Luke tells us regarding the first 12 years of Jesus' life: "The grace of God was upon him" and, as he began his ministry, and before the sins of jealousy and envy took over, we read: "All spoke well of him and were amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips".

The grace of God is everywhere in the book of Acts. A radical disciple experiences it daily and is greatly encouraged and empowered by it. Its fruit is brokenness, humility, contrition, lowliness and the fear of the Lord. It should be the hallmark of every church.

"A broken and contrite heart you, O Lord, will not despise" (Ps 51:17). "For this is what the high and exalted One says – he who lives for ever, whose name is holy: 'I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite" (Isa 57:15). "These are the ones I look on with favour [and esteem]: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word" (Isa 66:2).

Regarding the church in Jerusalem, Luke tells us: "much grace was upon them all" [both leaders and believers]. And it was when Barnabas saw the evidence of the grace of God in the first Gentile church that he was overjoyed and knew their faith to be genuine.

From then on, the apostles urged the members of the churches they planted "to continue in the grace of God" and committed them to "God and the word of his grace".

Paul described his God-given task as "testifying to the gospel of God's grace". Is that the gospel we are careful to make clear? Is that the gospel we preach? It is through the grace of God that we are brought to faith. The disciples in Achaia are referred to as "those who by grace had believed".

"Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus … It is by grace you have been saved [stated twice within four verses], through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Eph. 1:18-2:10)