By: Robert Serreyn

Question? In what way are we ACCEPTABLE to the Lord in 2 Corinthians 5:9?

2 Corinthians 5:9. “Why we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.”

Answer:

The context of V9 is best understood as being in the presence of the Lord.

TRUTHFULLY the word ACCEPTED is deceiving.

A person is ACCEPTED of the Lord at the moment of Belief WHEN they Trust Christ as Savior.

John 1:12. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

V9 is speaking of Service NOT salvation.

The Greek word for Accepted is EUARESTOS

EU meaning Well, and ARESTOS meaning Pleasing.

2 Corinthians 5:9 SHOULD HAVE been translated in the following way.

“Why we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be WELL PLEASING of him.”

This rendering of verse 9 agrees with the Parable of the Talents Mentioned in Matthew Chp. 25 where the Lord praises the Christian in V21 and V23 and other like scriptures for their FAITHFULNESS to him.

1 Corinthians 4:2. “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

In Conclusion:

1 Corinthians 3:11 – 15 outlines that IF the Christian is faithful they will receive a reward BUT if they are not they will lose rewards, so therefore Paul exhorts ALL Christians to THEIR OWN BENEFIT to be found WELL PLEASING or (accepted of) unto the Lord BY SERVING HIM.

As Romans 12:1-2 says…

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.

The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.

-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8

-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24

-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9

“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23

IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH