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III.
The Way to Christ
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Chapter
23
:
Acceptance With God
1. IN whom has God made us
accepted?
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings. . . in Christ: according as He hath chosen us
in Him. . . to the praise of the glory of His grace,
wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved."
Eph. 1:3-6.
2. What great gift comes with our acceptance of
Christ?
"And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every
one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have
everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the
last day." John 6:40. See also John 17:2.
3. What is the first and primary evidence of our
acceptance with God?
"If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God
is greater: for this is the witness of God which
He hath testified of His Son. . . . And this is the
record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and
this life is in His Son." 1 John 5:9-11.
NOTE.-The primary basis of all faith and acceptance
is the word of God, - that which God Himself has
said. To receive and believe this is the first
essential to salvation, - the first evidence of
acceptance.
4. Why did John write his testimony concerning God's
love and purpose in giving Christ?
"These things have I written unto you that believe on
the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye
have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name
of the Son of God." Verse 13. "These are written,
that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the
Son of God; and that believing ye might have life
through His name." John 20:31.
5. What witness does the true
believer in Christ have that he is accepted of God?
"He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness
in himself: he that believeth not God bath made Him
a liar; because he believeth not the record that
God gave of His Son." 1 John 5:10.
NOTE.-Faith and feeling should not be confounded.
Faith is ours to exercise in the Word of God,
regardless or our feelings, and often in opposition
even to our feelings. Many fail to accept the pardon
and assurance of the acceptance of Heaven, because
they do not take God at His word, but instead turn
their attention to their changeable moods and
feelings. Faith always precedes the joyful
feelings which naturally result from the
assurance of forgiveness and acceptance. This order
is never reversed.
6. How only do any become children of God?
"Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ
Jesus." Gal. 3:26.
7. What is the foundation of faith?
"Faith
cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Rom. 10:17.
8. What assurance has the believer
of his union with God?
"Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He
in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit." 1
John 4:13.
9. What three definite
witnesses of acceptance are mentioned by John?
"There are three that bear witness in earth, the
Spirit, and the water, and the blood:
and these three agree in one." 1 John 5:8.
10. How does the Spirit witness to our acceptance
with God?
"Because ye are sons, God bath sent forth the Spirit of
His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."
Gal. 4:6. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our
spirit, that we are the children of God. " Rom. 8:16.
11. Of what is Christian baptism an evidence?
"As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have
put on Christ." Gal. 3:27.
NOTE.-In baptism, the water and the Spirit both bear
witness of God's acceptance. The same Spirit which,
at Christ's baptism, said, "This is My beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased," witnesses to the
acceptance of every sincere believer at his baptism.
12. To what does the blood of Christ witness?
"These things write we unto you, that your joy may be
full. . . . If we walk in the light, as He is in the
light, we have fellowship one with another, and the
blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all
sin." 1 John 1:4-7. "In whom we have redemption
through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." Eph.
1:7. See also Rev. 1:5,6.
13. When may we find acceptance
with God through Christ?
"I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in
the day of salvation
have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted
time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2
Cor. 6:2.
14. To whom, therefore, should we ascribe glory and
honor?
"Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins
in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests
unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen." Rev. 1:5,6.
15. What is another evidence of divine acceptance?
"We know that we have passed from death unto life,
because we love the brethren." 1 John 3:14.
16. What blessed assurance is
given all believers in Christ?
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Phil. 4:7.
Arise, my
soul, arise,
Shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding Sacrifice
In my behalf appears;
Before the throne my Saviour stands,
My name is written on His hands.
Five
bleeding wounds He bears,
Received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers,
They strongly speak for me.
Forgive him, O, forgive! they cry,
Nor let the contrite sinner die!
CHARLES
WESLEY. |
