THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE – 53 Will God Accept Me “Just As I Am?”
“21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, KJV).
Loved ones, in 1834 Charlotte Elliott wrote a popular song entitled, “Just As I Am.” Throughout the years since then it has been taught in religious circles that God accepts us "just as we are." If the sentiment of this statement is that it makes no difference how I live, that God will accept me "just as I am," then it is false teaching in our Spiritual Battle.
The Scriptures teach . . .
(1) God will not accept me "just as I am" if I refuse to believe in Jesus Christ. "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sin" (Acts 10:43). The unbeliever will not be accepted by God "just as he is." But the lake of fire will receive him in his unbelief (Rev. 21:8). To think that Christ will save you "just as you are" while you refuse to live by faith in Him is to be self-deceived (John 8:23-24).
(2) God will not accept me "just as I am" if I refuse to repent of my sins. Jesus said, "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3, 5). Paul preached that sinners "should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance" (Acts 26:20).
So, God will not accept the liar "just as he is" - he must repent of his lying and "speak every man truth with his neighbor" (Eph. 4:25). God will not accept an adulterer "just as he is." He must repent of his adultery and stop his sinful relationship and conduct (Rev. 9:20-21).
Some brethren teach people that they should continue to live in their unscriptural (sinful, adulterous, Matt. 19:9) remarriage once they obey the gospel. The words of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 7:24, "Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God," are twisted to convince adulterers they may remain in an unholy remarriage (which they believe has been sanctified by baptism).
But this passage describes people who are "with God." It does not describe the adulterer either before or after baptism, since the adulterer is not with God. No, Jesus will not receive you "just as you are" if you refuse to repent of and cease your sin, including sinful relationships. One cannot continue in sin and be accepted by the Lord (Rom. 6:1-2).
(3) God will not accept me "just as I am" if I refuse to confess my faith in Christ. Scripture says, "9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Rom. 10:9-10).
Do you see the conditional nature of Jesus accepting a sinner "just as he is?" If the sinner will not confess Jesus before men, then Jesus will not confess him before the Father in heaven (Matt. 10:33). He will not be accepted "just as he is" without confessing his faith. He will be lost in sin (cf. John 12:42-43).
(4) God will not accept me "just as I am" if I refuse to be baptized for the remission of my sins. Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…" (Mark 16:16), not the one who believes but refuses to be baptized. Many souls will be lost because they comfort themselves, believing God will accept them "just as I am," despite their rejection of the Lord's command to be baptized to be saved.
(5) God will not accept me "just as I am" if I refuse to be faithful to the Lord. Jesus asked, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say" (Luke 6:46)? That warning should resonate in the ear of every Christian who thinks the Lord will accept him "just as he is" even though he is living unfaithfully.
Faith without works (of faith) is dead. Faith working through love avails in Christ (James 2:17; Gal. 5:6-7). Christian, the Lord will not accept you "just as you are" if you are living unfaithfully (cf. Revelation 2:10).
What is your spiritual condition before God? Will God accept you "just as you are?" Not if you fail to believe Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Not if you believe Jesus is the Son of God but will not confess your faith before men. Not if you have confessed your faith but will not repent of your sins and remove them from your life (Acts 17:30). Not if you reject baptism as essential for your salvation from sin (1 Pet. 3:21; Acts 22:16). And not if you are a Christian who is being unfaithful to Jesus in your daily life (Gal. 2:20).
God will save you when you surrender to His will and do what He wants instead of remaining "just as you are." The psalmist wrote, “10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee” (Psalm 51:10-13).
Through the free gift of God’s grace by Jesus’ blood (Ephesians 2:8; Revelation 1:5) and your obedient faith (Romans 1:5; 10:17; 16:26), salvation is offered. If you have questions or wish to comment, please do so. Lord willing, a Bible answer will be provided for every Bible question.
Shared with you by Samuel A. Matthews, preaching with the Liberty NW church of Christ, meeting in Portland, Oregon, USA. The God of Heaven and Earth is so good, and His love reaches all. He is in control, so trust Him. We love you with the love of the Lord (John 13:34-35).