You must be kidding

I love how Jesus just cuts to the point.

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them (Matthew 18:1-2).

Just that?

... Just that …

... This simple action on its own speaks a million words in a split second! 

It's a powerful illustration of the very heart of the Gospel and the profound implications of the finished work of Christ.

Enough said already!

You want to know who is the greatest?

Here. Check it out!

No strings attached! No performance required. This little kid knows nothing about the complexities of religion. He knows nothing about the striving and works-based systems that, sadly, so often obscure the glorious simplicity of the finished work of Christ.

Nothing about pretending. There's no need to put on a facade or to earn God's favor. Nothing about striving. It's not about climbing a ladder of spiritual achievement, nor about laboring to gain acceptance. Nothing about preconditions... The finished work of Christ has decisively removed all preconditions for approaching God. It's now entirely about receiving what has already been accomplished for us.

Think of all the "do's" that are so often made prerequisite requirements by religion, the doctrine of man and of which so many now feel are necessary:

... do first ... pray more ... give more ... attend 3 services ... sacrifice ... sacrifice yourself ... be cautious ... dress-up ... look like this ... sing like this …

All these "do's" are rendered utterly obsolete and unnecessary by the glorious "done" of Christ. The finished work means that our approach to God is now based entirely on His work, not on anything we could ever do.

As he is, this little kid just comes. Without pretense, without striving, simply receiving the invitation. As he is, so is he. This child embodies the simplicity and sincerity that Jesus desires. This is the authentic posture of true faith. He just IS! He embodies the very essence of grace – accepted and loved simply because he exists. This is the posture, the understanding, and the confident standing of those who truly grasp and rest in the finished work of Christ.

He comes with a sincere motive, fully accepted as he is. Because of Christ's perfect sacrifice, we have been made complete, righteous, cleansed, made whole, and sanctified. We are now truly aligned with our being before Jesus! We are, indeed, "Accepted in the Beloved!"

This profound truth is specifically found in Ephesians 1:6 (KJV): "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."

Many modern translations render this phrase slightly differently, such as "blessed us in the Beloved" (ESV) or "freely given us favor in the One he loves" (NIV), but the core meaning of being utterly "accepted" or "highly favored" in Christ remains powerfully intact.

Understanding "Accepted" (Greek: χαριτόω - charitoō)

The Greek word translated as "accepted" (or "blessed," "freely given us favor") in Ephesians 1:6 is χαριτόω (charitoō). This word is profoundly significant, as it's used only one other time in the New Testament: in Luke 1:28, where the angel Gabriel addresses Mary, saying, "Hail, you who are highly favored (κεχαριτωμένη, kecharitomenē, a perfect passive participle form of charitoō), the Lord is with you."

This means that the same divine favor and grace bestowed upon Mary for her unique and pivotal role is now, through the finished work of Christ, freely given to every believer. It's not just mere acceptance; it signifies a profound and active state of being:

• Highly favored: We are not just tolerated or conditionally welcomed, but we are genuinely objects of God's special grace, approval, and delight.

• Graced: We have been brought into a state of grace, an unmerited, divine favor that permeates our very existence in Christ.

• Surrounded by favor: Some scholars suggest it implies being enveloped or encompassed by God's glorious grace, a constant atmosphere of divine approval.

Meaning of "the Beloved": The Heart of Our Acceptance

"The Beloved" refers unequivocally and exclusively to Jesus Christ. This sacred title emphasizes His unique, eternal, and unparalleled relationship of perfect love and pleasure with God the Father. In pivotal moments like His baptism (Matthew 3:17) and transfiguration (Matthew 17:5), God the Father audibly declared, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

Therefore, to be "accepted in the Beloved" means that:

• Our acceptance is solely in Christ: We are not accepted based on our own efforts, merits, works, or flawed righteousness. Our standing before God is grounded entirely and exclusively because we are "in Christ"—united with Him by faith. His perfect, spotless righteousness is imputed to us (2 Corinthians 5:21: "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.").

• God loves us as He loves Jesus: This is a profound and revolutionary truth that shatters any self-condemnation or striving for approval. Because we are inextricably united with His Beloved Son, God looks upon us with the very same perfect favor, pleasure, and unconditional love He has for Jesus.

• It's an absolute gift of grace: This divine acceptance is entirely a gift, utterly unearned and undeserved. There is nothing anyone can do to earn it. It is given "to the praise of the glory of His grace," highlighting God's boundless kindness, generosity, and magnificent character.

This verse, "Accepted in the Beloved," is a cornerstone of understanding our unshakeable identity and profound security in Christ through His finished work on the cross. It definitively declares our perfect, unassailable standing before God, not based on our flawed performance or daily struggles, but solely on Christ's flawless fully sufficient accomplishment bearing our sins along with His glorious resurrection and ascension. We are righteous, made complete, and brought into perfect peace with God, not because of anything we've done, but because of what He has done.

Let’s do ourselves a favor…

Let’s just come to Jesus! Come exactly as we are, resting completely in His finished work. It's not about what we do, but what He has done. This is the liberating essence of grace and the very heart of the Gospel. As Romans 5:1 declares, "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." The Greek word for "justified" (δικαιόω, dikaioō) means "to declare righteous," a powerful legal pronouncement. This is a divine legal declaration, based solely on Christ's finished work on the cross, not on our performance. We are declared righteous, made complete, and brought into an eternal state of peace with God, not because of anything we've accomplished, but because of what He has perfectly accomplished for us.