“Our Gracious God” (The New City Catechism #27)

In the 14^th question and answer of the catechism we discover the biblically accurate teaching that because of Adam’s sin “we are all born in sin and guilt, corrupt in our nature and unable to keep God’s law.” In other words, we are all lost. It is this reality that leads to a good question asked in question #27: “Are all people, just as they were lost through Adam, saved through Christ?”

Here is the answer given: “No, only those who are elected by God and united to Christ by faith. Nevertheless, God in his mercy demonstrates common grace even to those who are not elect, by restraining the effects of sin and enabling works of culture for human well-being.”

Here we learn two important truths, each about a different aspect of God’s grace.   

God Saves By Sovereign Effective Grace

Though it is God’s moral will that all repent and turn to his salvation (Acts 17:30) and this is the only way to be saved (Acts 4:12), he has not ordained that all will trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation (Mt. 22:44; 1 Pt. 2:8). People are saved because God has chosen them (Rom. 8:29; Col. 3:12) and therefore they trust Christ as Savior (Acts 13:48). In trusting Christ, they are united to him (Rom. 6:1-5). Not one of those whom God has chosen and given to the Son and for whom the Son died will be lost (John 6:37, 39; 10:15, 27-30). God exercises what some call sovereign effective grace in the lives of those whom he has chosen.

God Displays Common Grace To Those Who Are Not Elect.

God displays undeserved blessings (e.g. kindnesses, sunshine, rain, etc. Mt. 5:45; Rom. 2:4) upon those whom he has not chosen to save, but whom he has ordained that he would let them stay in their sin. Common grace is the “[undeserved favor] of God by which he gives people innumerable blessings that are not part of salvation.” (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology) The word “common” speak of what all people experience.

Specifically, what the answer focuses on are two aspects of common grace. First, even though we can look around at the world and see that it is extremely evil and painful, the effects of sin are not as bad as they could be. Even the worst of sinners could always be worse and besides, there are many unsaved people who do good things that benefit others (e.g. unsaved teachers, physicians, dentists, mechanics, engineers, carpenters, farmers, business owners, etc.).

Related is the aspect of common grace whereby people are enabled by God to bring order in the world in such a way that life can be more enjoyable and involves people flourishing. Consider just one example, the way God has graciously enabled humans to have some control over water—in irrigation of fields that would otherwise be too dry to grow crops, over areas that would normally flood and can be protected, and through digging wells such that people who would normally be without, can have fresh, clean water for drinking and washing.

Though the unsaved will not typically give thanks to God for every good gift that comes from him (James 1:17), the saved are called regularly to give him continual thanks (e.g. Col. 3:15-17).

Enjoying God’s Grace With You,

Tom