Ephesians 1 tells us God raised Jesus to sit at His right hand. Ephesians 2 tells us that God made us alive with Christ and raised us up with Him to sit together in heavenly places.
Ephesians 2:4-6 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
This passage tells us that because of God’s unmerited favor on our lives we are seated together with Christ at the Father’s right hand. So, we are in a position of rest in Jesus’ finished work.
John 17:4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
To be seated in Christ is to rest, to trust in Him, that He finished the work. It also means to receive everything our Savior has accomplished for our benefit.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
We are to look to Jesus, to rely on Him for our success in every area of our lives. We are not to rely on man’s efforts (including our own) or good works. We look only to Jesus.
The master accuser (Satan) would point out our faults, weaknesses and past failures. He would condemn us as being unworthy to rely on Jesus. Just like he did with the great apostle Paul in Romans 7, the devil heaps condemnation on us:
Romans 7:23-24 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
But, thank the Lord, Paul did not let the devil keep him in that state of depression very long. Let’s look at the very next verse for the solution to who will deliver him:
Romans 7:25 I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Today, we do not need to focus on the question, “Am I accepted by God?” When we do that, we are focusing on ourselves, our own self-interest and self-doubts. That gets us looking at our sin, our unworthiness, and our failures. Instead, because of what Jesus accomplished at Calvary, we focus on Christ. The question now becomes, “Is Christ accepted by God?” We see many examples of the answer to that question in the Bible. Here is one:
Matthew 17:5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
Look at the crucifixion of Jesus for another example. On the cross, Mark tells us that Jesus cried out “My God, My God.” Before this Jesus had always referred to God as Father. Jesus knew God as “Father.” But, because on the cross Jesus was absorbing the wrath of God as our punishment for sin and also taking our sins in His Body, He was separated from His Father for that time. Let’s look at the verse:
Mark 15:33-34 33 Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
In that instance, Jesus was separated from God. But look at the next words of Jesus:
Luke 23:44-46 44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last.
He said’ “Father!” Jesus was no longer separated from God, His Father. That means that God had accepted the sacrifice of Jesus’ own body as payment for our sins. Jesus’ sacrifice was accepted by the Father. So is Jesus accepted by God? The answer is a ringing “YES!”
But what does that mean to us specifically? For that answer, let’s look at another Scripture verse:
1 John 4:17-19 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.
As Jesus is (accepted by the Father), so are we in this world! That does not mean in the world to come, but right now, in this present world. We are accepted by the Father (as Jesus is)! We are full of wisdom and knowledge (as Jesus is)! We have health and strength (as Jesus is)! We have everlasting life (as Jesus is)! We have no fear, but we have perfect love (as Jesus is)!
If you would like to know this Jesus that sits in heaven at the right hand of God, but gives us His characteristics as we are on this planet, pray this prayer with me:
“Father God, I believe Jesus Christ is your Son. He died to save me from my sins. He arose to that I might have eternal life with You. I turn from my wicked ways and follow Him. Jesus come into my life right now. I will look only to You. You are my healing! You are my strength! You are my savior! Fill me with Your joy and peace. Amen.”
If you prayed that prayer, please contact us and tell us about your experience. We care about you!
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