Accepted in the Beloved

What is your standing with God? For the apostle Paul, and for every Christian, that question is answered by looking away from self to Jesus Christ. Paul helps us to consider Christ in relation to God, as the Beloved. Then he reminds us of our relation to Christ: if we are Christians, we are in the Beloved. Then, he carries us to God's relationship to us in Christ: we are accepted in the Beloved, his free favour richly poured out upon us, so that our selves and our service are pleasing to him.