Acts 14:1-4
Paul and his traveling brother Barnabas found themselves in Iconium, preaching the gospel in a Jewish synagogue. His message brought great multitudes of Jews and Gentiles to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, but it also brought anger out in many. Unbelieving, but devout Jews began to stir up the Gentiles in the city, turning them against Paul and Barnabas. Week after week, Paul preached “boldly in the Lord”; “the word of His grace” (Acts 14:3). Notice the perseverance and the message. Paul kept right on preaching the message of grace, no matter how much opposition that He faced.
What were these Jews opposed to? Were they opposed to God? Of course not; they loved God with all their heart, soul, strength and mind. Were they opposed to Gentiles being converted? Apparently not, as they let them into their synagogue. It was the word of God’s grace that Paul continued to preach that caused him so much trouble. They felt that salvation had much to do with keeping the Law, and Paul simply would not give in to this way of thinking.
No matter how much opposition they presented, Paul continued to be bold in his preaching of grace. God give us preachers who will use their boldness not to beat the sheep or expose people’s sins, but to boldly proclaim the finished work of Jesus and the free favors of God! The more that Paul preached grace, the more the Jewish adherents to Mosaic Law became infuriated.
God stepped in and “granted signs and wonders to be done at their hands” (Acts 14:3). The more that Paul proclaimed God’s grace and favor, the more that God responded by bringing forth mighty miracles. These miracles were to place God’s seal of approval on the message that was being presented. Jesus never performed a single miracle until the Father first said of Him at Jordan, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). With the “well-pleased” came the power to perform. The more that God’s grace is preached boldly, without reservation and fear, the more that God will respond in the church with signs and wonders.
There is no need to fear that we can preach “too much grace”. Since grace is Jesus (John 1:17), saying that one can preach “too much grace” is like saying that one could preach “too much Jesus”. There is simply no such thing! Ask a sinner how to get to heaven and most of them will reply with some form of works or the other. In fact, many of them will quote directly from the Law of Moses, citing the keeping of the 10 Commandments. How can we fear that they are going to get too much grace? They are full to the brim with Law and they are still going to hell!
The multitude of the city was divided over Paul’s preaching of grace (Acts 14:4) and this percentage remains until this day. Not everyone will turn to the preaching of God’s grace and favor, but many will. Those who respond with faith will see great things done in their lives as God changes them from the inside out. As grace becomes the chief message of the church there will be mighty miracles done which no one will be able to attribute to man. God will get all of the glory, for His Son Jesus is being proclaimed in all of His loveliness. Only grace destroys man’s self-dependency and exalts Jesus’ finished work. Let us be guilty of one thing and that is of preaching “too much grace”!
Paul and his traveling brother Barnabas found themselves in Iconium, preaching the gospel in a Jewish synagogue. His message brought great multitudes of Jews and Gentiles to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, but it also brought anger out in many. Unbelieving, but devout Jews began to stir up the Gentiles in the city, turning them against Paul and Barnabas. Week after week, Paul preached “boldly in the Lord”; “the word of His grace” (Acts 14:3). Notice the perseverance and the message. Paul kept right on preaching the message of grace, no matter how much opposition that He faced.
What were these Jews opposed to? Were they opposed to God? Of course not; they loved God with all their heart, soul, strength and mind. Were they opposed to Gentiles being converted? Apparently not, as they let them into their synagogue. It was the word of God’s grace that Paul continued to preach that caused him so much trouble. They felt that salvation had much to do with keeping the Law, and Paul simply would not give in to this way of thinking.
No matter how much opposition they presented, Paul continued to be bold in his preaching of grace. God give us preachers who will use their boldness not to beat the sheep or expose people’s sins, but to boldly proclaim the finished work of Jesus and the free favors of God! The more that Paul preached grace, the more the Jewish adherents to Mosaic Law became infuriated.
God stepped in and “granted signs and wonders to be done at their hands” (Acts 14:3). The more that Paul proclaimed God’s grace and favor, the more that God responded by bringing forth mighty miracles. These miracles were to place God’s seal of approval on the message that was being presented. Jesus never performed a single miracle until the Father first said of Him at Jordan, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). With the “well-pleased” came the power to perform. The more that God’s grace is preached boldly, without reservation and fear, the more that God will respond in the church with signs and wonders.
There is no need to fear that we can preach “too much grace”. Since grace is Jesus (John 1:17), saying that one can preach “too much grace” is like saying that one could preach “too much Jesus”. There is simply no such thing! Ask a sinner how to get to heaven and most of them will reply with some form of works or the other. In fact, many of them will quote directly from the Law of Moses, citing the keeping of the 10 Commandments. How can we fear that they are going to get too much grace? They are full to the brim with Law and they are still going to hell!
The multitude of the city was divided over Paul’s preaching of grace (Acts 14:4) and this percentage remains until this day. Not everyone will turn to the preaching of God’s grace and favor, but many will. Those who respond with faith will see great things done in their lives as God changes them from the inside out. As grace becomes the chief message of the church there will be mighty miracles done which no one will be able to attribute to man. God will get all of the glory, for His Son Jesus is being proclaimed in all of His loveliness. Only grace destroys man’s self-dependency and exalts Jesus’ finished work. Let us be guilty of one thing and that is of preaching “too much grace”!
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