Pondering
Read the following excerpts, then my question.
From Bill Gillham's book "Lifetime Guarantee: Making your Christian Life Work and What to Do When It Doesn't" pp 50-51...
"If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Father has accepted you completely. Performance has nothing whatever to do with it. Performance is important to God, yes, but it has to do with winning His approval, not His acceptance,. It has to do with hearing Him say, 'Well done, good and faithful servant' one day at the Judgement Seat of Christ, but it has nothing to do with hearing Him say, 'I accept you as My beloved child' (John 1:12)"
"God, however, uses Christ's finished work for us as the criterion for acceptance. Thus, any Christian who is striving for acceptance is fighting a battle that's already been won."
So - what is the difference between acceptance and approval? How do I know when I am seeking God's acceptance and when I am seeking His approval?
From Bill Gillham's book "Lifetime Guarantee: Making your Christian Life Work and What to Do When It Doesn't" pp 50-51...
"If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Father has accepted you completely. Performance has nothing whatever to do with it. Performance is important to God, yes, but it has to do with winning His approval, not His acceptance,. It has to do with hearing Him say, 'Well done, good and faithful servant' one day at the Judgement Seat of Christ, but it has nothing to do with hearing Him say, 'I accept you as My beloved child' (John 1:12)"
"God, however, uses Christ's finished work for us as the criterion for acceptance. Thus, any Christian who is striving for acceptance is fighting a battle that's already been won."
So - what is the difference between acceptance and approval? How do I know when I am seeking God's acceptance and when I am seeking His approval?
Replies
Acceptance is value-neutral. Like Grace, it simply Is. When you get a flat tire, you accept that your tire is flat. It doesn\'t mean you approve, in fact you most likely disapprove.
Likewise, through Jesus\'s sacrifice we all have the ability to claim the acceptance offered by God, but that doesn\'t mean God approves of our actions. Quite the opposite, He offered forgiveness and salvation because He didn\'t approve.
Because we will never be perfect, sinless creatures on this Earth, total approval is impossible. However, in striving to do God\'s work and follow the example set for us, we can earn more of God\'s approval than we would by simply accepting His gift of salvation and continuing to be douchebags. That will technically keep you out of hell, but it won\'t make God happy.
Okay - nicely put there about the douchebags. ;)
How do I know whether I am seeking acceptance or approval through my actions? We\'ve clearly established that I need not do anything for God\'s acceptance. So, how do I check my efforts and motives and see if I am seeking acceptance or approval?
Simple. You don\'t seek acceptance from God, it\'s His free gift of Grace. You just claim it.
Now, to seek approval, follow the teachings, and pray for guidance. God makes it pretty clear to me when I ask. But understand that as a flawed, sinful human, you will never achieve total approval from God.
Quick correction, sometimes God makes it clear to me. Sometimes we just gotta take our best guess and see how it plays out.