Scripture teaches that we are fully accepted in Christ. He has called us His. Yet, it also beckons us, in response to this acceptance, to pursue a life of approval.

We tend to struggle with differentiating between approval and acceptance. We worry that if God does not approve of a particular choice or character trait, our acceptance will disappear as well. Thankfully that is not the case. We are fully and completely accepted by God’s grace.

Likewise, we are called to accept one another, just as we are accepted by God. That means there is no place for condemnation. We are commanded to meet people where they are. Does that mean we must approve everything others do? Not at all. But we are to accept them unconditionally, just as Christ accepted us.

We often think we are glorifying God when we try to fix people. But this verse tells us that we glorify God when we accept one another with the same radical grace with which we are accepted in Christ.

We then have a foundation to walk in righteousness, as Jesus has called us. When we accept others with the radical acceptance we have received, we acknowledge the glory of God.

“Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.”
– Romans 15:7