Acceptance, divine

God's gracious favour shown both to Israel and to the Gentiles. God accepts people who respond to him, and worship that is offered sincerely and is accompanied by wholehearted commitment.

God's acceptance of human beings

God's gracious acceptance of Israel

2 Kings 13:23 See also Ezekiel 20:40–41; Romans 11:1

But the LORD was gracious to Israel and had compassion on them, and He turned toward them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And to this day, the LORD has been unwilling to destroy them or cast them from His presence.

God's acceptance of those who respond to him

Genesis 4:7; Ezekiel 43:27; John 6:37 See also Exodus 28:38; Romans 14:3; Hebrews 12:6; 2 Peter 1:10–11

If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.”

At the end of these days, from the eighth day on, the priests are to present your burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar. Then I will accept you, declares the Lord GOD.’”

Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away.

God's acceptance of the Gentiles

Romans 15:16 See also Isaiah 56:6–7; Acts 10:34–35, Acts 15:7–8

to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Prayers for acceptance by God

Deuteronomy 21:8; 2 Samuel 24:23

God's acceptance of human worship

Acceptable sacrifices

Leviticus 22:19–21; 1 Peter 2:5 See also Leviticus 1:3–4, Leviticus 19:5–7, Leviticus 22:27–29; Malachi 3:3–4; John 4:23; Romans 12:1; Philippians 4:18; Hebrews 12:28, Hebrews 13:16

must offer an unblemished male from the cattle, sheep, or goats in order for it to be accepted on your behalf. You must not present anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf. When a man presents a peace offering to the LORD from the herd or flock to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, it must be without blemish or defect to be acceptable.

you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Acceptance of gifts offered for the tabernacle

Numbers 7:5 See also Numbers 31:51–54

“Accept these gifts from them, that they may be used in the work of the Tent of Meeting. And give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service.”

Unacceptable offerings

Jeremiah 14:10–12 See also Leviticus 7:18, Leviticus 22:25; Malachi 1:8–10, Malachi 2:13

This is what the LORD says about this people: “Truly they love to wander; they have not restrained their feet. So the LORD does not accept them; He will now remember their iniquity and punish them for their sins.” Then the LORD said to me, “Do not pray for the well-being of this people. Although they may fast, I will not listen to their cry; although they may offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will finish them off by sword and famine and plague.”

Acceptable service

Proverbs 21:3; James 1:27 See also 1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 51:6–7; Jeremiah 6:19–20; Amos 5:21–24; 2 Corinthians 6:17–18; Isaiah 52:11

To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

God accepts prayer and praise

Psalm 6:9; Hebrews 13:15 See also Job 33:26, Job 42:8–9; Psalm 119:108; Luke 18:13–14

The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.