Read
Acts 11:19-23.
When Barnabas comes to Antioch, he “sees the grace of God.”
What exactly did he see? But first, what is grace?
·
Grace is often translated as “unmerited favor.”
·
Grace is an undeserved blessing; a favor or kindness shown
without regard to merit or worth of the recipient.
·
Vine’s Dictionary includes the idea that grace bestows
pleasure and delight; also loving kindness and goodwill.
·
Also inherit in the word is the idea of loveliness and
agreeableness.
Text:
Acts 11:19-23
Body:
I. He Saw the Saved
(Verse
21)
·
Saints who had been persecuted in Jerusalem came preaching
the Lord Jesus. (Verse
20)
·
Without the saving message of the gospel, they were lost and
without hope. (Ephesians
2:12)
·
Because of God’s grace, He offered salvation to them.
(Titus
2:11-12)
This undeserved favor was made available to everyone. (I
Timothy 2:4)
II.
He Saw the Preaching of the Lord Jesus
(Verse
20)
·
What they preached is also called the “word of His
grace.” (Acts
14:3)
·
It is also called “the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts
20:24)
·
God’s grace is not given apart from the teaching of that
word and obedience to it. (Titus
2:11-12)
·
The word of grace teaches us that all spiritual blessings
(including forgiveness and redemption) are only found in
Christ. (Ephesians
1:3,6,7)
·
Also, God’s grace must be received. (II
Corinthians 6:1)
Even though it is available to everyone, not all will
receive it.
Imagine a wealthy man having compassion on a poor, homeless
man, in his impoverished and despicable condition, and
deciding to do something to save him. The poor man doesn’t
deserve the rich man’s help (he’s done nothing to earn it),
yet the offer is there. The rich man offers to take the
poor man and get him cleaned up and to give him a job and a
place to live. If the poor man takes him up on his offer,
then (and only then) is he saved (from his plight) by
grace. If he does not take up the rich man’s offer, he
forfeits grace and cannot benefit from it at all. You see,
all because mercy and grace was shown toward the poor man
doesn’t mean he was automatically saved from his
predicament. He has to be willing to receive it. And if
the poor man did accept the offer, but then turned back to
his miserable lifestyle, he would no longer receive the rich
man’s act of grace.
UNKNOWN
III.
He Saw the Love and Kindness of the Saints
(Verses
27-30)
·
Those who had received the grace of God showed grace to
others.
·
The unselfish giving of the Macedonian Christians is called
the “grace of God.” (II
Corinthians 8:1-5)
·
Paul wanted the Corinthians to excel in this grace also.
(II
Corinthians 8:7)
·
God makes grace abound so that Christians may abound in good
works. (II
Corinthians 9:8-11)
Conclusion:
Barnabas was glad when he saw the grace of God. If you have
not received the grace of God, I encourage you to do it now.