Acceptance, human

Human beings are to accept Jesus Christ

Receiving Jesus Christ

John 1:12 NASB95

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

See also Col 2:6

Accepting Jesus Christ by accepting others

John 13:20 NASB95

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

See also Mt 10:40; Mt 18:5; Lk 10:16; Jn 12:44

Accepting Jesus Christ’s words

John 17:8 NASB95

for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me.

See also Mt 11:14; Mt 19:11–12; Jn 3:33–34

Refusing to accept Jesus Christ and his words

Jn 1:11; Jn 3:11; Jn 3:32; Jn 5:43–44; Jn 6:60

Acceptance of the gospel

The gospel is worthy of acceptance

1 Ti 1:15; Jas 1:21

See also Mt 13:23; 1 Co 15:3; 1 Ti 4:9–10

Examples of those accepting the gospel

Ac 2:41 3,000 on the day of Pentecost; Ac 8:14 the Samaritans; Ac 11:1 the Gentiles

Believers in Corinth:

1 Co 15:1; 2 Co 11:4

Ga 1:9 believers in Galatia

Believers in Thessalonica:

1 Th 1:6; 2 Th 2:13

Rejection of the gospel

Ac 22:18; Ro 11:15; 1 Co 2:14

Acceptance of one another

A right self-acceptance

1 Co 15:10 Paul accepts himself as a sinner saved by God’s grace and entrusted with an important ministry; Ga 5:14 Loving others requires a proper self-love: the recognition that people are made in God’s image and are the objects of his love.

See also Le 19:18; Mt 22:39; Mk 12:33; Ro 13:9; 1 Ti 1:12–14; Jas 2:8

Acceptance of one another because of God’s example

Romans 15:7 NASB95

Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

See also Jn 13:34; Jn 15:12

Acceptance of those whom God has accepted

Romans 14:1 NASB95

Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.

See also Dt 10:18–19 God’s people should reflect his concern for the weak and defenceless; Mt 19:13–14 Jesus Christ rebukes his disciples for turning away children.

Ananias’ acceptance of Saul:

Ac 9:11–17; Ac 22:12–13

Ac 9:27 Barnabas’ acceptance of Saul

Acceptance of the Gentiles:

Ac 10:15; Ac 10:28; Ac 10:47

Acceptance of outsiders who join God’s people

Leviticus 19:33–34 NASB95

‘When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. ‘The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.

See also Eze 47:22–23

Acceptance of itinerant ministers

Galatians 4:14 NASB95

and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.

See also 1 Co 16:10–11; Php 2:29–30

Acceptance of things given

Acceptance of gifts

1 Samuel 25:35 NASB95

So David received from her hand what she had brought him and said to her, “Go up to your house in peace. See, I have listened to you and granted your request.”

See also Ge 33:10–11; 1 Sa 10:4; 1 Ti 4:3–4

Refusal to accept gifts

Ge 14:23–24 Abraham refuses gifts offered by the king of Sodom; 2 Ki 5:15–16 Elisha refuses a gift offered by Naaman; Es 4:4 Mordecai refuses fine clothes from Esther.

Acceptance of instruction

Job 22:22; Pr 4:10; Pr 10:8; Pr 19:20; Is 29:24

Acceptance of discipline

Job 5:17 NASB95

“Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

See also Dt 21:18; Ps 94:12; Pr 3:11–12; Pr 10:17; Heb 12:5–7; Re 3:19

Acceptance of God’s will

Matthew 26:39 NASB95

And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”

See also Job 2:10; Ps 40:8; Is 50:5; Ro 8:28

Acceptance of bribes forbidden

Exodus 23:8 NASB95

“You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just.

God is impartial and cannot be bribed:

Dt 10:17; 2 Ch 19:7

Ps 15:5; Pr 17:23; Is 33:15