This month in The Reference Desk series, we’re sharing an excerpt from Lifeway Women’s new Bible study The Melody of Grace by Whitney Capps. In this 7-session Bible study, you’ll examine passages throughout the Bible to explore the transformative power of grace.
When we consider the meaning of grace, we inevitably filter our view through the culminating, compassionate, cataclysmic work of the cross of Christ. We see it through the lens of the gospel. This is good and true. There is no more compelling example of the embodied, all-consuming grace of God than this. And we call it saving grace.
But there is another manifestation of God’s grace present in the world at large. Classically, we refer to this as common grace. It’s distinct from saving grace, but it is grace just the same.
So, what do we mean by common grace?
We will look at the biblical context for common grace in a moment, but let’s first read a couple of scholarly quotes to help give us a general understanding of this doctrine.
Common grace curbs the destructive power of sin, maintains in a measure the moral order of the universe, thus making an orderly life possible, distributes in varying degrees gifts and talents among men, promotes the development of science and art, and showers untold blessings upon the children of men.1
LOUIS BERKHOF
Common grace, as an expression of the goodness of God, is e very favor, falling short of salvation, which this undeserving and sin-cursed world enjoys at the hand of God; this includes the delay of wrath, the mitigation of our sin-natures, natural events that lead to prosperity, and all gifts that human use and enjoy naturally.2
SAM STORMS
In short, there is no aspect of goodness on earth among unbelievers that is not the result of common grace.
And by “common,” we don’t mean that everyone gets the same amount or is affected in the same way. Instead, it means that this kind of grace is universally experienced throughout history across all people. In other words, God has always bestowed His graciousness on all people in all parts of the earth at all times.
Now, let’s go to the biblical context to see ways the common grace of God is evidenced in our world.
1. GOD SHOWS FAVOR TO ALL PEOPLE.
Throughout Scripture, we can note how God shows His grace to all of humanity, both generally and specifically, regardless of their relationship to Him (Gen. 39:4-5; Ps. 145:9; Acts 14:16-17). He gives people, even unbelievers, gifts, talents, blessings, and opportunities they’ve done nothing to deserve. He also exercises such influence that even the unsaved person is enabled to extend kindness, show generosity, and perform good deeds.
2. GOD RESTRAINS SIN.
Scripture records God directly intervening and restraining individuals from sinning (Gen. 20:1-6; 2 Thess. 2:3-7). And God continues to do that. If not, our world would spiral into total anarchy and lawlessness. But this kind of common grace is not exhaustive. Sin still abounds in our lives and world. And it’s not applied the same for all people. God can also release His hand of grace, allowing the evil hearts of people to do as they please.
3. GOD DEFERS JUDGMENT.
In exercising common grace, God not only restrains sin, He also defers the wrathful judgment that sin deserves (Rom. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:7-9). God has every right to bring immediate and total judgment upon the earth but instead exercises divine patience.
4. GOD BLESSES THE EARTH.
Not only do we see God’s common grace in the beauty of nature, we also see it in the way He abundantly blesses the earth and makes it habitable for us to live in (Ps. 65:9-10; 104:10-13).
In what ways have you experienced or witnessed these four forms of common grace? Consider how you experienced common grace in your life before you came to Christ. Think about how you’ve seen common grace displayed in the life of a loved one who doesn’t know Jesus. Consider the ways you see God’s common grace displayed in your community.
I don’t know what came to mind for you, but here are a few of the expressions of common grace I’ve experienced.
- Living in the United States and the ability to worship freely
- Being raised in a loving home with faithful, Christ-exalting parents (This might feel like an expression of saving grace, and it certainly formed my early faith life, but my parents’ faith doesn’t save me. It’s common grace, maybe specific to me, but common nonetheless.)
- Years of good health
- A great beach vacation or a gorgeous mountain vista; toes in the sand or crisp, cool air; I am grateful for God’s creation.
- The ability to read; it’s one of my favorite pastimes and so life-giving for me.
- Music: there’s not much that can relax or rejuvenate me like a great tune.
- God insulated me so tenderly in my high school and college years; great friends impacted me for the better and protected me from sinful influences.
The goodness of God is overwhelmingly seen in how He has extended common grace to the world. And aren’t we glad? What kind of world would we have to live in if God had not acted in this way? Our broken world is already a difficult place to live, but without common grace the darkness would be overwhelming. More particularly, your life and mine would be diminished, lacking the beauty and goodness we have personally experienced were it not for common grace.
But I’m even more thankful God didn’t limit His grace to what’s common, but that He offers a greater grace that redeems us so we might know Him personally and live with Him forever.
Want to keep learning about God’s grace? Check out another excerpt from The Melody of Grace Bible study.
Works Cited
- Louis Berkhof, “III. Common Grace,” Systematic Theology, 1949 edition, https://ccel.org/ccel/berkhof/systematictheology/systematictheology.vi.iii.html.
- Sam Storms, “The Goodness of Common Grace,” The Gospel Coalition, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/goodness-god-common-grace/.
About The Melody of Grace Bible Study
In this 7-session Bible study, Whitney Capps will examine passages throughout the Bible to explore the transformative power of grace. We’ll see how grace shows up in every season of our stories and is active in every area of our lives as followers of Christ. We’ll dive deep into the multifaceted beauty of God’s grace: grace that saves us, grace that grows us in Christ, and grace that sustains us through the darkest valleys. We’ll be reminded that grace is not only something we receive, but it’s something we extend. Come learn to receive grace fully, live it freely, and share it boldly, experiencing the sweet sound of grace as it flows through you.
