Common Grace: God's Favor On All People Series

Purpose: To explain how God's demonstrates His grace to all.

Aim: I want the listener to marvel at God's goodness and never take it for granted.

INTRODUCTION: When we think about God's grace our minds usually go to John Newton's words: "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me." Today we are going to look at a different aspect of God's grace. God has a grace that saves us, but He also has a grace that He shows to everyone--whether they will go to heaven or not. It is called common grace.

Donald Grey Barnhouse writes correctly, "You are not a believer in Christ and yet you are still out of hell. That is the grace of God. You are not in hell, but you are on earth in good health and prosperity. That is the common grace of God. The vast majority of those who read these words are living in comfortable homes or apartments. That is common grace. You are not fleeing as refugees along the highways of a country desolated by war. That is common grace. You come home from your job and your child runs to meet you in good health and spirits. That is common grace. You are able to put your hand in your pocket and give the child a quarter or a half dollar for an allowance. It is common grace that you have such abundance. You go into your house and sit down to a good meal. That is common grace. On the day that you read these words there are more than a billion and a half members of the human race who will go to sleep without enough to satisfy their hunger, the fact that you have enough is common grace. You do not deserve it. And if you think that you do deserve anything at all from God beyond the wrath which you have so richly earned, you merely show your ignorance of spiritual principles."

► I. What is God's Common Grace?

John 1:9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. (NAU)

Common grace: God's undeserved favor on all people.

► A. God blesses mankind regardless of their sin

Luke 6:35 "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. (NAU)

"Every human has been graced by God with the sense of sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Even though the world is under the curse of sin, it is replete with opportunities to enjoy viewing the power of Niagara Falls, the massive depth and colors of the Grand Canyon, or the quiet, fragile beauty of the Olympic National Rain Forest. How pleasant it is to enjoy the soft touch of a baby's hand. And who does not enjoy the aroma and taste of culinary delights?" [1]

► B. God often blesses the wicked because of believers

Genesis 39:5 It came about that from the time he made him overseer in his house and over all that he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house on account of Joseph; thus the LORD'S blessing was upon all that he owned, in the house and in the field. (NAU)

Jeremiah 29:7 'Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.' (NAU)

► II. Why Do We Need God's Common Grace?

► A. Because all sin will be punished

Romans 1:18--20 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (NAU)

► B. Because we all deserve God's wrath

Romans 3:10--18 as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; 12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE." 13 "THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING," "THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS"; 14 "WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS"; 15 "THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, 16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS, 17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN." 18 "THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES." (NAU)