Is Grace Common?

A Brief Examination of a Popular Doctrine

Preface

The purpose of this essay is to examine the popularly held teaching referred to as Common Grace doctrine. I advocated this teaching for many years as biblical doctrine that promoted both the sovereignty and the glory of God in creation and salvation. I confess however, never really bothering to examine the teaching in any great detail, but just assumed it was true on the authority of many advocates. I viewed some texts used by well-known theologians and preachers in the church promoting the doctrine, superficially, without really considering them regarding the overall scheme of redemption, not to mention certain contextual considerations surrounding them. Originally, the basic idea of common grace seemed compatible with Scripture, at least the way I understood it. Although the phrase ‘Common Grace’ nowhere appears in Scripture, an implied reference to it is in certain verses, that on the surface corroborate the validity of the concept.

God’s Covenant, Part 16 – Covenant Promises(s)

4-The Promise of Unconditional Grace

At the point man broke the original covenant relationship, thereby incurring its promised curse, God began to show an intention toward redemption of the creature bearing His image. This intention to redeem is the higher and greater purpose of God’s eternal counsel within the Godhead, regarding mankind and the world, for if it were not, then the original covenant would certainly appear to be a complete failure. Man had the opportunity of freedom as well as enjoyment of His Creator, but when he failed to keep it, God intervened with a new covenant arrangement, else, the relationship would forever cease. What occurred in the garden should be sufficient proof to show every son of Adam that it could be no different with them if put to the same test, for they would end in the same position as he, lost and bound for ruin unless God reached out to save them.

The Doctrines of Grace

Preface

After completing an essay on the Protestant principle of grace alone, I feel it necessary at this time to expand on the theme of the doctrine of grace. In the previous essay my purpose was to show what took place during the Reformation in correcting certain errors that had crept into the ancient church on the relationship of works and grace in salvation. Also, my purpose was to give an account of how the principle of grace alone has devolved since the Reformation.

 Good and Evil

Preface

The following paper is comprised from a number of thoughts I have been dwelling upon of late, all of which are related to the sovereignty of God and the freedom of man. These thoughts followed a study I undertook recently of an exposition from the Book of Romans, chapters nine through eleven. This particular exposition was actually a series of sermons preached by Dr. Herman Hoeksema[1] many years ago on this text. The original reason for my interest in this portion of Scripture was actually concerning something other than what is contained in this paper. I was studying this section of Scripture out of an interest in resolving in my mind exactly what the apostle Paul meant when he said in chapter eleven “And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” (Rom. 11:26,27). My primary interest was in God’s covenant, especially since I have been writing on the subject.[2]