Accepted In Christ.

 Eph_1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Now it is "to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted." In whom? "In the beloved." Not in ourselves, but in the beloved; and every one is called to the fellowship of Christ, if he will accept it. 

Brethren, is it unreasonable that God does not accept those who will not accept Him? No. 

Then is it unreasonable and unjust that God accepts us when we accept His call? Certainly not. Then we are elected in Him, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. . . . Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself; that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are in earth, even in him; in whom we also have obtained an inheritance."

Eph 1:9  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 

Eph 1:10  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance,

Mark it, when we are in Christ, we have obtained an inheritance--we have the firstfruits of it; we begin to share it now.

(E.J. Waggoner — excerpt)