Accepted in the Beloved
Why Believers Struggle to Embrace God's Grace
Believers celebrate the good news of salvation—that Christ forever forgives us, fully accepts us, and unconditionally loves us. Yet despite this truth, many Christians wrestle with a troubling tension. If God truly accepts us based on Christ's finished work, why is it so hard to fully embrace that acceptance when we continue to struggle with sin and failure?
This struggle is not new. From the early church until today, Christians have wrestled with the reality of their acceptance in Christ.
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved Ephesians 1:6.
Yet the practical application of this profound truth often eludes us.
Misunderstanding the Nature of Grace
At the heart of our struggle lies a fundamental misunderstanding of grace. Grace is the radical demonstration of God's unconditional love and His active power working in us, transforming us into the image of His Son.
Too often, believers conceptualize grace as something they must manage carefully—use too much, and you risk moral chaos; use too little, and you slip into rigid legalism. But the biblical grace Paul spoke of goes far beyond this.
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Titus 2:11–12
Grace is not permission to sin; it's the divine power to overcome sin, rooted entirely in our acceptance and identity in Christ.
The Trap of Legalism
The struggle to embrace God's grace often stems from an ingrained legalism—an internal voice whispering that God's love and acceptance hinge on our performance. Many believers grew up in or were influenced by a religious culture that subtly or overtly equates holiness with rule-keeping. This religious upbringing makes it challenging to fully believe that God loves and accepts us regardless of our fluctuating performance.
This legalistic mindset can feel deceptively spiritual. It appears disciplined and committed, yet underneath is often a fearful striving to earn what God freely gives. Paul confronted this head-on in his letter to the Galatians:
Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Galatians 3:3.
Legalism attempts to finish through human effort what only grace can accomplish.
Fear of Radical Grace
Believers frequently fear that radical acceptance and unconditional grace will lead to spiritual irresponsibility. Many sincere Christians fear that if grace is unconditional, it will give people a " license to sin. " Yet the opposite is true: grace that is fully understood and embraced leads to profound holiness.
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:14
Being under grace means we have entered a relationship in which God's love compels us to obedience, not out of fear but from a transformed heart, deeply aware of His undeserved favor.
Confusing Identity and Behavior
Confusing your spiritual identity with your actions creates a serious problem. When you fall into sin, it's easy to believe that failure defines you. But the New Testament makes it clear: your identity in Christ is secure, no matter how inconsistent your behavior may be.
Paul powerfully captures this struggle in Romans 7. Even with his strong desire to live righteously, he admits to ongoing battles with sin. But he doesn't end in defeat—he ends with hope and confidence in Christ. Despite his deep desire to live righteously, Paul acknowledges that he continually faced internal struggles with sin. Yet he triumphantly concludes.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
Paul separates his identity in Christ from the battles he faces daily. We must learn to do the same.
A Faulty View of God
A significant reason believers struggle with grace is a distorted perception of God. Often, believers subconsciously picture God as a disappointed parent or a critical judge, evaluating and re-evaluating their worthiness. Yet, the truth of the gospel paints a very different portrait. Luke 15's parable of the prodigal son vividly shows God as a loving Father who embraces, restores, and celebrates us even after we fail.
The father in the parable runs to the son and immediately restores his identity, without hesitation, condemnation, or strings attached. This is the very heart of God. He has not grudgingly accepted us but joyfully and fully welcomes us, even in our weakest moments.
Influence of Human Relationships
We also struggle with grace because we project human standards onto God. Human relationships frequently carry conditions and unspoken expectations. Failure to meet these conditions quickly diminishes acceptance and approval. If we have experienced conditional acceptance from parents, spouses, or friends, we tend to expect the same from God.
Yet God's love transcends human limitations.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins 1 John 4:10.
God's acceptance is rooted not in our performance but His perfect character and unchanging promise.
The Accuser's Whisper
We are constantly under spiritual attack. The enemy never stops. He throws our past failures and present flaws in our faces, trying to convince us we're unworthy of God's love. Revelation 12:10 identifies Satan as "the accuser of our brethren," highlighting his constant effort to undermine our confidence in Christ's accomplishments.
To fight back, believers must stand their ground, daily reminding themselves that Christ fully accepts them. Ephesians 6:16 tells us to take up "the shield of faith" to block every fiery" dart the enemy launches.
Misunderstanding Sanctification
Christians often confuse justification—the permanent declaration of righteousness—with sanctification, the gradual, lifelong growth into Christlikeness. Our acceptance by God is based entirely on our justification through Christ, not on our sanctification process.
For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Hebrews 10:14
Sanctification is essential, but not a basis for God's acceptance. Instead, it flows from already being fully accepted. As we rest confidently in our justified status, sanctification naturally follows.
Pride and the Resistance to Grace
A subtle form of pride also makes grace difficult to embrace fully. Human nature resists complete dependence and prefers to maintain control through works. Yet grace demolishes pride.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast Ephesians 2:8–9.
Grace leaves no room for human boasting or prideful self-sufficiency. To embrace grace fully, we must let go of prideful efforts to prove our worthiness and accept that our standing before God is entirely Christ-dependent.
Vulnerability and Grace
Embracing grace demands vulnerability—a willingness to acknowledge our need for mercy. Many resist grace because vulnerability feels risky and uncomfortable. It demands we abandon all illusions of self-righteousness and self-reliance.
Yet in vulnerability, we discover the power of grace. God's grace floods our lives with transforming power when we admit our weakness to God.
My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Living Accepted
To truly live from our acceptance in Christ, we must continually align our minds with the gospel. Our acceptance is not temporary or conditional—it's total, permanent, and unshakable. When we grasp this fully, we find freedom to grow, not from a place of fear but from God's secure confidence in God's unconditional love.
Believers, it's time we live entirely accepted and deeply secure in the grace through Christ. Let's relinquish our performance-based fears and embrace the profound and liberating truth: our acceptance in the Beloved is eternally secured by God's grace, not our efforts.