faith on a daily basis. That’s not hyperbole, just the facts.

Let’s look at what it means to be truly “accepted in the Beloved.”

God’s Gracious Choice

As we begin to unpack the richness of this verse, we must start with the declaration that God “chose us in Him before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). Let that sink in— before God spoke creation into existence, and before He formed the galaxies or breathed life into Adam, He had already selected you to be “holy and without blame” in His sight. And He chose you for no other reason than the “good pleasure of His will” or, more precisely, because He wanted to (Eph. 1:5).

Just think, you didn’t earn His sovereign choice of you, and you certainly don’t deserve it— none of us do. But that’s what makes His grace so amazing. God set His affection on you, not because of your merits, but simply because it delighted Him to do so. He predestined you to be adopted as His very own son or daughter (Eph. 1:5). The King of Kings wanted you in His family.

But, and I know it may be hard to believe, it gets even better.

Accepted and Highly Favored

Now, because of His loving choice and predetermined plan, you are “accepted in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:6). The word “accepted” means much more than we assume when we use it today. We speak of inclusion, such as, “I just got accepted into college” or “I feel accepted by my co-workers.” But in Greek, “accepted” (charitóō) means being “highly honored” and “greatly favored.” In fact, it is the same word used of Mary when the angel Gabriel appeared to her saying, “Rejoice, highly favored one (charitóō), the Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). And this is the only other place in Scripture this particular word is used.

Just as Mary found grace and favor in God’s sight to be chosen as the mother of the Messiah, you also have found grace and favor to be chosen and accepted by Him as His beloved child. Jesus took on the punishment your sins deserved, paying their penalty of death on the cross and, by doing so, made you righteous and reconciled to the Father. So when God looks at you, He doesn’t see your sins, failures, and shame, but the perfect righteousness of His Son imputed to you (2 Cor. 5:21)— His now adopted son (Eph. 1:5).

In Christ, you are now (and I know this may be hard to believe) highly honored and esteemed, deeply loved, and greatly blessed in Him. And God doesn’t begrudgingly accept you because He spoke too soon, maybe before He knew what you were really like, and has to fulfill a promise He’d rather not. No, He now joyfully allows His grace to “abound” toward you in all His wisdom and prudence because of the “riches of His grace” He was pleased to lavish upon you (Eph. 1:7-8). How does that make you feel? And where is the place in your life for insecurity when God has already highly honored you to the degree He has? Read the verse again, if need be.

No More Insecurity… Ever!

Think about what this means for your identity and sense of self-worth. You no longer have to be crippled by feelings of insecurity or inadequacy, constantly striving to prove yourself and win acceptance from others. Your standing with God is not based on your performance but your position in Christ. It’s not what you do, but who, or Whose you are. Therefore, you are loved and favored by the only One whose opinion ultimately matters. So, who cares what people say about you behind your back, on social media— or anywhere?

God’s acceptance frees you forever from the fear of rejection. Though people may betray you, and they will— God will never turn His back on you. He will “never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5) because His love and acceptance are unconditional and irrevocable. So, in those moments when you feel like a failure no one could ever love, you can proclaim this truth to yourself— “I am accepted in the Beloved. What can man do to me? (Eph. 1:9; Heb. 13:6). God’s favor and acceptance of you is steadfast and unchanging, and as secure as God Himself. So rest easy. You are secure in Him.

Living as the Favored of the Most High

Knowing you are accepted in the Beloved doesn’t just change your self-image; it empowers you to live differently, more abundantly (John 10:10), which is your birthright in Him. When you see yourself as God sees you, it gives you the courage to take bold steps of faith because of Him. You can move forward with confidence, not in your own strength and abilities, but in the unshakable favor and acceptance of God.

Again, instead of being paralyzed by what others think, you are free to pursue God’s unique calling in your life. The need for people’s approval loses its grip when you are already approved by the Most High God— who is also your Father. Think about that for a moment. If you have already been accepted by the best (God), why spend a second worrying more about what the less (others) think of you? Then, like Paul, you can learn to be content in any circumstance, assured that Christ has made you “accepted in the Beloved.”

Let this truth become the soundtrack of your soul, especially in times of fear, self-doubt, or discouragement. Proclaim it to yourself, out loud, again and again, if necessary. Let this passage overshadow your circumstances. You are blessed. You are favored. You are honored. And you are accepted— not because of what you’ve done, but because of what Christ has done for you.

Are you smiling yet? You really should be.

Grace-Fueled Obedience

Understanding your acceptance in the Beloved also motivates your obedience to Him and His Word. Joyful, grateful submission to Him naturally flows from a revelation of God’s glorious grace. You serve Him, not to gain His approval, but because you already have it.

And when you sin, you don’t have to wallow any longer in shame, fearful that somehow you’ve fallen from God’s grace and He no longer wants you as His child. No, you can boldly approach the throne of grace (Heb. 4:16), knowing that Christ’s blood continuously cleanses you and that you are forever accepted in Him (1 John 1:7). Repentance, once often neglected, now becomes a gracious opportunity to realign yourself with the truth of who you are in Christ.

Now, secure in your standing with Him, you are empowered to love and serve others freely. You can offer the same grace that you have received and become an instrument of God’s unconditional acceptance to those, like you once were, desperately longing for it. People will be naturally drawn to the Christ they see in you, the One who makes sinners His favored sons and daughters— which is a perfect picture of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).

Rejoicing in Your Spiritual Blessings

And as you meditate on the wonders of being “accepted in the Beloved,” don’t lose sight of the broader context of what we have been reading in Ephesians 1:3-14. Paul’s declaration of your acceptance comes amidst an amazing description of the spiritual blessings you possess in Christ— right now, in full.

You have been chosen, predestined, redeemed, forgiven, and sealed with the Holy Spirit. You have obtained an inheritance and been given wisdom to know the mysteries of God’s will. And all of this is “to the praise of His glory.”

Anything else? Just one more thought.

Remember, your acceptance in the Beloved is not an isolated reality, like a line item on a balance sheet, but is inseparably linked to the full package of heavenly blessings that are yours in Christ. And these blessings are not something you have to strive for, but something you already possess. They are stated in the past tense, meaning they are your birthright as a child of God.

So Let’s Pray

When you pray, let your heart rejoice with thanksgiving for all that is yours in Him. And as you face challenges (which you will), remember that you are fully equipped for them, whatever they are, with “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). You lack nothing. After all, the same favor that rests upon Christ rests upon you, since you are “predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29). Ah, to be just like Jesus.

So let Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian believers be your prayer for yourself today (and be sure to make it personal):

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you (make it personal, put your name here) the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your (put your name here) understanding being enlightened; that you (and here) may know what is the hope of His calling (for you), what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints (of which you are), and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us (and you) who believe, according to the working of His mighty power – Ephesians 1:17-19.

May this become our prayer as well. May the eyes of our understanding be enlightened to truly comprehend the hope, riches, and power that are ours because we are “accepted in the Beloved.” May we grasp the height, depth, length, and width of Christ’s love for us (Eph. 3:17-19). And may we live in the confidence that nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord— or in His Beloved (Rom. 8:38-39).

Finally, may we live for Him as the highly favored sons and daughters that we are. And may our lives be a continual praise to the glory of His grace.

And we will talk more later.

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

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