Focus: Evidence of Grace

Text: Act.11:23

"Who, when he came, and had SEEN the grace of God…"

Grace has proofs. Grace is not a hidden thing. It is identifiable and noticeable on whoever possesses it. John reports that Jesus Christ was full of grace, which means that there was enough evidence of grace upon His life and ministry so visible enough for people to see it, and so tangible enough for them to touch it.

Barnabas was sent by the leaders of the church in Jerusalem to visit the church in Antioch and strengthen them, and when he arrived, he saw the grace of God at work in the lives of the believers in Christ right there in Antioch. He saw upon their lives a clear evidence of grace - a tangible proof of divine favor.

The evidence of grace is seen in a:

*Grateful heart

Through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross, God puts grace in our hearts. The heart is made grateful by grace. The psalmist declares, "Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever" (Ps.45:2). Paul tells us to get involved in "admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Col.3:16). Grace puts a song in our hearts. By letting the word dwell richly in our hearts we gladly make melody to the Lord from our grace-filled hearts. By grace we wear the attire of gratitude. Paul says, "Let your speech be alway with grace…" (Col.4:6). With hearts filled with grace, we speak words of grace. Healing words flow through our mouths because of the work of grace in our hearts. The author of Hebrews says that "For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace…" (Heb.13:9). O yes! Our hearts are transformed and established by grace.

*Redeemed soul

Paul says, "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Eph.3:24). He says, "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)… For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Eph.2:5,8). To Timothy, he writes, "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began" (2Tim.1:9). We let the whole world know that we have been redeemed by God's great grace. A man said, "Show me that you are redeemed, and I will believe in your redeemer." God has redeemed our whole being to Himself - body, soul and spirit - mind, will and emotion. We have been redeemed from a big moral bondage and eternal ruination. In Christ we are safe and secure. People who come in touch with us see it and are drawn to us.

*Armed mind

The psalmist says, "With favor wilt thou compass him as with a shield" (Ps.5:12). The food of grace and faith is the word of God. Martin Luther of Germany said that "a lay man armed with the Scripture is mightier than the pope." Grace sets our hearts on fire and arms our mind. Grace provides us with a shield of defense. Indeed, grace is our armor. We are shielded by divine favor. No weapon formed against us shall prosper. We are hid in Christ and Christ in God. Our minds are well equipped with grace to overcome every onslaught of the enemy. The Scripture speaks of the "words of his grace," and we are armed by it (Act.14:3; 20:32).

*Changed life

Luke writes, "But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus" (Act.9:27). Barnabas takes Paul by the hand, brings him before the church in Jerusalem, and lets them know how divine change has taken place in him.

In effect he says to them, 'There is point of being scared of this man. Change has happened to him. He is no longer a persecutor of the church. On the road to Damascus he encountered the Lord. The light of divine glory shone into his heart and dispelled the moral darkness in his soul. He is a changed man now - a new creation in Christ. He is our brother now and a member of the household of God. I even found him preaching boldly in the name of Jesus Christ. Let us welcome and embrace him with open arms and open hearts.' Grace changes us from inside out. We manifest beautiful attitudes and goodly character.

*Empowered and emboldened spirit

Paul says, "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1Cor.15:10). Grace is enabling. It's a divine empowerment. Those who possess grace are emboldened by it. They see themselves accomplishing great feats - unusual ability by which unusual things are achieved.

For Paul, grace is more than an unearned favor; it is also a divine ability by which we serve God acceptably in the kingdom and accomplish mighty works on earth for our God.

Grace has evidence to show. Grace makes us graceful and grateful. Grace makes us godly and goodly human beings. Grace never leaves us the way we are; it transforms us radically and progressively. We advance from faith to faith, from grace to grace, from strength to strength, and from glory to glory. Amen!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter