How can I know that God accepts me? - Acceptance - TouchPoints

Romans 3:30There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.

Galatians 2:16Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.

1 John 1:8-10If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

God’s acceptance is not based on what we do, but on faith in Jesus Christ. Our sin separates us from a holy and perfect God. But faith in Jesus removes our sin and makes us holy and acceptable in God’s sight.

Luke 15:18-20“‘I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”

1 John 3:1See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.

God loves us as his children. No matter what we do, he will always love us and desire for us to be with him. Even if we have acted like the prodigal son, wasting his gifts and squandering our lives in sin, he rejoices to accept our apology and offer us forgiveness.

Matthew 26:74-75Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.

John 21:16Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.

Acts 7:59; 8:1As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” . . . Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.

1 Timothy 1:12-16I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus. This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

Peter and Paul may be the most famous Christians of all time, yet each committed terrible sins. In Jesus’ darkest hour, Peter denied him and abandoned him. Paul, meanwhile, was a young leader among Jesus’ enemies, the Pharisees, and Paul supported the murder of the first martyr, Stephen. Yet each was forgiven, each was accepted, each was offered a new life. And Scripture promises the same to us.