Dear Friends, The Bible has many teachings on acceptance, including acceptance of others, acceptance of yourself, Jesus’ love and acceptance, and the relationship between acceptance and forgiveness. These teachings are found throughout the Old and New Testaments and should be applied to our lives today.
These teachings can be a valuable guide for us as we seek to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God and beneficial to those around us.
One of the most well-known teachings on acceptance in the Bible comes from the book of Matthew, where Jesus instructs his followers to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). This statement implies that we should accept others just as we accept ourselves, with all our flaws and imperfections.
This acceptance of others is also emphasized in other parts of the Bible, such as in Romans 15:7, where it says, “Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.”
In addition to accepting others, the Bible also teaches us to accept ourselves. Psalm 139:14, it says, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” This verse reminds us that we are all unique and valuable in God’s eyes and that we should accept ourselves just as we are.
Jesus’ love and acceptance of all people, regardless of their background or status, is a central theme in the New Testament. One example of this is found in John 4:1-42, where Jesus engages in a conversation with a Samaritan woman. Despite the social barriers between them, Jesus shows her love and acceptance, and she ultimately becomes a believer in him.
Finally, the Bible also teaches us that acceptance and forgiveness are closely related. Colossians 3:13, it says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” This verse reminds us that acceptance and forgiveness are essential for healthy relationships and that we should strive to practice both in our daily lives.
1 Peter 2:17
“Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king”
Romans 12:16
“Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits”
Galatians 3:28
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus”
1 Corinthians 12:25-26
“That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for anotherAnd whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it”
1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do”
Philippians 2:3-4
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselvesLook not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others”
Ephesians 4:2
“With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love”
1 Timothy 4:12
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity”
Hebrews 10:24-25
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good worksNot forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching”
Proverbs 3:3-4
“Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heartSo shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man”
1 Corinthians 10:31
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God”
Colossians 2:6-7
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in himRooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving”
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”
2 Corinthians 10:12
“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise”
1 Peter 5:5
“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble”
Ephesians 5:21
“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God”
Proverbs 17:17
“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity”
1 Peter 3:8
“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous”
John 13:34-35
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one anotherBy this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another”
Proverbs 25:21-22
“If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drinkFor thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee”
James 4:6
“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble”
Philippians 4:6-7
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto GodAnd the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”
Hebrews 13:2
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares”
Ephesians 4:32
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”
Romans 12:18
“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men”
Luke 6:31
“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise”
Galatians 6:2
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ”
Ephesians 4:29
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers”
Colossians 4:5-6
“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the timeLet your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man”
1 Thessalonians 4:9-10
“But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one anotherAnd indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more”
1 Corinthians 13:13
“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity”
Proverbs 22:24-25
“Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not goLest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul”
Romans 14:13
“Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way”
1 John 3:18
“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth”
Romans 12:10
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another”
Proverbs 16:7
“When a man’s ways please the Lord , he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him”
Galatians 5:13
“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another”
