The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
The people at Antioch that Barnabas was going to visit had just endured persecution, traveled out of Jerusalem to Antioch, and established a church. Barnabas goes to visit and encourage them, and when he gets there he sees the grace of God and it makes Him glad, he rejoices. Why? What did he see that made him rejoice?
He sees them glad and growing, and being sanctified by the very same grace that saved them. He sees them doing what God’s grace does in others: Trains them to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our (their) blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of God and Savior Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:11-13) He sees them doing, increasingly, the good works that they’ve been created, by grace, in Christ Jesus, to do; and all of this after they just had their lives threatened. That’s why they were called Christians (Acts 11:26), not because of their conversion, but because of the grace of God manifested in their lives post conversion—their conversations, their motivations, their happiness, their free time—all of it changed and changing for God’s glory, because of God’s grace.
We’re so prone, in our pride (I know I am) to think at times that because we know so much about the doctrine of grace (or pick anything) that we some how have arrived at some sort of spiritual plateau--we’re mature now. Maybe you struggle with the idea that suggests, if someone can’t articulate their understanding of grace the way that we can, or even the way the people we know can, well, then they just aren’t very holy or spiritually mature.
The real question isn’t, can they articulate it with eloquence, but can you see it, in their life? Do you see it!? Does your looking for God’s grace in the lives of others stop at how well they know something and can articulate it? Let me assure you, and you probably already know this but let me just assure you, if someone can give me facts about grace, or a detailed outline on the doctrine of grace and say, “See I know that.” And then, they can cut someone down with their words or look down their nose at them because they don’t know the name of some theologian or don’t subscribe as tightly to a particular doctrine, then they don’t know grace. Because that’s not grace. That’s not the grace that they we’re given by God, in Christ—that’s arrogance, and grace doesn’t make arrogant people, it makes humble people.
Now, can knowledge be evidence of God’s grace? Yes. Is it something to be glad about when we see it gained by someone else? Yes. But what should make you really glad is the manifestation of that knowledge into the actual life, actions, words and motivations of another person.
Here’s another thought: Someone lives with perpetual guilt and depression because of their sin, feeling like every sin they commit and every time they miss “quiet time” is a rung that they’ve dropped on the ladder of God’s love and acceptance towards them and another step they have to take back to God’s loving embrance—they don’t get grace. Because that’s not grace, that’s a lie called legalism. You were saved by grace, through faith in the finished work of Christ alone, not your works.
Do our sins cause grief? They should? Do they cause a feeling of distance from God? Yes. Should that grief disable us to the point of, “God hates me now. . .He hates me! No! Grace says with Micah:
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression
For the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. (Micah 7:18)
Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;
When I fall, I shall rise;
When I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication. (Micah 7:9)
Embracing the cross where Jesus died, as your payment for your sin. Debt paid! That’s a good work of grace.
So, what are you focused on? Are you looking for it in others? Are you like Barnabus, “God, I’m going to Antioch and I know they’ve been enduring persecution, I pray their still strong and I hope when I see them they’re still enduring and bearing fruit and growing in the midst of loss and suffering . . .show me your grace in their lives!” Barnabus saw them inside the sovereignty of God’s grace. He understood how they got to the point they were at—by God’s sovereign grace and choice. We ought to as well.
