Learning Theological Terms: Common Grace

In the last post in this series, I explored the theological term adiaphora, and found how it refers to matters that are indifferent. In this post, I will unpack the theological concept of common grace. Although the term itself does not appear in Scripture, the truth that it conveys is well-grounded in Holy Writ. Wayne Grudem defines common grace as follows: Common grace is the grace of God by which he gives people innumerable blessings that are not part of salvation. 

(Grudem, W. (1994). Systematic Theology (p. 657). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.)

In other words, common grace refers to the many ways in which God bestows non-salvation grace to all people, whether they are among the Elect or not. Common grace is in contradistinction to saving grace - that is grace that is given only to the Elect by God to cause them to believe in Jesus.

We might say then that common grace is general, while saving grace is particular.  Examples of common grace would be air, food, clothing, talents and skills, physical beauty or attractiveness, material possessions, influence and respect, athletic ability, conscience, law and government, families, etc... These are blessings that God may give or withhold at His sovereign discretion, irrespective of whether or not the recipients ultimately believe the Gospel or not.

Scripture gives us a few examples of texts which teach common grace:

You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

(Matthew 5:43-45 NKJV)

While preaching in Iconium, Paul said,

[God] in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

(Acts 14:16-17 NKJV)

Paul, in preaching to the Athenians on Mars' Hill told them this:

God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 

(Acts 17:24-25 NKJV)

And these are just in the physical world. As noted earlier, there are many other ways in which God has given common grace to mankind. Conscience is an area where common grace can be seen. Even in a world in rebellion against God and His rule, typically speaking, even non-believing people we encounter on the street understand the difference between right and wrong in the abstract. To be sure, the Depravity of Man ensures that that sense of right and wrong is often warped and twisted, but it's there nevertheless. 

For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them, in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

(Romans 2:14-16 NKJV) 

As can be seen, God has given many manifold blessings to all of mankind. Indeed, the very fact that the human race is not immediately consumed because of sin, is itself an act of grace. While common grace does not save, it is nevertheless a vital aspect of God's dealings with the human race.