Do We ACCEPT or RECEIVE Christ?

Some say they accepted Christ. Others say they received Christ. Which is true? There is an important difference between receiving and accepting.     

If we say we have received Christ, we emphasize our reception of Him through God’s sovereign bestowal (John 3:27): “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.” 

But if we say we have accepted Christ, we emphasize our sovereignty over Him, His need of our approval and acceptance, and our ability to act contrary to our fallen nature, for Christ is unacceptable to the natural man. Holy Scriptures therefore say nothing about accepting Christ.  

Rather, Scriptures emphasize receiving Christ. For example: Jesus speaks of “he who receives Me” (Matthew 10:40); we read of “as many as received Him” (John 1:12); Paul wrote to those who had “received Christ Jesus the Lord” (Colossians 2:6). 

No man in his natural state will accept Christ. If it were possible for him to do so, Christ would have been accepted by His countrymen, who had waited centuries for His arrival. But, when He came, they rejected Him (Isaiah 53:3). But, if God is gracious to us, we will receive Christ. Have you received Christ?

–preacher Daniel Parks of Sovereign Grace church located in Great Falls, Montana USA

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