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)
Without God's saving grace we are enemies of God. Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (NAU)
► C. Because we don't know we deserve God's wrath
Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? (NAU)
2 Corinthians 4:3--4 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (NAU)
► D. Because Satan wants to destroy mankind
We know this because Satan wanted to do even worse things to Job. Job 1:12 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him." So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD. (NAU) Job 2:6 So the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life." (NAU)
God's grace is restraining Satan from devastating the entire world. 2 Thessalonians 2:6--10 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. (NAU)
Matthew 24:21 "For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. (NAU)
► E. Because common grace makes saving grace possible
" 'in all things [his general providence] God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose [an act of his special providence]' (Rom. 8:28)." [2]
"A nineteenth-century agnostic and antagonist of Christianity, Robert Ingersoll, is reported to have shaken his fist toward the heavens and demanded, "If there is a God, I defy You to strike me dead." Why did God allow him to continue to breathe? Because of His common grace." [3]
Romans 2:4--6 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: (NAU)
► III. How Does God Display His Common Grace?
► A. Through the beauties of nature
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)
Psalm 19:1--4 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun, (NAU)
God is good to those who aren't good to Him. Acts 14:17 and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." (NAU)
Matthew 5:45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (NAU)
► B. Through the gift of life
Every breath we take is a gift from God. Psalm 145:9 The LORD is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works. (NAU) Psalm 145:15--16 The eyes of all look to You, And You give them their food in due time. 16 You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. (NAU)
► C. Through man's skill
Ecclesiastes 3:13 ... every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor--it is the gift of God. (NAU)
Ecclesiastes 5:19 Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. (NAU)
Unsaved people can be excellent musicians, writers, athletes, inventors, and artists just to name a few. Whether they know it or not, those abilities are gifts from God.
► D. By revealing His existence
Romans 10:17--18 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 18 But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have;[Ps.19:4] "THEIR VOICE HAS GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD." (NAU)
Romans 1:21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (NAU)
► E. By restraining sin
God's common grace delays the consequences of sin. Psalm 81:11--12 "But My people did not listen to My voice, And Israel did not obey Me. 12 "So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, To walk in their own devices. (NAU)
► F. By warning of judgment
Ezekiel 33:11 "Say to them, 'As I live!' declares the Lord GOD, 'I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?' (NAU)
"To despise the riches of God's grace is the blackest of all sins." Donald Barnhouse
► IV. How Should we Respond to God's Common Grace?
► A. We should praise God for every good thing
Every time we look at a cell phone, or hear about a new miracle drug, or see a sky scraper, we should praise God for His grace.
James 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. (NAU)
► B. We should imitate God's goodness to others
Luke 6:33--36 "If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 "If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 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. 36 "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (NAU)
We should be kind and generous to unsaved people because God created them and He is kind and generous to them. Matthew 5:44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (NAU)
Remember that Jesus healed every single person who came to Him. Jesus did not require a profession of faith or faith of any kind. As David said, Psalm 145:9 The LORD is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works. (NAU)
► C. We should ask God to bless the unsaved
1 Timothy 2:1--4 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (NAU)
We should never do or say anything to an unsaved person that would hinder them from hearing about God's saving grace from us.
CONCLUSION: Let me be clear, God's common grace does not get anyone into heaven. It can lead to saving grace ...the kindness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:4 NAU), but God's saving grace is only applied to a sinner when a person embraces it by faith: Romans 14:23 ...whatever is not from faith is sin. (NAU).
We are never nearer Christ than when we find ourselves lost in a holy amazement at His unspeakable love.
John Owen [4]
[1]Charles R. Swindoll and Roy B. Zuck, Understanding Christian Theology, 852 (Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003).
[2]Robert L. Reymond, A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith, 403 (Nashville: T. Nelson, 1998).
[3]Charles R. Swindoll and Roy B. Zuck, Understanding Christian Theology, 847 (Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003).
[4] I.D.E. Thomas, The Golden Treasury of Puritan Quotations, electronic ed., 175 (Simpsonville SC: Christian Classics Foundation, 1996).
