Acceptance is a major theme throughout the Bible. Here are some key Bible verses about acceptance:
Romans 15:7 – Accept one another
“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”
This verse encourages believers to accept one another just as Christ has accepted us. As sinners, we do not deserve God’s grace, yet He welcomed us into His family. We should have the same grace-filled attitude towards others.
Mark 12:31 – Love your neighbor as yourself
“The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Loving and accepting others begins with loving and accepting ourselves. We are called to look out for the interests of others just as we do our own. This agape love seeks the well being of others regardless of differences.
Luke 6:37 – Do not judge, and you will not be judged
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Judging and rejecting others stems from self-righteous pride. But we are all sinners saved by grace. As we choose not to judge others, we won’t be judged either. This empowers us to accept others despite their sin.
1 Corinthians 13:7 – Love bears all things
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
True love does not reject; it bears all hardships and differences. Christ’s love moves us to patiently bear with one another and believe the best in each other.
Ephesians 4:2 – Walk in humility and gentleness
“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love…”
Pride and selfishness are big barriers to acceptance. We are called to humbly value others above ourselves. This empowers us to gently accept people in their weaknesses.
1 Peter 4:8 – Love covers over sins
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
Loving and accepting others means not harping on their weaknesses. Just as Christ’s love covers our sins, we must cover the sins of others, not judging or rejecting them.
John 13:34 – Love one another as I have loved you
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
Christ perfectly modeled sacrificial, unconditional love and acceptance. As we follow His example, we will accept others despite color, status, weaknesses and differences.
1 John 4:7 – Love one another, for love comes from God
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”
We love and accept because God first loved and accepted us. As His children, we take on His loving, accepting nature towards others.
Romans 14:1 – Accept the one who is weak
“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.”
Don’t judge or reject those you consider doctrinally or morally weaker. Accept them as God’s children and leave the judging to Him.
Galatians 6:2 – Bear one another’s burdens
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
We accept others best when we help carry their loads. Whether the burdens are faults, weaknesses or hardships, we are called to bear each other’s burdens.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 – Be patient with everyone
“And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”
Our human nature wants to be impatient with difficult people. But love is patient and accepting of all. As we accept people in their weaknesses, we point them to Christ.
Philippians 2:3 – In humility count others more significant than yourselves
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
Pride is a big barrier to acceptance. As we humbly serve and value others, we begin to accept people just as they are.
Colossians 3:12-14 – Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another…And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
The qualities of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience enable us to accept others – even difficult people. And love binds it all together.
Proverbs 10:12 – Love covers over offenses
“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.”
Choosing to cover people’s offenses through love leads to acceptance and harmony. This neutralizes hatred, judgement and rejection.
Micah 6:8 – The Lord requires us to love mercy
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
An accepting heart comes from valuing mercy over judgement. This empowers us to walk humbly with others instead of in condemnation.
In summary, key ideas from Scripture about acceptance include:
– Accepting others as Christ has accepted us
– Loving and valuing others sacrificially
– Choosing not to judge or condemn
– Bearing with one another patiently
– Covering people’s sins/weaknesses with love
– Walking in humility rather than self-righteousness
– Helping carry each other’s burdens
– Pointing people to Christ in their weaknesses
– Focusing on showing mercy and grace to all
As we grow in living out these biblical attitudes of acceptance, we become more like Christ Himself. We are empowered to embrace people different from us, just as God embraced us in our sinfulness through His unconditional love.