Just Because I Am Accepted Doesn’t Mean I Am Acceptable: A Journey Toward Pleasing God

As Christians, we celebrate the fact that we have been accepted by God through the grace of Christ. It's a beautiful truth: no matter who we are, no matter where we've been, or what we've done, the moment we receive Christ, we are welcomed into God's family. This acceptance is a gift, and it’s guaranteed. However, there’s another important concept that we sometimes overlook in the excitement of our acceptance. And that is the concept of being acceptable to God.

What does it mean to be "acceptable" to God? It’s more than just the warm embrace of salvation—it’s about our ongoing relationship with Him. The distinction is vital: accepted is our position in God’s family through Christ, but acceptable is the posture we take before God in our daily lives.

Let’s explore what this means, and how we can make it our goal to be acceptable to God.

Accepted: Our Secure Position in God’s Family

First, let’s ground ourselves in the undeniable truth that, as Christians, we are accepted by God. This acceptance doesn’t depend on how good we are or what we’ve done—it’s all about what Jesus did for us.

In Romans 8:16-18, we are told that, "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children." Being accepted by God is part of our inheritance as His children. We are heirs, co-heirs with Christ, and this is not a privilege we earned—it’s a gift.

In Romans 2:11, we also learn that God doesn’t show favoritism. No matter our background, status, or history, we are equally accepted. This is a comforting truth. It tells us that our worth isn’t based on how well we perform or how “good” we are—it’s based on God’s unfailing love and grace.

But What About Being Acceptable?

While acceptance is a gift, being acceptable to God is something we strive for. It's not automatic. Being acceptable is about our choices—how we live, how we represent Christ, and how we choose to live out our faith each day.

There’s a huge difference between being accepted and being acceptable. To be accepted by God is to enter into His family, no matter where we start. But to be acceptable is to strive daily to reflect the heart of God in our thoughts, actions, and attitudes.

In Ephesians 2:8-9, we read that salvation is a gift. It’s not based on our works, so we can't boast. Salvation gives us access to God, but our goal is to continually live in a way that pleases Him, that makes us acceptable in His sight.

A Goal to Please God:

So how do we live in a way that’s pleasing to God? The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:9-11, "So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it." Pleasing God should be our everyday goal—our North Star. Whether we're living here on earth or anticipating the moment we meet Him face-to-face in heaven, we are called to live a life that honors Him.

Pleasing God involves laboring to make choices that align with His will. It means saying "no" to the temptations of the flesh and saying "yes" to the fruit of the Spirit.

The Fruit of the Spirit vs. The Acts of the Flesh:

In Galatians 5:16-26, Paul gives us two distinct paths we can choose to walk: the path of the Spirit or the path of the flesh. The fruit of the Spirit is what makes us acceptable to God. It’s how we are empowered to live a life that pleases Him. Here’s what Paul tells us:

• The fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

• The works of the flesh (things that are NOT acceptable to God): idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, jealousy, selfish ambition, drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

It’s easy to see that many of the things the world values—pride, ambition, anger, indulgence—are directly opposed to what God calls us to. While the world may call these things "normal" or "acceptable," God has a different standard.

The Challenge of Being Acceptable:

Is it easy to live a life that pleases God? No. There are so many things in the world that seem appealing, but are actually contrary to God’s will. And while salvation is a gift, our acceptability before God requires effort.

In Galatians 5, Paul warns us that those who live according to the flesh will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Salvation is not an excuse for us to live however we want; it’s a call to live in a way that honors God, that reflects the change He’s made in our lives.

Can You Be Saved and Yet "Rejected"?

This leads us to a sobering question: Can you be saved and still become a “castaway”—someone rejected by God? The answer is complicated but important: Acceptance is forever, but being acceptable to God is something we work toward.

Salvation through Jesus Christ is a one-time event that secures our position in God’s family. However, our choices—our lives lived in alignment with or rebellion to God's will—can affect how we stand before Him. To whom much is given, much is expected (Luke 12:47-49). If we have been given the gift of salvation, we are called to live in a way that reflects it.

An Acceptable Spirit: Reflecting the Fruit of the Spirit

So what does it look like to be acceptable to God? Galatians 5:22-23 gives us a crystal-clear picture:

• Love that reflects God's sacrificial nature.

• Joy that overflows from a heart transformed by the gospel.

• Peace that transcends all understanding.

• Kindness that mirrors God’s grace to us.

• Faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that testify to our obedience to His will.

These are the characteristics of someone who is striving to be acceptable to God—someone whose life is marked by the Holy Spirit.

Striving for Acceptability: A Daily Choice

So today, let’s make it our goal to be acceptable to God. Yes, we are accepted into His family through Jesus, but we should also strive to live in a way that pleases Him, reflecting the character of Christ in our daily choices. Let’s pray for the strength to walk by the Spirit, and to bear the fruit that God desires in our lives.

God has given us the greatest gift of all in salvation. Now, let's live in a way that shows we value that gift, that we are acceptably living for Him. Let’s run the race with endurance and with the goal to please the Father, both now and forevermore.