“You men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs which God did by Him in the midst of you, as you yourselves also know” (Acts 2:22).

Approved (Def): (Gr.): Apodeiknumi from Apo and Deiknuo: To set forth, to show, or demonstrate as accredited

There is a testimony, or witness that must come from another, and not from ourselves, as to the worthiness, suitability, or fitness for ones service in a vocation, or for an institution for education, or other professional entity or establishment. Accreditation is an official recognition of ones particular status or qualifications to hold title or honor in a particular activity or endeavor.

Approved of God is an endorsement of Jesus, Son of God, Messiah, the Apostle used in his testimony before the people on the Day of Pentecost concerning Jesus of Nazareth. There is no higher accreditation to be had than the approved of God motif.

The Father approved of His Son by granting Him power to perform miracles and wonders. Jesus used this approval of the Father in His answer to John the Baptist when John sent two of his disciples to inquire of Him:

“Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples.  They said unto Jesus, ‘Are you He that should come, or do we look for another’? Jesus answered and said unto them, ‘Go and show John again those things which you do hear and see.  The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up and the poor have the Gospel preached to them.  Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me'” (Matthew 11:2-6).

Jesus was approved of God by miracles and wonders. Signs also were given to the people that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. At His baptism:

“And Jesus when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water and lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon Him. And lo a voice from heaven, saying ‘This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased'” (Matthew 3:16-17).

The Apostle in his Epistle to the Romans, writing concerning Christ, states:

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the Gospel of God (which He had promised before by His prophets in the Holy Scriptures) concerning His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of Holiness by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:1-4).

Approved of God who raised Christ from the dead by His power through the Holy Spirit (cf. Romans 8:11) was a sign given by the Father to the world to testify and certify that Jesus is His Beloved Son and the Savior of the world to all who will believe.

Miracles, wonders and signs all testified of Jesus, the Son, but there is also another standard by which to measure and that is the standard of obedience. Here again the Scriptures declare Christ to be approved of God:

“And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross. Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him a Name above every name; that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:8-11).

Approved of God is the standard by which all must come as He is the Righteous Judge of all. There is only One whom the Father has approved and that is the Son. Fortunately for us there is hope for all, as the Apostle writes in his Epistle to the Corinthians:

“For the Father has made the Son to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (II Corinthians 5:21).

You, too, can be approved of God through the Cross, through the Blood of the Lamb, through the Resurrection, and you can have Eternal Life in the Son, our Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

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