To Be Acceptable Newsletter 214 Aug 1996 We all like to be accepted.

Whether we are talking about family, friends or co-workers, we all prefer to be accepted over being excluded. We are going to talk about something much more important than being accepted by family, friends and co-workers in this study. How may we be acceptable to Jesus Christ? The Greek word "charin" (khar'-in) only appears in the New Testament a few times, and it is most often utilized by Luke and Paul. "Charin" is the accusative of the Greek word "charis" (khar'-ece). The accusative is a grammatical case that marks or points to an object. > The word "charis" means a divine influence on the heart. It may be > described as the love found between God and man. "Charin" always > points to the object "charis", whether in actuality or implied. This > divine influence on the heart, and the resulting love, is the object > of our study. > > As in relationships of love we have with each other, our love with > God must be a two-way street. We are going to take a look at God's > love towards man to begin. Let's open our Bibles to Galatians. > > Galatians 3:16-17 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. > He saith not. "And to seeds," as of many; but as of one, "And to thy > Seed,". Which is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that > was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four > hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make > the promise of none effect. > > The law did not change the promise. > > Galatians 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of > promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. > > The word "gave" in this verse is from the Greek word "charin". > Remember, "charin" is in the accusative case and must point to an > object. The object is "charis" which is a divine influence upon the > heart. "Charin" has been translated " because of". When you supply > the object which is required, you have "because of God's love for > Abraham". It is important that God loves you. That is where true > blessings may be found. That is where true peace of mind may be > found. That is where your salvation may be found. Because of God's > love for you, He gave His only begotten Son to die on the cross for > your sins. > > Galatians 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because > of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was

> made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. > > What was the purpose of the law? It was given because of the > transgressions of man, until the seed line came of Christ. > > Galatians 3:20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is > one. > > God spake directly to Abraham. He did not need a mediator. > > Galatians 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God > forbid; for if there had been a law given which could have given > life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. > > The law could not give eternal life. Why? Because man is not capable > of being sinless. We all fall short. God loves us enough to forgive > those sins, when we believe on Jesus and repent. Be honest with Him. > It is foolish not to be honest with God. You see, He can read your > mind and heart. > > Galatians 3:22-23 But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, > that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that > belive. 23 but before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up > unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. > > Before the availability of faith in Jesus Christ, man was kept under > the law. > > Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us > unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. > > The law is still a good schoolmaster. What makes us acceptable? > Faith. Friends, there is no way to bluff your way through this one. > You either have faith, or you don't have faith. > > Galatians 3:25-26 But after that faith is come , we are no longer > under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith > in Christ Jesus. > > This is not to say we are not to follow the law to the best of our > ability. Jesus Christ came to fulfill the law, not to destroy the law > (Matt. 5:17). We now have the Holy Spirit. Most of you have felt that > warmth when He touches your heart. That is the object of "Charin". > That is the divine influence upon the heart we are considering in > this study. Now, let's take a look at the other side of the twoway > street, man's love towards God. We are going to turn to Luke. The > scriptures we will cover are unique to this Book, meaning you won't > find differing accounts of the same subject in the other gospels.

> > Luke 7:36-37 And one of the Pharisees desired Him that He would eat > with him. And He went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to > meat. 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when > she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an > alabaster box of ointment, > > The alabaster box contained an expensive ointment, no doubt. So you > will understand what is about to happen, it is important that you > know when they sat down at meat, they actually reclined. > > Luke 7:38 And stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and began to wash > His feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, > and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the ointment. > > What may we gather from this scripture? The woman was no doubt a > sinner. She found out YHVH's Saviour, Jesus, was at this particular > Pharisee's house and boldly went there seeking forgiveness. She > demonstrated her sincere love for Christ by her actions. > > Luke 7:39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden Him saw it, he spake > within himself, saying, "This Man, if He were a prophet, would have > known who and what manner of woman thisis that toucheth Him: for she > is a sinner." > > This Pharisee was no doubt one of the "holier than thou" group. He > certainly wasn't demonstrating love towards Christ. The Pharisee > certainly didn't understand that Messiah was in his presence. In > fact, he questioned whether Jesus was even a prophet. Remember, the > Pharisee didn't say these things aloud. > > Luke 7:40-42 And Jesus answering said unto him, "Simon, I have > somewhat to say unto thee." And he saith, "Master, say on" 41 " There > was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five > hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to > pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell Me therefore, which of them > will love him most?" > > Now, there is a large difference between five hundred pence and fifty > pence. Do you think the Pharisee has caught on to the fact that he is > one of the debtors yet? > > Luke 7:43 Simon answered and said, "I suppose that he to whom he > forgave most." And He said, unto him, " Thou has rightly judged." >

> The Pharisee had no problem correctly discerning a problem concerning > money. > > Luke 7:44-45 And He turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, " Seest > thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water > for My feet: but she hath washed My feet with tears, and wiped them > with the hairs of her head 45 Thou gavest Me no kiss: but this woman > since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss My feet. > > The woman could not stop showing her heartfelt love for the Savior. > > Luke 7:46-47 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman > hath anointed My feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, > her sins, which are many are forgiven: for she loved much: but to > whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." > > "Wherefore" is better translated "because of ". The word "for" in > verse 47 is from "charin". The English simply doesn't catch the > meaning Christ would have us understand from this scripture. Because > of her divinely inspired love for Jesus Christ her many sins were > forgiven. Her love touched Christ's heart. He also wants your love. > He has feelings just like you and I. I believe it just makes His day > when His children share this divinely inspired love with Him. > > Luke 7:48 And He said unto her, "Thy sins are forgiven." > > He will forgive your sins as well. > > Luke 7:49-50 And they that sat at meat with Him began to say within > themselves, "Who is This That forgiveth sins also?" 50 And He said to > the woman, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." > > This woman will have peace from this point on. She will receive His > blessings. She will prosper. The old sins are washed away and she was > given a fresh start. Do you have this peace in your life? If not, I > encourage you to do as this woman did. Humble yourself before Him > that is able to forgive your sins and give you a fresh start. Ask the > Holy Spirit to touch your heart with the divinely inspired love we > have been discussing in this message. Don't get so caught up in self > that you can't share this love with God. If you are caught up in > self, you probably won't be accepted by others, and most importantly > you won't be accepted by Him. Think about it.

> > In His Service, Arnold Murray