Introduction
“By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.” Hebrews 11:4
From infancy, we all want to be accepted. Little ones often mimic the behaviors of those who care for them in an attempt to gain attention and affection, desiring to be accepted. Older children and teens might try to please parents, teachers, or friends by saying or doing whatever gains them approval. Some of us get so caught up in the pursuit of love and acceptance that we find ourselves doing things that we regret.
The sad thing is that in the end, we discover that social acceptance doesn’t fully satisfy us. It’s temporary and inadequate. What we really want; what we so desperately need is acceptance from God. The only problem is that we know we aren’t acceptable. The attitudes in our hearts and frequently our actions, too, evidence that we have rejected God’s ways and our human logic tells us that for this, we deserve God’s rejection. What are we to do?
And because of our great need and God’s immeasurable love, He sent Jesus. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 The great exchange of the gospel is that Jesus suffered the consequences of our sins so that we might receive His righteousness before God. Righteousness means you are right with God; you are accepted. It means that now when God looks at you, He is pleased with you.
Illustration
In Genesis 4, we learn that two sons were born to Adam and Eve, their names were Cain and Abel. These brothers had no doubt heard from their parents that to approach a holy God, in their sinful state, required a sacrifice. But the kinds of sacrifices these brothers brought teach us much about how we, ourselves, are accepted by God.
Genesis 4:3-5 (NIV) In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
Cain brought “some of the fruits of the soil.” He was a hard worker in his fields, he planted and harvested, and from his labors, he brought God an offering. Cain thought the fruit of his hard work merited God’s acceptance.
Abel, on the other hand, brought a sacrifice of blood, an offering from his flock that he had killed. Abel understood, probably from the sacrifice that God made for his parents (Genesis 3:21), the depths of his sin and the requirement for blood to be shed for forgiveness. Abel evidenced that he understood what would later be said clearly in Hebrews 9:22 “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.“
And who received God’s favor? “The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering.” The Lord accepted Abel because the Lord accepted Abel’s offering. There was blood in that offering, which pointed forward to the blood Jesus would shed on the cross, to forgive all who come to God through Him. Abel was accepted because of his sacrifice, and you and I are accepted because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in our place, for our sins, as our Substitute.
Application
Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross so that when God looks at you through the blood of Jesus, you are seen as perfect. God loves and accepts you! Because you are in Christ, because you are one with Christ, you eternally hear, “This is my Son (or daughter), whom I love; with him/her I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17).
Have you been working hard to earn God’s favor? Do you struggle with feeling unacceptable to God or think that you must obey all the rules to stay in God’s good graces? Look to Jesus and see that He took on all your sins on the cross and in exchange, He gave you His perfect, God-pleasing righteousness. His perfection has been gifted to you. You didn’t get a second chance to obey the law; you received the righteousness of Christ. God cannot reject you, because you are in Christ. Your sin debt has been paid. God knows you fully and loves you eternally!
Are you a people pleaser? Would you like to be liberated from living for human acceptance? Look to Jesus on the cross, who took the rejection of everyone, so that you could receive eternal acceptance from the only One that truly matters – God! You are loved and accepted in Jesus, dear friend. Turn from seeking the approval of man, and instead, walk in the smile of Your God and enjoy the light of His love.
“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 Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:5-7
Question: How does looking to Jesus assure you that you are accepted by God?
Larry writes, “As I look to Jesus and walk in His light, His blood cleanses me and I am covered by Him, seen as righteous and accepted because of Him, and I can then be who God destined me to be for His glory and adoration. Lord, give me this peace of mind and the Spirit-guided ability to walk in Your light and be holy as You are holy, in Jesus I pray amen.“
Judy writes, “Thank you, Jesus, for dying on the cross to cover my sins, that I am accepted by God because you shed your blood for me. Help me to remember that you have covered my sin and accept me as I am. Help me to stay in the Lord’s will and to do your will Lord. Amen“
Mike L. writes, “To think that before time began God predestined me to be one of His son’s by Jesus, according to the good pleasure of His will, is so humbling, just because it pleased Him!! When I see Jesus on the cross I will remember this and know that God loves me in His beloved, Jesus is my acceptance and God sees me as perfect, ready for eternity, how amazing is that! Lord Jesus the depths of all you did for me are unfathomable, I love you and look so forward to spending eternity with you, you are so good to me my Jesus who loves me!“
Kyle writes, “Jesus gave all of himself to be a sacrifice so that I would be made acceptable and clean before God. His blood was and still to this day is the only reason God sees me as a son of his. There is nothing I have done or can do that will get me to that place. Thank you, Jesus!“
Reprinted by permission from the Looking to Jesus study at www.settingcaptivesfree.com. SCF exists to help men and women find freedom in Christ through the gospel.