Unconditional Acceptance?
I recently saw a Facebook post where it was stated that Jesus died for sinners just like He died for the preacher. This is an absolute truth, He died for all! However, the purpose of the post was to assert that Jesus accepts sinners in their current state, unconditionally. This teaching is false and destructive, but very common. I recently read an article by Stephan Joubert. In his devotional article, He says we should accept people as they are, not encourage them to change, and accept them unconditionally because God accepts us unconditionally.
Joubert used Romans 15:7 in an effort to support this teaching. It says, “Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.” Is Paul telling us to receive or accept sinners unconditionally? Does Jesus accept us unconditionally? If not, what are the conditions? To answer, we must look at the context of this verse.
First of all, this letter is written to the Christians in Rome, those who have already been added to the Kingdom. Paul is encouraging these Christians to receive one another, not to accept sinners and unbelievers without the expectation of obedience (change). To confirm this, all we have to do is look at the two preceding verses, “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5-6)
Can a Christian be like-minded with an unbeliever about things concerning Christ? Can an unbeliever and a saint, in one mind and one mouth, glorify God the Father? Let the word itself answer!
2 Corinthians 6:14-17 (NKJV)
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
17 Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you”
What part has a believer with an unbeliever? What must a believer do to be accepted by God? He or she must “come out from among them (unbelievers/sinners) and be separate.”
Does that sound like unconditional acceptance to you?
Unconditional acceptance is a popular and widely accepted teaching because it requires nothing. With this belief, a man or woman could do whatever they desire, continue to live in sin, and still be in good standing with God.
Romans 6:1-4 (NKJV)
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
The condition of God’s acceptance is obedience to His word. We must obey the Gospel to begin that journey, but we must continue steadfastly in obedience to the teachings of that word to be accepted by God, walking in the newness of life. God’s forgiveness, mercy, acceptance, whatever you want to call it, is conditional.
Would you like to be accepted by God? There is only one way to do that. Obey the gospel and surrender your life to Jesus Christ. If you have any questions or would like to have a Bible study, please contact me!
- Eric Bullock, Evangelist
