Reference: Acceptance
Hastings
ACCEPTANCE denotes the being in favour with any one. In English Version the noun is found only in Isa 60:7, but 'accept' and 'acceptable' are used frequently both in OT and NT to express the acceptance of one man with another (Ge 32:20; Lu 4:24), but above all the acceptance of man with God. In OT the conditions of acceptance with God are sometimes ceremonial (Ex 28:38; Ps 20:3). But of themselves these are insufficient (Ge 4:5,7; Am 5:22; Jer 6:20; 14:10,12), and only moral uprightness (Pr 21:3; Job 42:8) and the sacrifices of a sincere heart (Ps 19:14; 119:108; cf. Ps 40:6 ff., Ps 51:15 ff.) are recognized as truly acceptable with God. In NT the grounds of the Divine acceptance are never ceremonial, but always spiritual (Ro 12:1; Php 4:18; 1Pe 2:5). Jesus Christ is the type of perfect acceptance (Mr 1:11; Heb 10:5 ff.). In Him as 'the Beloved,' and through Him as the Mediator, men secure their religious standing and fundamental acceptance with God (Eph 1:6). In serving Him (Ro 14:18), and following His example (1Pe 2:20-21), they become morally acceptable in the Father's sight.
J. C. Lambert.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
But to Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And to thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.
And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.
Therefore take to you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer for yourselves a burnt-offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt-sacrifice. Selah.
Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; my ears hast thou opened: burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not required.
O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to thee: they shall come up with acceptance on my altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.
To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a distant country? your burnt-offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet to me.
Thus saith the LORD to this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not restrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.
When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt-offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.
Though ye offer me burnt-offerings and your meat-offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts.
And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
And he said, Verily I say to you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
For he that in these things serveth Christ, is acceptable to God, and approved by men.
To the praise of the glory of his grace, in which he hath made us accepted in the beloved:
But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.
Wherefore, when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
For what glory is it, if, when ye are buffeted for your faults, ye bear it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye bear it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even to this were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: