Accepted In The Beloved

On Sunday, January 25, 1736, he was aboard a ship. A life-threatening storm struck! It was 7 o’clock when he noticed the humility of certain passengers. They were serving others. They served, saying, “it was good for their proud hearts,” and that “their loving Savior had done more for them.” Throughout their journey. he had noted their meekness. “No injury could move them. If they were pushed, struck, or thrown down, they rose again and went away; but no complaint was found in their mouth.”

The great deep was about to swallow us up. A terrible screaming began, but they calmly sung on. I asked one of them afterwards, “Are you not afraid?” He answered, “I thank God, no.” I asked, “But are not your women and children afraid?” He replied, mildly, “No; our women and children are not afraid to die.”

“At 12 o’clock the wind fell. This was the most glorious day which I have hitherto seen.”

After returning to England, he unwillingly attended a certain Christian meeting. About 8:45 pm, the speaker described the change God works in the heart of those who trust in Christ. He felt his heart strangely warm. He trusted in Christ! In Christ alone for salvation! God gave him an assurance that his sin were taken away, even his. Jesus saved him from the law of sin and death! [1]

“Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim; thus He spoke to him.” [2]

The Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Covenant was symbolic of Christ. This is where God spoke to Moses. The Mercy Seat, Christ, is where God meets with us today.

“Praise to the glory of His grace, He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him [Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” [3]

We are never good enough in our own righteousness to approach unto God or to be accepted into the family of God. It is only the Beloved, Jesus Christ, that we have redemption. By His grace, our sins are removed, and we are accepted by God, and by all who believe in Jesus!

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” [4]

The key to salvation is to confess our sins to God and to trust in Jesus Christ for the removal of our sins and for cleansing from unrighteousness. As song goes, “Just as I am, without one plea but that Thy blood was shed for me. And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee, Oh, Lamb of God, I come, I come.”

“Sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” [5] God accepts us in the Beloved [Jesus His Son], and then, He gives us His Holy Spirit to live a new life that reflects the glory of God’s grace.

[1] Excerpts from John Wesley’s Journal
[2] Numbers 7:89
[3] Ephesians 1:6-7
[4] 1 John 1:8-9
[5] Romans 15:16