I’m a private person, and find it difficult to express myself without overthinking what others will think. Posting something on Instagram is really putting myself out there, for example. And have you ever almost posted something on Facebook but decided it was better not to?  We all suffer from fear of social scrutiny and judgment, whether from the world at large or from persons we value and are close to us. As a Christian, you may also have considered whether you are good enough and whether God has accepted you. While it may not be possible to change other people’s opinions of us (or of anything else), from the Bible we can have a very clear understanding of God’s indication of approval.    

God's Approval.

When Christ died on the cross, He made the payment for our sins. Yet how do we know that God accepted this? Christ’s resurrection is our “receipt.” It is the proof that God approved of Christ’s Person and work and accepted His payment in full on our behalf. This is why Romans 4:25 say that Jesus was “delivered for our offenses and was raised for our justification.” Christ’s resurrection is the proof of our justification (and of His defeat of death, Hades, Satan, and the world. Wow.)

Christ’s resurrection is also so much more—it brought humanity into the Godhead. Think about that. In resurrection, Christ was designated the Son of God in His humanity (Romans 1:3).  It also transfigured Him into a life-giving Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45). If you’ve ever wondered how God could become real to you, this is it—by His becoming the Spirit which can now enter into our spirit. Now when we pray, when we call on His name, when we sing with our spirit, Christ is real to us on the inside—living out the life in us that is fully approved by God.

The Ultimate Result.

Christ’s resurrection did not only become your proof of approval before God, it made you His brother.  As the many brothers of Christ, we are being blended together as the church to produce God’s ultimate desire. Not bad, right? As Christ’s brothers in the church, as ones identified with Christ in His death and resurrection, we have God’s full, unequivocal approval. (And destined for His glory!)