The Common Grace of God
God owes us nothing.
God owes us nothing, yet He has poured out His blessings on every man
and woman.
The two aspects of grace are available
to all humanity in general and special or saving grace.
Common grace is available to all human beings
without discrimination. The first mention of grace is found in Genesis
6:8. "Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." God extended His grace
120 years while Noah preached righteousness.
Fallen man has a fallen nature and without common
grace mankind would be ultimately self-destructive (Rom. 1:18-2:16;
3:9-20). God in His common grace causes the sun to shine on the just and
the unjust. This is the kind of grace that keeps radically depraved
humanity from self-destruction.
Common grace gives order to life in spite of the
curse of sin. The earth yields its fruit in abundance in spite of the
thorns and briars. Depraved mankind knows the difference between good and
evil, has religious aspirations, does good deeds, gives
philanthropic gifts to others in need all because of common grace.
The effects produced by common grace or the
influence of the Spirit common to all men are natural revelation whereby
the creation testifies to the Creator through out the universe, presence
of truth, good and beauty, fear of future punishment, a natural sense of
right and wrong, restraints of governments, fear of God, religious
interest not attended by genuine spiritual regeneration by the Holy
Spirit, etc. Charles Hodge observes that the influences of common grace
"are all capable of being effectually resisted. In all these respects
this common grace is distinguished from the efficacious operation of the
Spirit to which the Scriptures ascribe the regeneration of the soul."
The response of most people to God’s common grace is
“contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience” (Romans 2:4).
How tragic that man in his arrogance and pride refuses to accept common
grace.
To despise the riches of God’s grace is a
terrible sin with eternal consequences.
The purpose of God’s common grace is to cause us to turn to Him
to receive even greater grace.
Yet, in spite of our sinful depravity, God is good to us. He reaches
down to us in His love and grace to save us. He wants us to repent and acknowledge His
goodness and accept the riches of His saving grace.
A good example of common grace leading to effectual
saving grace is the Gentile man Cornelius who feared God, gave alms
generously and prayed regularly, but was never saved until the apostle
Peter shared with him the good news of salvation through the atoning
sacrifice of Christ Jesus (Acts 10:1-48). It was common grace that led
Cornelius to be devout, but he still needed efficacious saving grace. He
responded to the light he had received through common grace, and God
brought him to the greater light of the good news of Jesus Christ
whereby he could believe and be saved. God the Holy Spirit moved him
beyond common grace which does not save, to the saving grace of God in
Christ Jesus.
The most uncommon thing that has ever happened is found in Romans
5:6-8. “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the
ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man
someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).
It was “while we were still sinners,” that God did
everything to save us sinners. God sent His
only begotten Son to come and die in our place on the cross.
God does not owe us anything. We deserve to go to hell. He does not
owe us a chance to be saved. The only thing we deserve is judgment because we have
disobeyed God.
The Bible says, “The soul that sins will surely die.”
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” “The wages of sin
is death.”
We need more than common grace to save us. We need His special saving
grace. “God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died
for us.” We need His special grace that lifts us out of our sins and saves us.
Christ’s death for you demonstrates God’s unfathomable love
for you. It commends itself to us to embrace Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. It calls
every sinner to turn from his or her sins and put their faith in Jesus Christ and be
saved.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
God loves you and wants you to respond to His love today. Will you
believe on Him and receive His free gift of eternal life? “We love Him because He
first loved us.”
Everyone receives God’s common grace, but have you responded to
His special saving grace? “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may
boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Jesus Christ is our only hope. Only Jesus Christ could offer a
sacrifice for our sins and pay the penalty in full. In His life and death Christ did all
that God required of us. That is how much He loves you and wants you to come to Him and
receive eternal life. If you have never done so please respond to His saving grace today.
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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