Bible Dictionary
ACCEPTANCE
Acceptance describes being received with God’s favor. Scripture connects this favor with redeeming grace and with offerings and lives devoted to God.
Definition
Acceptance is reception with favor or delight. In biblical usage it denotes God’s favor toward the redeemed and the favorable reception of gifts and lives offered to him.
Biblical Usage
The term portrays redeemed people and their abundant gifts coming with acceptance to God’s altar. It also describes the acceptability of a living and holy sacrifice offered to God.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ak-sep'-tans: A rendering of the Hebrew retson, "delight," found only in Isa 60:7. It pictures God's delight in His redeemed people in the Messianic era, when their gifts, in joyful and profuse abundance, "shall come up with acceptance on mine altar." With "accepted" and other kindred words it implies redeeming grace as the basis of Divine favor. It is the "living, holy sacrifice" that is "acceptable to God" (Ro 12:1; compare Titus 3:4-6).</p>