What is common grace?
What Is Common Grace?
Common grace refers to God’s sovereign and universal favor extended to all humanity, regardless of their salvation status or election. Unlike saving grace, which is particular and effectual for the elect, common grace encompasses the blessings, kindness, and providential care that God bestows upon all people indiscriminately. This grace reflects God’s goodness, mercy, and patience, revealing His benevolent character even toward those who reject Him.
Biblical Basis for Common Grace
The doctrine of common grace is deeply rooted in Scripture and can be observed in three key dimensions:
1. God’s Favor Toward All Creation
God’s kindness and benevolence are evident in His care for all creation, not just His chosen people. Psalm 145:9 (NKJV) declares:
"The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works."
This universal grace includes the provision of basic needs, such as rain and food, as Jesus noted in Matthew 5:45 (NKJV):
"For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."
Similarly, Paul and Barnabas, speaking to the Gentiles in Lystra, emphasized God’s kindness:
"Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness" (Acts 14:17, NKJV).
Even God’s patience with the wicked is an expression of common grace. Nahum 1:3 (NKJV) states:
"The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked." Every moment of life granted to the unregenerate reflects God’s long-suffering mercy.
2. God’s Restraint of Sin
Common grace is also evident in God’s active restraint of sin in the world. If God were to remove His restraining hand, human depravity would lead to chaos and self-destruction, as humanity’s natural state is described in Jeremiah 17:9 (NKJV):
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?"
Examples of God Restraining Sin
Genesis 20:6 (NKJV): God restrained Abimelech from committing adultery with Sarah, saying:
"Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her."Exodus 34:23-24 (NKJV): God promised to protect Israel during their pilgrimage to worship Him:
"Three times in the year all your men shall appear before the Lord, the Lord God of Israel. For I will cast out the nations before you and enlarge your borders; neither will any man covet your land when you go up to appear before the Lord your God three times in the year."1 Samuel 25:26 (NKJV): God used Abigail to prevent David from seeking vengeance against Nabal, as Abigail said:
"Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, since the Lord has held you back from coming to bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now then, let your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be as Nabal."
God not only restrains evil but also releases restraint for His purposes. For example, He hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 4:21) and gave rebellious individuals over to their sins, as described in Romans 1:24-28 (NKJV):
"Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves."
3. Civic Righteousness Among the Unregenerate
Through common grace, even those who are not saved can perform acts of civic virtue and moral goodness. This does not mean their deeds are meritorious before God in terms of salvation but that they contribute positively to society.
Paul speaks of unregenerate Gentiles who:
"show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them" (Romans 2:15, NKJV).
God’s influence ensures that societies are not wholly consumed by evil, allowing for justice, order, and human flourishing. This civic righteousness underscores the biblical doctrine of total depravity, where humanity’s corruption is restrained by God’s grace to prevent complete moral decay.
If God were to remove this restraint, human wickedness would spiral out of control. Instead, through His common grace, God allows human history to unfold according to His sovereign plan, ensuring His purposes are accomplished.
Theological Implications of Common Grace
God’s Sovereignty and Goodness
Common grace highlights the sovereign control of God over all creation and His benevolent character. Even those who deny Him are recipients of His kindness. Luke 6:35 (NKJV) reflects this:
"But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil."
Human Responsibility
The blessings of common grace leave humanity without excuse for rejecting God. Romans 1:20 (NKJV) declares:
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse."
Common Grace vs. Saving Grace
It is crucial to distinguish between common grace and saving grace:
Common Grace: Available to all, it restrains sin, provides blessings, and maintains societal order.
Saving Grace: Specific to the elect, it brings about salvation, justification, and eternal life.
While common grace benefits all people temporally, saving grace transforms the heart and reconciles sinners to God eternally through Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
The doctrine of common grace reveals God’s benevolence and sovereignty, demonstrating His care for all humanity while highlighting His justice and holiness. It restrains sin, promotes human flourishing, and serves as a testimony of God’s goodness to both the elect and the non-elect.
Common grace ensures that God’s redemptive purposes are not thwarted by human sin and magnifies His glory as He governs creation with wisdom, patience, and love. As Psalm 145:9 (NKJV) affirms:
"The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works."
