COMMON GRACE

Definition of common grace. If God is sovereign and man is depraved in his sinful estate, then God must move to bring about reconciliation between man and God. Differing categories are given to grace, but for this work the categories of common and efficacious grace will be used. Common grace is broader in scope, aimed at all mankind. In concise terms common grace may be defined as “the unmerited favor of God toward all men displayed in His general care for them.”An expanded definition of common grace is “(a) those general operations of the Holy Spirit whereby He, without renewing the heart, exercises such a moral influence on man through His general or special revelation, that sin is restrained, order is maintained in social life, and civil righteousness is promoted; or, (b) those general blessings, such as rain and sunshine, food and drink, clothing and shelter, which God imparts to all men indiscriminately where and in what measure it seems good to Him.”
Explanation of common grace. (1) General blessings to all mankind. The designation “common” stresses that all mankind is the recipient of God’s common grace. Material provisions are one aspect of common grace. Jesus commanded His followers to love their enemies because God exhibits His love toward all people (Matt. 5:45). God gives sunshine and rainfall to the atheistic farmer that enables him to harvest his crop just as He provides for the Christian farmer. Paul reminded the unbelievers at Lystra that God had given them “rains from heaven and fruitful seasons” (Acts 14:17), an exhibition of God’s common grace.
In Psalm 145:8-9 the psalmist exults: “The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The Lord is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works.” God’s grace and mercy are particularly exhibited in His delay and withholding of judgment. That God does not immediately judge man is an evidence of His grace. The reason is to enable man to come to repentance (Rom. 2:4).
God has provided spiritual provisions for all mankind. First Timothy 4:10 refers to Christ as “the Savior of all men, especially of believers.” This verse does not teach universalism, but it indicates spiritual provision has been made for everyone. If Christ is God then His death had infinite value in which He is potentially the Savior of all men and actually the Savior of those who believe. God’s common grace extends to all men inasmuch as that provision has been made for everyone through the death of Christ.
(2) Restraining of sin. God’s restraint of sin is an extension of common grace, and it functions through at least four channels. Through Direct Actions: Although Laban had cheated Jacob considerably, God restrained the deceit of Laban (Gen. 31:7). When Satan challenged God concerning Job’s loyalty, God put a limitation on what Satan could do to Job (Job 1:12; 2:6). Through the Holy Spirit: In Genesis 6:3 God said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever.” This text infers that the Holy Spirit does contend with and restrain man’s sinful behavior. Through the prophets: The ministry of the prophets was to call the people back to obedience and adherence of the Mosaic law. In that ministry the prophets served as a restraint on sin (cf. Isa. 1:16-20). Through human government: In Romans 13:1-4 Paul establishes that governments are ordained by God (v. 1), and they are established as a restraint to evil.
In this present age there is a restraining force against evil mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7. In this case the restraining force is withholding the manifestation of “the lawless one.” When the Restrainer is removed, then the lawless one will be revealed. It is significant that the phrase, “what restrains” (neuter gender) in v. 6 shifts to the masculine gender, “he who now restrains” in v. 7. Moreover, the Restrainer must be strong enough to hold back the forces of Satan, leaving the suggestion that the Restrainer is the Holy Spirit.
(3) Convicting of sin. In the accompanying diagram, the work of convicting has a narrower focus than the material provisions of common grace. It is still classified as a narrower aspect of common grace because it is not effective in everyone who encounters it. The convicting work of the Holy Spirit is set forth in John 16:8-11. He “will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment” (v. 8). The word convict (Gk. elegchein) is a legal term that means “to cross-examine for the purpose of convincing or refuting an opponent (the word being specially used of legal proceedings).”
It involves the conceptions of authoritative examination, of unquestionable proof, of decisive judgment, of punitive power. Whatever the final issue may be, he who “convicts” another places the truth of the case in dispute in a clear light before him, so that it must be seen and acknowledged as truth. He who then rejects the conclusion which this exposition involves, rejects it with his eyes open and at his peril. Truth seen as truth carries with it condemnation to all who refuse to welcome it.
This convicting work of the Holy Spirit is threefold. It concerns sin (16:9) in the refusal of people to believe in Christ (John 16:9). The sin is specifically the unbelief of the people in spite of Christ’s revelation concerning Himself through His words and works. It concerns righteousness in the conviction of the world whereby Christ is vindicated through His death, resurrection, and ascension (John 16:10). The fact that Christ arose and ascended to the Father demonstrated that He was indeed the Righteous One. It concerns judgment in the conviction of the world because Satan was judged at the cross (John 16:11). Satan rules by means of sin and death, yet Christ triumphed over both and defeated Satan. If the ruler has been judged then his followers will be judged also. The Holy Spirit will convict the world of these truths.
Necessity of common grace. It is preliminary to efficacious grace. Before a person can be saved there must be a witness from God; that witness comes first through a knowledge of God. God reveals Himself to people through the avenue of common grace. When people participate in the material blessings of God (Matt. 5:45) it ought to make them reflect on the goodness of God. Additionally, God has revealed something of Himself in nature: His “eternal power and divine nature” are clearly seen by all (Rom. 1:20). All people have an awareness of their accountability to a righteous God, all the while having been participants of His blessings toward them. With that awareness in mankind, the Holy Spirit convicts persons of the righteousness of Jesus Christ who offers the solution to mankind’s dilemma (John 16:8-11). A person cannot receive the efficacious grace of God for salvation without having received and recognized the work of God in common grace. Common grace thus is preparatory for efficacious grace; it brings man to a realization of his sin and of the righteousness of Jesus Christ.