How do we know our acceptance in Christ is secure?

Our assurance of acceptance in Christ lies deeply rooted in the doctrine of justification and the righteousness of Christ that is imputed to believers. According to the biblical text, individuals who have faith in Christ are seen by God not as they are in themselves, marked by sin, but through the lens of Christ’s righteousness, which grants them beauty, as exemplified in Song of Solomon 6:4.

The assurance comes from recognizing that our standing before God does not depend on our works but entirely on Christ’s redemptive work. This concept of being ‘justified’ means that God declares us righteous on the basis of faith in Christ alone. Therefore, regardless of our struggles with sin and failures, we remain beautiful and accepted because we are covered by Christ’s sacrifice and righteousness. The hope for believers is that they await the final presentation before God, where there will be no blemish—this secures our confidence in our salvation and acceptance, promising that the work that began in us will be perfected.