Seeing The Grace Of God
by Dan Richardson
“… who, when he was come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad; and he exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord” (Acts 11:23).
Barnabas was sent to Antioch by the Lord’s church in Jerusalem, and when he arrived, he saw the grace of God, that is, he saw the effects or results of God’s grace in Antioch. From a study of the text, let’s determine what exactly Barnabas observed when he saw God’s grace.
HE SAW A PLACE WHERE THE GOSPEL HAD BEEN PREACHED. “But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was upon them; and a great number that believed turned unto the Lord” (verses 20-21). The gospel of Christ is God’s power to save sinful man (Romans 1:15-17). It is the “gospel of the grace of God … the word of His grace” (Acts 20:24, 32). It is God’s wisdom to save those who believe “the foolishness of the preaching” (I Corinthians 1:21).
HE SAW SINNERS WHO HAD BEEN CONVICTED OF SIN. The grace of God has appeared “instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world” (Titus 2:11-12). Sin is that which separates man’s fellowship with God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Also, sin is universal – “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Only by the grace of God, through gospel preaching, are people brought to a conviction of their sins. Three thousand Jews on the day of Pentecost, after hearing the gospel of God’s grace, were “pricked in their hearts” and desired to obey God (Acts 2:37-38).
HE SAW THOSE WHO HAD BEEN REDEEMED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS. God’s grace gave to mankind a Savior, who shed His blood on the cross for our sins (Matthew 26:28; Romans 5;8-9; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:18-20). These people, who Barnabas observed, had made contact with the saving power of Jesus’ blood when they were baptized into His death (Romans 6:3-4).
HE SAW THOSE WHO HAD HONEST AND GOOD HEARTS. Those receptive of God’s truth, Jesus identified as having “an honest and good heart” (Luke 8:15). This is in stark contrast to: 1) those whose hearts are hardened by sin and who will not believe (verse 12), 2) those who believe but the word doesn’t take root and they fall away (verse 13), and 3) those who allow God’s word to be choked out of their hearts by the cares, riches, and pleasures of this world (verse 14). As Barnabas observed in Antioch, so must we be willing to “receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).
HE SAW THOSE WHO HAD BELIEVED AND “TURNED TO THE LORD” (verse 21). Note that their salvation required more than faith only – they believed AND TURNED. By inspiration, Peter instructed his audience to “Repent ... and turn again” (Acts 3:19). We can likewise observe here that this turning involves something in addition to repentance. Actually, a parallel of Acts 3:19 is Acts 2:38 – “Repent and be baptized ... unto the remission of sins.” Thus, we can conclude from scripture that the “turning” is accomplished in water baptism, which will “wash away sins” (Acts 22:16), “put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27), cleanses by the blood of Christ (Romans 6:3-4), and saves (I Peter 3:21).
HE SAW THOSE WHO WERE “ADDED TO THE LORD” (verse 24). Like those in Acts 2:41, 47, who having received God’s word, were baptized and added by the Lord to His church, these in Antioch were in like manner added to the Lord … to His church. Immediately after, they were identified as the church in Antioch (verse 26; cf. I Corinthians 12:13). Note here “church” is singular in number. Though we see above two congregations in different places, they were all added to “the church” Jesus promised to build upon the truth of His deity declared in His resurrection from the dead (Matthew 16:18; Romans 1:4). It is “the church” Jesus purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28). And, it is “the church” Jesus loves and will glorify in the end. (Ephesians 5:25-27).
There were no denominations in the New Testament; no “joining the church of your choice.” We read of only those with simple trusting faith and obedience to the gospel of Christ they heard. Would you be willing to reject the confusion observed in human denominations with a determination to take ONLY the Bible and follow it? It will bring the same results as in the New Testament. God’s grace will be seen.
Search, Volume 24, Number 6, June 202