November 2, 2025
The Bible is full of expressions of God’s approval, some of which are God simply expressing the wonderful truth that in the Lord Jesus Christ we find not only acceptance and approval, but everlasting love and an unfolding of blessings. Here are a few to consider:
Ephesians 1:3–5 (ESV) — 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
Ephesians 1:6 (KJV) — 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Ephesians 2:4–7 (ESV) — 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 1:12–14 (ESV) — 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
There are other scriptures that teach us about God’s approval or delight in our doing what He has given us in His word to do. For instance, the Ten Commandments are a great way to understand how we can please God and have His approval. We understand the first use of the Law is to show us our need of a Savior because, try as we might, we miss the mark in more ways than we like to admit. However, as God has given us a new heart in regeneration and a new will to follow His Law that is written in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit within us, we can know His approval. Just go through the 10 commandments and take note that as you seek to please God, He is pleased when you tell the truth, when you avoid stealing, when you honor the Lord’s Day, etc.
God also gives us other insights into what pleases Him.
2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV) — 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
The King James version goes like this:
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) — 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The call to “study” or “do your best to present yourself to God” takes work, probably more work to study the Bible than any other document. There are enemies at work to distract, dilute, and discourage proper interpretations of God’s word. The only way to glean the true meaning of Scripture is to be diligent and depend upon God the Holy Spirit and to exercise good judgment in outside sources. With the onset of AI, it’s easy to put in a question but from where does AI get the answer? God has ordained the means for the student of God’s word to find the answers.
1. Compare Scripture with Scripture. The word of God is consistent, and we know we honor Him as we use the entire word of God to find our answers. This, of course, takes the help of the Holy Spirit, and a good concordance and time to search, write out things, and compare what you find.
Corinthians 2:13 (ESV) — 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
2. God has ordained men in the church to guide the flock, teach the flock, and defend the flock.
2 Timothy 4:1–2 (ESV) — 1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
3. God has provided the means to tap into the wisdom of godly men of the past. Documents like the Westminster Confession of Faith have been preserved by God to be a great standard of sound doctrine to avoid being led astray.
It should be noted that those who lead people astray through false doctrine will be held to a greater judgment because of what they have done. Hence, it is most necessary to avoid false teachers and that can only be done through the use of the tools described above.
James 3:1 (ESV) — 1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
Is God pleased with our searching the Scriptures for answers?
2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV) — 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Psalm 138:2 (ESV) — 2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
Think about it. God is honored when you show diligence in searching and studying His word. You are honoring His word, so you are honoring Him, and you can know for sure that God is pleased with that diligence in honoring Him. Never stop seeking and learning.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
