Reading
Ephesians 1:3–6
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Discussion
In the previous verses, Paul has been telling us about the blessings God gives His people — being chosen in Christ, adopted as His children, living in holiness. But verse 6 tells us why God has done all this: so that our lives would display the glory of His grace. Everything God planned before the foundation of the world leads to this single end — that His grace would be seen, known, and praised.
God “made us accepted in the beloved.” The beloved is Christ. We aren't accepted because of our performance, our sincerity, or our spiritual progress; we're accepted because we are in Christ, whom the Father loves perfectly and eternally (Matthew 3:17). Our standing before God is accepted because of what Christ did for us.
To be “accepted in the beloved” means our identity is anchored in Christ’s unchanging worth. When God looks at His children, He sees them clothed in the righteousness of His Son (2 Corinthians 5:21). We don't have to be afraid that our failures will push us outside of God’s favor. Our acceptance is as secure in Christ.
This also reshapes how we walk through daily life. In Christ, we don't have to work for God’s approval; we already live in it. We don't do good things to earn God's love; we do good things because we already have His love. Praise becomes the natural response of a heart that knows it has been welcomed by grace — God is glorified.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for making us accepted in the Beloved. Grant us the grace to enjoy this grace that brought us into Your family and to live each day in a way that reflects the glory of that grace. Let our lives be a continual praise to You, not out of fear or striving, but out of gratitude for what You have already done in Christ.
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Created and refined by JerryS on May 01, 2026 using digital tools. For conservative Christian devotional purposes only. All Bible references are from the King James Bible unless otherwise noted.
