What is “common grace”?

Posted by Josh Howerton on Dec 6, 2011 | 1 comment

After this weekend’s sermon, many people have asked further questions about a doctrine we discussed called “common grace”.  The following is a helpful rundown on this doctrine by Bridger Heath Hollensbe.

What Is Common Grace?

STARTING POINT:

Yesterday, Pastor Josh made a reference in his sermon to a phrase called “Common Grace”. While it is not a phrase that is used often, it is definitely an idea that we should grow to appreciate, because in doing so, properly, it will increase our affections toward Christ.

Before unpacking this concept, I must explain that the concept of “common grace” must be viewed through a Biblical lens while keeping these two truths in mind:

• The complete and faultless sovereignty of God over everything.
• The complete depravity of every human being.

With those in mind, here we go….

DEFINITION:

The old British preacher Martyn Lloyd Jones described common grace in the best way I have found: “Common grace is the term applied to those general blessings which God imparts to all men and women indiscriminately as He pleases, not only to His own people (Christians), but to all men and women, according to His own will”.

THE NEED:

As humans (apart from Christ), we are completely corrupt, perverted and out of control in our wickedness. Scripture is not shy in making this abundantly clear. (Genesis 6:5, Jeremiah 17:9, Titus 1:15-16, Isaiah 53:6, Mark 10:18, Matthew 15:19). Justice should have it that from the very first nano-second that we sin, we would be punished eternally, and our lives should stop. We should not be given another second. Therefore, anything given to us above and beyond that is grace. We are living in a constant state of grace. We are experiencing that grace every second of our lives. As we all know people who do not have a relationship with Christ, we see that even they are benefitting from the influence of this grace with every breath that they take.

There is so much more that is given to every human (above and beyond breathing) after we have sinned, that we all take for granted. Things like laughter, appreciating beauty, the ability to love, the ability to be happy, etc…

Common grace is God’s kindness shown to all of mankind, regardless of where our human nature should have left us. It is important that we recognize that this universal grace is the only thing that prohibits us from seeing the full result of our sin if the true motives and desires of our hearts would truly be played out.

BIBLICAL EXAMPLES:

Scripture gives us some great examples of God demonstrating common grace (as pointed out by John MacArthur):

• Giving us a conscience, which enables us to know the difference between right and wrong, and to some degree placing moral constraints on evil behavior (Rom. 2:15)
• Sovereignly maintaining order in human society through government (Rom. 13:1–5)
• Enabling us to admire beauty and goodness (Ps. 50:2)
• By imparting numerous advantages, blessings, and tokens of His kindness on both the righteous and the unrighteous (Matt. 5:45)

These are ways that everyone (believer or non-believer) benefits from the “common grace” of God.

SPECIFIC EXAMPLES:

Here are some ways that we can see God demonstrating common grace in around us today:

• by setting up governments and putting leaders in power so that we can live peaceful lives (1 Tim. 2:2)
• by allowing everyone (in or out of Christ) to do good (Luke 6:33)
• by putting authorities in our lives for our good (Romans 13:4)
• by allowing us to experience the beauty of the seasons changing (Daniel 2:21)
• by allowing us to experience a vast array of emotions (Ecc. 3:4)
• by giving us the ability to truly love each other (1 John 4:7)
• by allowing us to turn from evil (Job 1:1)
• by protecting us from constant evil and torment (Job 1:8)
• by giving us beautiful oceans, stars, planets, mountains, scenery and animals to marvel at (Gen 1)
• by keeping the ocean within it’s borders (Job 38:11)
• by allowing us to rest (Deut 5:12)
• by providing us with the necessities we need to live (Matthew 6:30)
• by constantly making plants grow so we can continue to eat (Psalm 104:14)

WHAT IT DOES NOT DO:

Common grace DOES NOT save sinners. Every human that has ever walked on this earth is part of the “offspring of God” (Acts

17:28). The Lord is good to ALL (this is referring to everyone on earth), and His mercies are over all that he has made. (Psalm 145:9). Everyone benefits from this grace, but Scripture is completely clear that God has a special grace for those whom he has predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son (Romans 8:29).

In fact, God’s common grace will not stand in the way of sinners ultimately getting what they truly desire. They will get the ultimate desire of their hearts. (Romans 1:24).  Nevertheless, He continues to allow His genuine kindness to temporarily benefit them until the day of judgement comes. (Revelation 20:12)

APPLICATION:

God’s common grace gives humans amazing abilities. Look at Steve Jobs. But we must recognize that he was not the main reason that we have the great gadgets that run most of our lives today. He only had what he was given. These things (and Steve himself) ultimately came from the genius of God. The author of all good things (James 1:17)

Unfortunately, the problem is that we all prone to deny common grace. We worship the icons, objects, leaders, that have produced the works with the talents that God has given. Yet tend to neglect the God who gave them every single thing they needed, and enabled them to do it. This gives Christians a reason to look around at creation, technology, cultures, arts, and have a reason to love Christ even more. He is the brilliant mind behind this all, and He is ours forever!

It is when we become aware of our fallenness, and how unworthy we are of any of God’s blessings that it gives us a better perspective on life. “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail” (Lamentations. 3:22). And because of His great love, we can appreciate life, love each other, smile, have friendships, enjoy things, benefit from things, and ultimately God has given us the greatest treasure we could ever want, Himself.