Jennifer Rothnie Supporter Housewife, Artist, Perpetually Curious

To 'accept Christ' is a short-hand summary of coming to have faith, of 'believing in our heart' that Jesus is Lord, and turning from sin to follow Him as Savior. 

To accept is to 'consent to receive a thing offered', or to 'believe and come to recognize a position as valid or correct'. Faith is 'to be persuaded or come to trust that something is true' - that is, to come to believe a position is valid and correct. Faith also allows us to receive a thing offered, such as Salvation and the promises of God. In both these ways, our coming to faith fits in well with the simple phrase 'accept Christ'.

The principle can be found in many passages of scripture:

"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." Jn 1:12

The word 'received' here is the Greek lambánō, to "lay hold by aggressively (actively) accepting what is available (offered.)" https://biblehub.com/greek/2983.htm 

"For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." I Thess 5:9

The word 'obtain' here is peripoiésis, to acquire by one's efforts or to earn. Yet we know we do not 'earn' salvation by work or any effort of man, so it must be referring to our obtaining salvation by faith in Christ. (Rom 1:17, Eph 2:8-9. Tit 3:4-5, II Tim 1:9, Gal 3:22-24, etc.) Faith is the persuasion or 'acceptance' that something is true. 

"But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ, the promise might be granted to those who believe." Gal 3:22

Here again, we see that the promise is only given to those who believe in Christ. We must 'accept Christ'; have faith; before the Promises are granted to us.

"Now, however, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed;...moreover the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ toward all those believing.." Rom 3:21-23

Here again, only a person with abiding faith receives the righteousness of God.

"...Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. " I John 5:9-10

When we place faith in Christ we 'accept' the testimony God has revealed in Christ is true.

"...So then, those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham the believer." Gal 3:8-9

We must be 'of faith' to be blessed. But how do we become 'of faith?' Rom 10 goes into detail:

"...The word is near you;...”that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 

As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message? Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ."

Becoming one 'of faith', then, means one must hear and then heed the Good News that Christ died for our sins that we might be reconciled to God.
[https://ebible.com/questions/4496-what-does-it-mean-to-have-faith-in-jesus]

The simplicity and beauty of the gospel is that fallen, sinful man cannot save himself, but by accepting the good news of the Gospel, by faith in Christ, then God will declare us righteous and grant Salvation!

July 12 2016 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

---

View All Answers