A great blessing becomes ours when we’re made to sit in heavenly places. This blessing is the privilege of acceptance; “He made us accepted in the beloved [Christ]” (Ephesians 1:6, NKJV). The English usage of ‘accepted’ can be interpreted to mean ‘received as adequate.’ It signifies something that can be endured, suggesting an attitude of “I can live with it.” In this verse, however, Paul uses the Greek translation meaning “God has highly favored us.”
Because God accepted Christ’s sacrifice, we are very special to him. He now sees only one corporate man, Christ Jesus, and those who are bound to him by faith. Our old nature has died in God’s eyes. Now when he looks at us, he sees only Christ. We too need to view ourselves through God’s eyes. That means not focusing solely on our sins and weaknesses, but on the victory that Christ won for us at the cross.
The parable of the prodigal son provides a powerful illustration of the acceptance that comes when we’re given a heavenly position in Christ. You know the story. A young man took his inheritance from his father and squandered it on a sinful life. When he finally became bankrupt morally, emotionally and physically, his thoughts turned to his father. Although he feared his father’s anger and was convinced that he’d lost all favor, he knew he had to go home. Scripture says he was full of grief over his sin and cried, “I’m unworthy. I’ve sinned against heaven.” This represents those who come to repentance through godly sorrow.
When the prodigal told himself, “I will arise and go to my father” (Luke 15:18), he was exercising his blessing of access. Are you getting the picture? He had turned from his sin, left the world behind and accessed the open door his father had promised him. He was walking in repentance and appropriating access.
So what happened to the prodigal son? “When he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). What a beautiful scene. The sinful son was forgiven, loved and embraced with no wrath or condemnation. When he received his father’s kiss, he knew he was accepted.