Accepted by God
Pastor Tan Thai · Aug 21, 2016
This sermon explores who is truly accepted by God, drawing from the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5 and illustrations from the 2016 Olympics. Acceptance by God is not based on works or status but by grace through faith, a broken heart, repentance, and genuine transformation. In contrast, those who assume they are accepted — like Gehazi — may be rejected because of greed and hypocrisy.
The sermon opens with the story of athlete Eric Liddell from the film Chariots of Fire, who refused to run on Sunday during the 1924 Olympics out of faith, and later became a missionary in China until his death in prison. The pastor uses Liddell's life to explain that he was accepted by God not because of moral achievement or sacrifice, but because he was a forgiven sinner saved through Jesus Christ, citing Ephesians 2:8-9 on salvation by grace through faith.
The heart of the sermon analyzes the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5. Naaman was powerful and successful, yet carried the incurable disease of leprosy — a picture of the word 'but' in every human life. The pastor emphasizes that only when people recognize their helplessness, are broken in heart, and sincerely seek God can they be truly accepted by Him. Naaman initially came with arrogance — carrying a letter from the king, gold, silver, horses, and chariots — but was only healed when he humbled himself and dipped in the Jordan River seven times as instructed by the prophet Elisha. After being healed, Naaman confessed his faith: 'There is no God in all the earth, but in Israel.'
The pastor pays special attention to Naaman's honesty in asking God to forgive him for still needing to enter the temple of Rimmon with his master. This shows that Naaman was a new believer — immature but sincere, and aware of his wrongdoing. The pastor teaches that new believers grow over time, and what matters is not immediate perfection but genuine faith and gradual transformation, illustrated by the parable of the tax collector in Luke 18.
In contrast to Naaman, the pastor analyzes Gehazi — servant of the prophet Elisha, knowledgeable in Scripture and a witness of miracles — who secretly ran after Naaman to receive money. Gehazi's greed demonstrates that Bible knowledge, outward ministry, or religious heritage does not guarantee God's acceptance. Gehazi's punishment — becoming leprous — is an image of the day God will reign when inner character will be made visible outwardly.
The sermon closes with a practical reminder: God sees the heart, not outward appearances. We recognize people by the fruit of their lives according to Matthew 7:16-20, but judgment and reward belong to God alone. The congregation is called to live a life bearing the fruit of the Spirit — not doing works to be saved, but as evidence that love for God and others is the proof of genuine faith.