Common Grace as a Means of Gospel Preparation and Evangelism
The concept of "common grace" is not explicitly named in Scripture, but the broader idea of "grace" is central to biblical teaching, referring to God's unmerited favor and kindness [5]. The term "gospel" signifies "good news" or "good message," specifically the message of salvation preached by Jesus and his followers [2]. While "common grace" itself is a theological construct, the Bible describes various ways God's grace extends to all humanity, which can be understood as preparing hearts for the gospel message.
Grace, in its general sense, encompasses God's gifts freely bestowed, including spiritual blessings and even natural endowments [5, 6]. The gospel itself is described as exhibiting the grace of God and bringing life and immortality to light through Jesus [7]. The apostle Paul, for instance, recognized that his ability to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles was due to God's grace [3, 4, 9].
The idea that God's general benevolence can prepare individuals for the gospel is reflected in various biblical themes. For example, God's patience and long-suffering, even towards those who reject Him, can be seen as a form of common grace, providing opportunity for repentance. While the specific phrase "common grace as a means of gospel preparation" is a theological interpretation, the Bible does show God's active involvement in the world beyond direct salvation. The "means of grace" are traditionally understood as institutions ordained by God for spiritual benefit, such as the Word, sacraments, and prayer [1]. However, in a broader sense, these means can include any exercise that leads to spiritual blessing, like hearing the gospel or Christian conversation [1].
The Bible also illustrates instances where God allows people to experience the consequences of their choices, sometimes "handing them over" to their desired deceptions, which can serve as a stark contrast to the truth of the gospel [8]. Conversely, God's general goodness and the natural order can lead people to acknowledge a divine creator, thus laying a groundwork for understanding the gospel's message of redemption. The glory of God's grace is exhibited in the acceptance of believers in Christ [6].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Grace, means of — An expression not used in Scripture, but employed (1) to denote those institutions ordained by God to be the ordinary channels of grace to the souls of men. These are the Word, Sacraments, and Prayer. (2.) But in popular language the expression is used in a wider sense to denote those exercises in which we engage for the purpose of obtaining spiritual blessing; as hearing the gospel, reading the Word, meditation, self-examination, Christian conversation, etc.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Gospel — A word of Anglo-Saxon origin, and meaning "God's spell", i.e., word of God, or rather, according to others, "good spell", i.e., good news. It is the rendering of the Greek evangelion, i.e., "good message." It denotes (1) "the welcome intelligence of salvation to man as preached by our Lord and his followers. (2.) It was afterwards transitively applied to each of the four histories of our Lord's life, published by those who are therefore called Evangelists', writers of the history of the gospel (the evangelion). (3.) The term is often used to express collecti”
- Ephesians “Ephesians 3:8 (LITV) — This grace was given to me, less than the least of all the saints, to proclaim the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ among the nations,”
- Romans “Romans 15:16 (Geneva1599) — That I should be the minister of Iesus Christ toward the Gentiles, ministring the Gospel of God, that the offering vp of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the holy Ghost.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Grace — (1.) Of form or person (Prov. 1:9; 3:22; Ps. 45:2). (2.) Favour, kindness, friendship (Gen. 6:8; 18:3; 19:19; 2 Tim. 1:9). (3.) God's forgiving mercy (Rom. 11:6; Eph. 2:5). (4.) The gospel as distinguished from the law (John 1:17; Rom. 6:14; 1 Pet. 5:12). (5.) Gifts freely bestowed by God; as miracles, prophecy, tongues (Rom. 15:15; 1 Cor. 15:10; Eph. 3:8). (6.) Christian virtues (2 Cor. 8:7; 2 Pet. 3:18). (7.) The glory hereafter to be revealed (1 Pet. 1:13).”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Grace — God is the God of all -- 1Pe 5:10. God is the Giver of -- Ps 84:11; Jas 1:17. God's throne, the throne of -- Heb 4:16. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of -- Zec 12:10; Heb 10:29. Was upon Christ -- Lu 2:40; Joh 3:24. Christ spoke with -- Ps 45:2; Lu 4:22. Christ was full of -- Joh 1:14. Came by Christ -- Joh 1:17; Ro 5:15. Given by Christ -- 1Co 1:4. Foretold by the prophets -- 1Pe 1:10. Riches of, exhibited in God's kindness through Christ -- Eph 2:7. Glory of, exhibited in our acceptance in Christ -- Eph 1:6. Is described as Great. -- Ac 4:33. Sovereign. -- R”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Gospel, The — Is good tidings of great joy for all people -- Lu 2:10,11,31,32. Foretold -- Isa 41:27; 52:7; 61:1-3; Mr 1:15. Preached under the old testament -- Heb 4:2. Exhibits the grace of God -- Ac 14:3; 20:32. The knowledge of the glory of God is by -- 2Co 4:4,6. Life and immortality are brought to light by Jesus through -- 2Ti 1:10. Is the power of God to salvation -- Ro 1:16; 1Co 1:18; 1Th 1:5. Is glorious -- 2Co 4:4. Is everlasting -- 1Pe 1:25; Re 14:6. Preached by Christ -- Mt 4:23; Mr 1:14. Ministers have a stewardship to preach -- 1Co 9:17. Preached before”
- 2 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Thessalonians 2:11: 2:11 As seen elsewhere in Scripture (Exod 9:12; 2 Chr 18:22), God sometimes hands people over to the power of the sin or deception they have desired in place of the truth (Rom 1:24, 26, 28; 11:8).”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 15:10: But by the grace of God I am what I am,.... As he was what he was by the grace of God in a private capacity, upon a level with other Christians, being a chosen vessel of salvation, not by works, nor on account of faith, or any holiness of his, but by grace; being regenerated, called, sanctified, justified, pardoned, and adopted by it; being a believer in Christ through faith, as a gift of God's grace, and having a good hope of eternal glory the same way; so he was what he was, as a minister of the Gospel, as an apostle, as in that high office purely by the gra”