Does God Bless the Unbeliever?

This post is going to serve as my launching pad into part 5 of Dr. Wayne Grudem's book Systematic Theology entitled, "The Doctrine of the Application of Redemption".

This is a photograph that I shot in Washington D.C. this spring.  My wife and I were there running up and down the halls of the congress and the senate working to instill some critically necessary changes in the mortgage industry.  As we all know, that industry has gotten way out of control and needs some necessary legal restraints put in place to protect our country from ever bearing the tremendous financial burden of the sub-prime fiasco again.

When ever I am in Washington D.C. I can't help but consider the many blessings that God has provided for our nation.  This town is full of reminders of people and events that helped shape this incredibly blessed and rich nation.

The Bible tells us, in Romans 6:23, "...for the wages of sin is death".  It further tells us in Romans 3:23 that, "...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God".

This then begs the question, if we all fall short of the glory of God (we all sin) and the wages of sin is death, then why is it that God doesn't nuke us when we sin?  In particular, why aren't those opposed to God, and even more simply the unbelievers sent immediately packing on their way to hell when they sin?  Does God preserve blessings for the unbeliever and believer alike?   

Please read on for my notes on this topic from Dr. Wayne Grudem...

Audio link to Dr. Wayne Grudem on the subject of Common Grace from our Sunday School Class.

In the Garden of Eden, God told Adam in Genesis 2:17, "...you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die".  Adam sinned by being disobedient to God and became subject to eternal punishment and separation from God.  This is also true for us living thousands of years later.  When we sin (which we all do) we too come under God's wrath and are worthy of eternal punishment.

Peter tell us in 2 Peter 2:4, "For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment...".  As we can see, when the angels sinned God sent them immediately into hell. 

But yet when Adam and Eve sinned, and countless billions of their descendants afterwards sinned, we were not all cast into hell.  Clearly we all die, but generally speaking we all have equal access to many of God's blessings prior to our death.  Even Hitler enjoyed good food, good wine and many blessings that God has given to all. 

How can that be?  How can God give blessings to sinners who are worthy of death?  How can God give blessings to those who are ultimately saved, but also to those millions who will never be saved, whose sins (through Jesus Christ), I am sad to say,  will never be forgiven?

"The answer", says Grudem, "is Common Grace." 

From Systematic Theology:

"The word common here means something that is common to all people and is not restricted to believers or to the elect only.  In distinction from common grace, the grace of God that brings people to salvation is often called "saving grace".  Of course, when we talk about "common grace" and "saving grace" we are not implying that there are two different kinds of grace in God himself, but only that God's grace manifests itself in the world in two different ways.  Common grace is different from saving grace in its results (it does not bring about salvation), in its recipients (it is given to believers and unbelievers alike), and in it source (it does not directly flow from Christ's atoning work, since Christ's death did not earn any measure of forgiveness for unbelievers, and therefore did not merit the blessings of common grace for them either).  However, on this last point it should be said that common grace does flow indirectly from Christ's redemptive work, because the fact that God did not judge the world at once when sin entered it was primarily or perhaps exclusively due to the fact that He planned eventually to save some sinners through the death of His Son."

Let me see if I got this:

• All have sinned and are worthy of eternal separation from God.
• God, through His grace, postpones death and pours His loving grace and blessings upon all.
• Through Christ's atoning death, this grace includes a call to believe and come into a relationship with the living God which includes eternal life and spares us from eternal separation from God (hell).

Examples of Common Grace:

• The Physical Realm:
  • We live on a earth that provides nourishment and materials for our well being.  This world also includes incredible beauty for all to enjoy.  Certainly a blessing to all.
• The Intellectual Realm:
  • We have all been blessed with minds.  Some minds with incredible intelligence become further blessings to us all.  Stop for a minute to consider all the incredible things that man has created.  This is certainly a blessing to all.
• The Moral Realm:
  • God has given us all a conscience.  He has stamped His moral law in our hearts.  We are all born with a sense of what is right and wrong.  Generally speaking, in our societies, if we work hard and live a generally moral life, we will see blessing.  Without this moral stamp in our hearts can you imagine what life would be like?  Imagine everyone doing exactly what they want, when they want.  No laws to follow.  No moral code whatsoever.  It would be chaos.  Certainly this is a blessing to all.
• The Creative Realm:
  • Think about all the music and artistic abilities that exist.  Think of Bach, Beethoven, and Rembrandt.  Think of all the beautiful expressions of artistic abilities that exist whether from believers or unbelievers.  Certainly this is an incredible blessing to us all.
• The Societal Realm:
  • Think of the various organizations and structures that we have in this world.  First and foremost we have the structure of the family.  Imagine not being part of a family?  Look at the structure of government.  In spite of all its shortcomings, look around the world at those lands who don't have good working governments.  Here the United States in incredibly blessed.  Think about hospital, educational institutions, businesses, corporations, voluntary services.  All of these things are certainly a blessing to all.
• The Religious Realm:
  • History is full of God's grace to the unbelieving.  Christ healed many people without any directive that they first believe.  When tyrants stand over people and are ultimately defeated, certainly all benefit from this grace.  Were believers of Christ the only ones to benefit from the destruction of Hitler?  Certainly not...we all benefit from the answered prayers of believing Christians to the living God.
• Common Grace and Special Grace Influence each other:
  • Common grace and the skills of carpenters, publishers, computer companies and many more skills benefit the church.  Bibles would not be printed and published without common grace.  Certainly not all involved are believers of Jesus Christ.  On the other hand, God's special grace to believers brings blessing to those living in the influence of the church.  Certainly the true church brings blessing to the communities and all those around.  This special relationship is certainly a blessing to all.

Common Grace Does Not Save People:

• From Systematic Theology:
  • "In spite of all of this, we must realize that common grace is different from saving grace.  Common grace does not change the human heart or bring people to genuine repentance and faith --  it cannot and does not save people (though in the intellectual and moral sphere it can give some preparation to make people more disposed toward accepting the gospel).  Common grace restrains sin but does not change anyone's foundational disposition to sin, nor does it in any significant measure purify fallen human nature."

Reasons for Common Grace:

• To redeem those who will be saved.
  • 2 Peter 3:9-10, "The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.  But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that [day] the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed."
• To demonstrate God's goodness and mercy.
  • Psalm 145:9, "The Lord is good to everyone; His compassion [rests] on all He has made."
  • Ezekiel 33:11, "Tell them:  As I live"-the declaration of the Lord GOD - "I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn away from his way and live.  Repent, repent of your evil ways!..."
• To demonstrate God's justice:
  • Romans 2:5, "But because of your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God's righteous judgment is revealed."
  • Romans 3:19, "...so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God's judgment."  No one will be able to object that God has been unjust.  All will see His grace, love and holiness.
• To demonstrate God's Glory:
  • From Systematic Theology:
    • "Finally, God's glory is shown in many ways by the activities of human beings in all the areas by which common grace is operative.  In developing and exercising dominion over the earth men and women demonstrate and reflect the wisdom of their Creator, demonstrate God-like qualities of skill and moral virtue and authority over the universe, and so forth.  Though all of these activities are tainted by sinful motives, they nonetheless reflect the excellence of our Creator and therefore bring glory to God, mot fully or perfectly, but nonetheless significantly."

Three points to keep in mind regarding the Doctrine of Common Grace:

• Common Grace does not mean that those who receive it will be saved.
• We must be careful not to reject the good things that unbelievers do as totally evil.
• The Doctrine of Common Grace should stir our hearts to much greater thankfulness to God.

To be honest, I have never really given this subject any thought.  It seems very easy to go on about ones life and take so many things for granted.  I also understand that to come to an understanding of this doctrine you must have agreement on many other things first.  Humans don't like the idea of sin, or that we are all sinners.  Likewise, the idea of hell is not a popular doctrine either. 

However, my challenge to the 90% of Americans who claim to believe in God, if that is so, if you really do believe in God, then take it upon yourself to the serious study of His word.  I think that you, like me, will find that many of your beliefs and understandings will be challenged. 

I am not certain whether I am going to agree with everything that Dr. Grudem serves up.  I can say with confidence, however, that I trust his heart and his hard work and I will certainly follow his path in this book and ask the Holy Spirit to guide me and bring me wisdom and truth.

To my sons, family, friends and anyone else reading these words, it is my fervent hope that you will do likewise.