Grace in the Book of Acts

 

Grace in the Book of Acts 

Acts 13:43 After the meeting, many Jews and proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.

Acts 14:3 They stayed for many days, speaking boldly in the Lord, and signs and wonders were being performed by them, bearing witness to the word of His grace.

Acts 14:26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they [Paul and Barnabas] had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.

Acts 15:11 We believe that we have been saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they have.

Acts 15:40 But Paul chose Silas and went out, and the brothers commended him to the grace of the Lord.

Acts 20:32 Now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Seven Important Aspects of Grace:

Scripture	Grace Manifestation	Meaning & Definition	Concrete Examples	Practical Application	Relationship with Other Aspects
Acts 4:33	Great Grace	The living Jesus in action, convincing people, conquering all, releasing people, uplifting them and transcending everything	Thousands brought to the Lord at Pentecost; apostles testified of Jesus' resurrection with great power	Experience God's mighty manifestation in gospel work, seeing hearts conquered and changed by God	Lays foundation for subsequent grace experiences; initial manifestation of grace
Acts 11:23	Visible Grace	The Triune God obtained and enjoyed by believers, manifested in salvation, life transformation, sanctified living, and gift operation	Barnabas saw life changes and sanctified living of Antioch believers and rejoiced	Learn to observe and appreciate God's work in believers as encouragement	Echoes with "remaining in grace"; seeing grace motivates continued abiding in grace
Acts 13:43	Remaining in Grace	Continuously receiving and abiding in God's grace; grace compounds all holy and faithful things	Paul and Barnabas exhorted believers to continue in God's grace	Continuously depend on and enjoy God's grace in daily life, not departing from grace	Continues "great grace" experience; provides foundation for "word of grace"
Acts 14:3	Word of Grace	Dispensational change; the Lord's word of grace replaces law, representing change in God's economic arrangement	Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly in the Lord, bearing witness to His word of grace	Preach grace truth, helping people turn from law to grace	Connects with "committed to grace"; word becomes content of commitment
Acts 14:26	Committed to Grace	Grace is the Triune God becoming our life and everything; living Person within us as everything	Paul and Barnabas committed to God's grace to complete their work	Completely depend on God's grace in ministry, letting grace be work's power and content	Concrete practice of word of grace; prepares way for saving grace
Acts 15:11	Saving Grace	Contains the Lord's Person and His redemptive work; the only way of salvation	Peter declared Jews and Gentiles saved through Lord Jesus' grace, not through law	Emphasize in evangelism that salvation is entirely by grace, not by works	Foundation of all grace experiences; connects to final inheritance
Acts 15:40	Committed to Grace	Completely entrusting people to the Lord's gracious care and leading	Brothers committed Paul to the Lord's grace for ministry	In sending and committing to ministry, entrust people to God's grace	Embodies grace's entrusting nature; echoes with building grace
Acts 20:32	Building Grace	God's word of grace can build up saints, enabling them to obtain the Triune God as inheritance	Paul committed Ephesian elders to God and His word of grace	Be built up through God's word of grace, obtaining God as inheritance in sanctification	Final goal of grace work; summarizes all previous grace experiences

 

Overall Characteristics of Grace:

Essential Features

• Personal Nature: Grace is a living Person (the resurrected Christ), not an abstract concept
• Compound Nature: Contains God's Person, redemptive work, and all holy and faithful things
• Dynamic Nature: Continuously acting, conquering, releasing, and uplifting people
• Comprehensive Nature: Covers salvation, sanctification, ministry, and building at all levels

Operating Pattern

• Beginning: Great Grace → Visible Grace
• Continuation: Remaining in Grace → Word of Grace
• Commitment: Committed to Grace → Entrusted to Grace
• Completion: Saving Grace → Building Grace

Practical Functions

1.      Conquering Hearts: Making people convinced and turn to God

2.      Transforming Lives: Bringing sanctified living

3.      Granting Power: Operating in ministry

4.      Building Believers: Enabling people to obtain inheritance in sanctification

5.      Replacing Law: Becoming the principle of the new dispensation

Interrelationships

• All grace points to the Triune God Himself as our life and everything
• From personal experience (Great Grace) to corporate testimony (Visible Grace) to ministry commitment (Committed to Grace) to final building (Building Grace)
• Each aspect of grace is a different facet of complete grace, mutually reinforcing and confirming each other

Dispensational Significance:

Grace in Acts demonstrates the transition from the age of law to the age of grace, no longer external regulations but the indwelling Christ as life. This grace will continue to build the church until the Lord's return.

 

*Please refer to April 2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training General Topic: Oneness and the Vital Aspects of Acts Chapter 6 Grace in Acts