Common grace refers to God’s grace that is commonly bestowed upon all humankind, believer and unbeliever alike. It is called “common” because its benefits are experienced by the whole human race without distinction. The concept of common grace recognizes that even though humanity is fallen and sinful, God nevertheless shows grace and kindness to all people. He does this by restraining evil, promoting human flourishing, and allowing people to appreciate goodness, truth, and beauty.
God’s Restraint of Evil
One way God extends common grace is by placing restraints on human sinfulness and holding back the full effects of the fall (Genesis 3:22-24; Genesis 6:3). Without God’s common grace, evil would spread unchecked throughout the earth. The doctrine of total depravity recognizes that every aspect of humanity—the mind, will, emotions, etc.—has been corrupted by sin. Left unrestrained, the outworking of human sinfulness results in violence, injustice, and utter chaos. However, God in His mercy limits the effects of sin and prevents us from being as thoroughly evil as we could be (Genesis 20:6). He has established governing authorities to maintain order and punish wrongdoing (Romans 13:1-7). He has given people a conscience to guide moral decision making (Romans 2:14-15). And He providentially works in society to promote human flourishing despite people’s sinfulness. God’s restraint of evil is an expression of His common grace.
God’s Provision for Human Flourishing
Another way God demonstrates common grace is by enabling human flourishing through His general provision and care. All people, Christian and non-Christian alike, benefit from God’s work in upholding His creation and sustaining life. Jesus said God sends “rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). People have enough food, water, shelter, and other resources to sustain life because of God’s common grace. His benevolence is manifested in the orderliness and fruitfulness of creation, allowing humans to discover the sciences, cultivate the arts, and develop technology and medicine for the common good of humanity. These are gifts of God’s grace that He showers on all people indiscriminately. He does so because He is good, merciful, and compassionate (Psalm 145:8-9). The superior skill, wisdom, and understanding that some people possess is not something they have attained for themselves. Rather, it is an undeserved gift from God meant for the wellbeing of others (Exodus 31:3-5). The fruitfulness and abundance of the earth also reflects God’s common grace to humanity. Were it not for His grace, creation itself would not yield its produce or sustain life as it presently does.
God Allows People to Appreciate Goodness, Truth and Beauty
A third aspect of God’s common grace is that He enables unbelievers to appreciate and participate in what is good, true and beautiful in the world. Created in God’s image, all people have a limited ability to recognize and value what is good, right and aesthetically pleasing (Genesis 1:27). Believers and unbelievers alike come to appreciate acts of human kindness, gestures of self-sacrifice, discoveries of scientific truths, works of art, etc. However, while believers recognize God as the ultimate source and definer of what is good and true, unbelievers often fail to give God praise for the virtues they applaud. Nevertheless, an ability to respect moral laws or delight in truth and beauty remains part of God’s general revelation and gracious gifts to humankind. He allows people the joys and satisfactions of earthly life despite their sin and unbelief. As one theologian put it, God gives people enough “rope” so that the goodness and pleasantness they experience leads them to recognize God as the giver of all that is good. Sadly, however, they often use these good gifts for their own selfish purposes rather than responding in gratitude, obedience and worship. Nevertheless, God continues to extend common grace to all.
Common Grace Reveals God’s Mercy and Kindness
In summary, God’s common grace encompasses the day-to-day ways He demonstrates kindness, restrains evil, and provides basic goods to humanity. This reflects His mercy and love for people, even before they come to saving faith. Common grace meets people’s basic needs, promotes human flourishing, and allows people to appreciate goodness and truth in the world. However, the blessings of common grace alone cannot save. People need the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit to transform their hearts and bring them to saving faith in Christ. Nevertheless, common grace expresses God’s universal compassion and care for humankind. It provides a witness of God’s existence, goodwill, and interest in human wellbeing. Christians can appreciate God’s common grace at work in the world while also proclaiming that greater grace is needed to redeem people from sin and restore them to God.
Common Grace Differs from Saving Grace
A key distinction can be made between God’s common grace, which is universally given, and His saving grace, which is particular and limited to those whom He redeems. Theologians speak of this distinction between God’s universal, non-saving favors and His particular, saving work to rescue people from condemnation. Common grace is given to all and meets everyday needs but does not provide salvation. Saving grace is given only to God’s elect and redeems them through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit who grants repentance and faith.
Common grace precedes salvation temporally, but it differs qualitatively. It only benefits people in earthly, temporary ways. It does not redeem or reconcile anyone to God. It does not transform the heart or impart saving faith. It does not enable people to overcome the power of sin or live righteously. While common grace confers general favors from God, saving grace confers regeneration, justification, and eternal life. These can only be received through faith in Jesus Christ.
Evidence of Common Grace
We see evidence of God’s common grace in the world:
– In His acts of providence that allow the seasons and agriculture to produce food (Matthew 5:45, Acts 14:17)
– In the human conscience that guides moral decision making (Romans 2:14-15)
– In civic leaders who help maintain order in society (Romans 13:1-7)
– In truth, justice, goodness, and beauty that all people are able to value and uphold (Psalm 25:8-10, Philippians 4:8)
– In human beings created in God’s image who reflect His worth and dignity (Genesis 1:26-27)
Purpose of Common Grace
God dispenses common grace to:
– Demonstrate His universal mercy, compassion, and longsuffering (Exodus 34:6, 2 Peter 3:9)
– Set a stage for the proclamation of the gospel (Matthew 5:16, 1 Peter 2:9)
– Promote human flourishing for the common good (Jeremiah 29:7, 1 Timothy 2:1-3)
– Restrain the effects of total human depravity and evil (Genesis 20:6, Psalm 76:10)
– Provide time for repentance and opportunities to turn to Him (Romans 2:4-5, 2 Peter 3:9)
Response to Common Grace
People may respond to God’s common grace in different ways:
– With ingratitude, overlooking the Giver of all good things (Romans 1:21, 2 Timothy 3:2)
– By twisting God’s good gifts into tools for self-indulgence (James 4:3, 1 Timothy 6:17)
– With saving faith, gratefully acknowledging God through Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10, Colossians 3:17)
– With reverence for who God is and His universal mercy (Psalm 86:15, 2 Corinthians 6:1-2)
Common Grace and the Noahic Covenant
After the flood in Noah’s day, God made a covenant with Noah that included promises of common grace. God pledged to preserve the regularity of nature for as long as the earth remains (Genesis 8:21-22). The changing seasons, the sowing and reaping of crops, the provision of food…these expressions of God’s common grace provide stability to the natural world. They enable all people – not just God’s chosen people – to receive earthly blessings.
The rainbow serves as a sign of God’s covenant promises to uphold creation and show common grace (Genesis 9:8-17). It reminds humanity that although we deserve God’s judgment because of sin, He graciously sustains life and refrains from destroying human civilization. The Noahic covenant illustrates that God’s common grace preserves the world and grants temporal blessings to all people, ensuring opportunity for repentance and salvation through faith in Christ.
Common Grace and God’s Law
God also extends common grace through moral and civil laws that order human affairs. His laws against murder, theft, and dishonesty serve to restrain evil and promote human flourishing in society, even among those who reject Him.
In the giving of the Ten Commandments and other moral-civil codes in Scripture, God communicated ethical standards that protect life, property, relationships, and reputation. While special revelation was given specifically to Israel, God’s laws reflect His universal standards of right and wrong that apply to all people in all places. His laws teach true righteousness, not just external compliance.
Fallen humanity inevitably distorts God’s moral precepts, denying His authorship. But through general revelation and common grace, many unbelievers naturally uphold certain ethical principles embedded in God’s law. Their conscience affirms truth and justice, even without special revelation. So God’s law in Scripture stands as an objective reference point that unbelievers often appeal to, albeit imperfectly, due to His common grace in restraining evil.
Common Grace Opposed to Saving Grace
Theologians distinguish common grace from saving grace in the following ways:
Source
– Common grace flows from God’s universal mercy and preservation of creation.
– Saving grace flows from Christ’s atoning sacrifice on behalf of the elect.
Recipients
– Common grace is universally given to all.
– Saving grace is specially given only to the elect.
Nature
– Common grace only confers non-saving, temporal earthly favors.
– Saving grace confers spiritual regeneration and eternal redemption.
Effects
– Common grace gives people the ability to do outwardly good things but cannot change the heart.
– Saving grace results in inward heart transformation unto salvation.
Cautions Regarding Common Grace
While common grace reflects God’s mercy and care for humanity, some cautions are in order:
– We must not presume upon common grace and delay repentance (Romans 2:4-5).
– Good deeds enabled by common grace do not merit salvation (Isaiah 64:6).
– Common grace effects are limited and cannot substitute for saving grace.
– Restraint of evil is temporary until God judges evil (Revelation 20:7-9)
– Common grace does not lead inevitably to saving faith in Christ. Many persist in rebellion against God.
Conclusion
In summary, the doctrine of common grace teaches us that God demonstrates goodness, kindness, and care towards all people. He richly provides earthly blessings to both the righteous and unrighteous. Common grace meets temporal needs but does not reconcile anyone to God. It gives evidence of God’s mercy and compassion, yet the dire need for saving grace remains. People must respond to the gospel call and trust in Christ to receive eternal life. While we celebrate God’s common grace at work in the world, we must continue to proclaim that His greater grace is found through faith in Jesus Christ alone.