Being Clothed With Jesus Makes Us Acceptable To The Father

When a person joins the Army he or she goes through a dramatic transformation. The Army designed a system to produce soldiers who are physically fit, have basic fighting skills, understand the chain of command and work as a team. If one works hard, in ten weeks of basic training a person is transformed physically, mentally and emotionally. The result is that person becomes acceptable to the Army and graduates.

When a person becomes a Christian he or she is dramatically transformed. Unlike basic training the changes are instantaneous and require no personal effort. Just like basic training graduates share common characteristics all Christians share new characteristics. Basic training requires personal hard work and a drill instructor. The changes a Christian experiences require personal faith and Jesus.

[Tweet “It’s Jesus alone who makes us acceptable to the Father”]

For boot camp to succeed a person is immersed for 10 weeks into Army training. The changes that happen to a Christian are the result of an immersion of a different kind. When we trust in Jesus we’re immersed in Jesus.  Galatians 3:26-27 says

for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized [or immersed] into Christ have put on Christ.

Before we were a Christian we didn’t have a relationship with God. Our sin made us unacceptable to the Father Ephesians 2:1-3. In order to become acceptable to the Father something had to change. We heard the good news of what Jesus did for us and we received it by faith John 1:12. Then something amazing happened. Our simple act of faith united us with Jesus in the Father’s eyes. He changed the way He looks at us because of a transformation that took place when we believed.

I have a friend from church that I’ve known for years. He is a quiet, humble man who serves behind the scenes seeking no personal attention. A couple of years after I met him I learned he’s a 7th degree Tae Kwon Do Black Belt. That’s a big deal. He’s still the same person but I look at him differently because of what I learned about him. Oh, and I call him Sir.

When we became a Christian something very significant happened that changed us. We went from children of wrath to being clothed with Jesus. In fact, you look like Him right now! Since the moment of our faith in Jesus the Father looks at us differently. There are three things about being clothed with Jesus that make us acceptable to the Father.

Three Things That Make Us Acceptable to The Father

1. We died with Jesus Romans 6:3. In God’s eyes our past sinful life is history.
2. We rose from the dead with Jesus Romans 6:4. We were spiritually dead. Now we are alive to God.
3. We have a new quality of life with Jesus Romans 6:5. Each moment the Father sees us as His child, united with Jesus.

[Tweet “The Father delights in you when he sees you because you’re united to His beloved Son!”]

Just like I was surprised to learn my friend was an expert in martial arts, you may be surprised to know are clothed with Jesus and acceptable to the Father. It’s a big deal.

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