Common Grace as opposed to Saving Grace

[praise_yeshua]

John Calvin sought to distance the goodness of God in all of humanity by fabricating the concepts of "saving grace" vs what he classified as "common grace". The Scriptures never teach such a distinction.

For example. The Scriptures declare....

Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

God's Grace was shown forth in the very Incarnation of Jesus Christ.

Paul taught that the Grace of God has appeared to all men.
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Paul also taught that God subjected all of creation together in hope.

Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Thus establishing God's Grace through all of creation.

Paul appealed to God's Grace for all of humanity. Not just a few.

Act 14:17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

Paul taught that this Grace leads men to repentance.
Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Nature itself cycles from Grace to judgement. Grace to judgment. Nature reflects the endless Grace of God and coming death of all things throughout all the seasons of our lives.

 

[civic]

Great topic and as I like to say ole calvie boy made a distinction without a difference fallacy with grace. They do the same with Jesus and drawing in john 6 while leaving out John 12 with all men will be drawn not some. The gospel is for all, everyone without exception, the same with the atonement in 1 John 2:2 and John 3:16. Ans as you astutely pointed out with grace.

As we can see the truth above all fits together just like pieces of a puzzle in perfect harmony.

 

[Rockson]

Paul taught that this Grace leads men to repentance.
Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

And something to consider. If Paul believed God had to put in man irresistible grace to not despise God's goodness and forbearance then why is he even making this a question in the verse above?

Seems to me Paul is saying anyone who hears the gospel of God's grace they HAVE the capacity to not despise it. If they didn't there would be no need to ask the question. Paul would have said rather,

Well I see some of you are despising God's grace......of course I know it's because God has not imparted within you irresistible grace......

But Paul didn't say that. He implied everyone can yield to God's goodness.

 

[praise_yeshua]

And something to consider. If Paul believed God had to put in man irresistible grace to not despise God's goodness and forbearance then why is he even making this a question in the verse above?

Seems to me Paul is saying anyone who hears the gospel of God's grace they HAVE the capacity to not despise it. If they didn't there would be no need to ask the question. Paul would have said rather,

Well I see some of you are despising God's grace......of course I know it's because God has not imparted within you irresistible grace......

But Paul didn't say that. He implied everyone can yield to God's goodness.

Absolutely!

 

[civic]

And something to consider. If Paul believed God had to put in man irresistible grace to not despise God's goodness and forbearance then why is he even making this a question in the verse above?

Seems to me Paul is saying anyone who hears the gospel of God's grace they HAVE the capacity to not despise it. If they didn't there would be no need to ask the question. Paul would have said rather,

Well I see some of you are despising God's grace......of course I know it's because God has not imparted within you irresistible grace......

But Paul didn't say that. He implied everyone can yield to God's goodness.

Great point brother !

 

[Obadiah]

Here's a little definition of common Grace. It sounds about the same way RC Sproul explains it.

Common Grace

I mentioned earlier that unregenerate people are totally depraved but not necessarily as bad as they could be. What keeps them from the worst sins is God’s common grace. Common grace is any blessing of God that does not save a person from sin. Theologians distinguish common grace from special grace, or saving grace. I don’t know of any place in English translations of Scripture where grace is used this way; that word almost always refers to redemptive blessing. So, I would prefer that this concept be called common love or common favor to avoid confusion. But common grace is the standard terminology at the moment.

God does restrain sinners, keeping them from doing all the evil that they would like to do (as in Gen. 4:15; 11:6; 20:6; 2 Kings 19:27–28; Job 1:12; 2:6). The result is that unbelievers, unregenerate people, often do things that are good in a sense (2 Kings 10:29, 31; 12:2; Luke 6:33; 11:13). This goodness is a relative goodness, compared with other things that these people might be doing. It is not good in the fullest sense, which involves the right goal, standard, and motive, but it is good in that the deed externally conforms to Scripture and is somehow helpful to society rather than harmful (hence the term civic righteousness). Scripture even speaks of gifts of the Holy Spirit given to people who are ultimately lost (Heb. 6:4–8). Judas preached Christ and worked miracles in his name (Matt. 10:1–42).

So, total depravity does not mean that unbelievers can do no good in any sense. What it does mean is that apart from grace they cannot please God (Rom. 8:8).


John M. Frame, Salvation Belongs to the Lord: An Introduction to Systematic Theology

 

[praise_yeshua]

Here's a little definition of common Grace. It sounds about the same way RC Sproul explains it.

Common Grace

I mentioned earlier that unregenerate people are totally depraved but not necessarily as bad as they could be. What keeps them from the worst sins is God’s common grace. Common grace is any blessing of God that does not save a person from sin. Theologians distinguish common grace from special grace, or saving grace. I don’t know of any place in English translations of Scripture where grace is used this way; that word almost always refers to redemptive blessing. So, I would prefer that this concept be called common love or common favor to avoid confusion. But common grace is the standard terminology at the moment.

God does restrain sinners, keeping them from doing all the evil that they would like to do (as in Gen. 4:15; 11:6; 20:6; 2 Kings 19:27–28; Job 1:12; 2:6). The result is that unbelievers, unregenerate people, often do things that are good in a sense (2 Kings 10:29, 31; 12:2; Luke 6:33; 11:13). This goodness is a relative goodness, compared with other things that these people might be doing. It is not good in the fullest sense, which involves the right goal, standard, and motive, but it is good in that the deed externally conforms to Scripture and is somehow helpful to society rather than harmful (hence the term civic righteousness). Scripture even speaks of gifts of the Holy Spirit given to people who are ultimately lost (Heb. 6:4–8). Judas preached Christ and worked miracles in his name (Matt. 10:1–42).

So, total depravity does not mean that unbelievers can do no good in any sense. What it does mean is that apart from grace they cannot please God (Rom. 8:8).


John M. Frame, Salvation Belongs to the Lord: An Introduction to Systematic Theology

There are several things I disagree with in this post. God Grace is always about salvation. God is good to all of humanity. God has chosen such as a witness to Himself. As referenced above....

Act 14:17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

One thing I do agree with is "God does restrain sinners".......

However, it is important to understand just how God does such. He does so via the various witnesses of His Grace. Also, the innate conconcussioness within man that seeks to learn of his surroundings leads man to a "head on" collision with God's Grace.

 

[Obadiah]

Seems like the author is not too crazy about the term "Common Grace"

So, I would prefer that this concept be called common love or common favor to avoid confusion. But common grace is the standard terminology at the moment. John M. Frame

 

[Obadiah]

I do have a question if anybody cares to comment. What do you think is holding sin back in this day and age? What's keeping the world from becoming like it was before the flood? From not becoming as bad as it could be? Is it the Holy Spirit? That makes more sense to me then common Grace.

 

[praise_yeshua]

I do have a question if anybody cares to comment. What do you think is holding sin back in this day and age? What's keeping the world from becoming like it was before the flood? From not becoming as bad as it could be? Is it the Holy Spirit? That makes more sense to me then common Grace.

The Spirit of God expresses Grace to humanity. If you want my opinion, it includes emotion. For example, love is innate to humanity. Sinners love their own. Love has its origins in God. It is an emotional connection. Love comes forth from Grace.

 

[Behold]

John Calvin sought to distance the goodness of God in all of humanity by fabricating the concepts of "saving grace" vs what he classified as "common grace".

Yes.

Calvin liked to create "false distinctions" so that he could deny the Truth, entirely.

For example.. God said that Jesus came to the World, for us ALL... to offer Salvation to everyone = ... in John 3:16, and Jesus said the same..
= ." Jesus Came into the world to save SINNERS"...

John Calvinism said...>"ummm no GOD, you got it WRONG...let me show you GOD, how to SEE IT..... = """You only sent Jesus for the pre-chosen, before they were born..(elect)..."Ok God"...?? "See it now God"?/

A..) God is not a Calvinist = John 3;16

And "the cult of mary" does a lot of this also.....for example they have classifications for sin..

"Venial" vs "mortal".......for example.

They teach "state of Grace" as if this is turned on and off like a Light switch., based on your behavior., as if you control God's Grace by your performing some religious lifestyle that they deem as worthy or not.

 

[Azriel]

I do have a question if anybody cares to comment. What do you think is holding sin back in this day and age? What's keeping the world from becoming like it was before the flood? From not becoming as bad as it could be? Is it the Holy Spirit? That makes more sense to me then common Grace.

The world is not as evil as it could be – for one reason – the One Who restrains evil, so how does the Holy Spirit restrain evil in the world?

Read more: https://www.whatchristianswanttokno...rit-restrain-evil-in-the-world/#ixzz8FBcvSFKy

 

[Behold]

The world is not as evil as it could be – for one reason – the One Who restrains evil, so how does the Holy Spirit restrain evil in the world?

2 ways..

God is good all the time,.

God is love, and that means, you can still find it down here.

Reader, the only reason that Good exists, and Grace exists and healing exists, and love exists, and peace exists, and hope exists, and comfort exists, and forgiveness exists, and TRUTH exists, is because GOD is all those things, and more, and so, we are still able to encounter GOD's Goodness, in this world..
And so do the UNBELIEVERS.