With the creation of social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, it creates an opportunity to expand our connections in the world. I have had the chance to reconnect with people I grew up with along with other believers from around the world. One of the things I ask people regarding their connections is how many of their “friends” do they actually know or have met. Of the 330+ “friends” I have on Facebook, I have met about 95 percent. That being said, I continually get friend requests. The option I have is whether to accept them or not.

Paul often used the word, “accepted” in his letter to the Romans. We understand it and what it means based on our knowledge and experience. But it is important that we gain a biblical understanding of it because it affects how we live our lives and how we relate to God. The Bible says we are accepted which in legal terms means we are acquitted.

Romans 4:22-25 says, “That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”

To understand this passage we need to remember it is a reference to God’s relationship with Abraham. God accepted Abraham because he believed. So his faith made him right with God. But we also need to remember that God’s acceptance of him was not just for him. These words were also written for us. We believe in the God who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. So God will accept our faith and make us right with Himself. Jesus was handed over to die for our sins. He was raised to life in order to make us right with God.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the idea that “accepted” should be understood from a legal perspective was very prevalent in the church. God was often seen as the judge, Jesus was the advocate or defence lawyer, Satan was the accuser or the prosecution, and the Holy Spirit was the witness. It was in this context that each of us takes our turn in the defendant’s seat. In that scenario, we are found guilty and sentenced to death. Jesus, as our advocate, pleads for our acquittal because He died on our behalf. The Holy Spirit is called on as a witness and confirm this. Then the verdict is read and the result is we are acquitted on the basis of what Jesus did and because of the Holy Spirit’s testimony. Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God”. This means we are free of all guilt.

This sounds fine, but I believe we should think differently about this matter. The Greek word dikaiosune (righteousness) which is translated as “accepted” or “make right with God,” should be understood differently. Why? Because the Bible does not teach we have a legal relationship with God (judge and accused) but that we have a father-child relationship with Him instead. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He started with “Our Father in heaven,” not “Our Judge in heaven.” The father-child projects love and warmth, but the judge-accused relationship projects a sense of distance and fear. If we believe and confess that Jesus’ blood has redeemed us, then we are acquitted and accepted because only faith in Jesus can ensure that we have a right relationship with God.

Many of us still live our lives as if God is still sitting in His throne, waiting to punish us if we disobey. But the truth of Scripture is God is always available to us just as a parent is to their child. That relationship with God is transformational. It changes us and motivates us to pursue God in both word and deed. As Martin Luther put it, “There is no justification without sanctification, no forgiveness without renewal of life, no real faith from which the fruits of obedience do not grow.”

May we see our relationship with God in that light and may that transform and motivate us to share the hope God has birthed in our hearts through the work of His Son on the cross.