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| Vancouver rooftop, 5:30 am. The gold light and blue sky is pretty accurate. |
Monergism.com 2017
Cited:
Common Grace is a theological concept, primarily in Reformed and Calvinistic circles, referring to God’s common patience or forbearance with sinful man ... the non-saving sustaining grace of God that is common to all humankind. It is “common” because its benefits are experienced by, or intended for, the whole human race without distinction between one person and another. It is "grace" because it is undeserved and sovereignly bestowed by God.
In this sense, it is distinguished from the Calvinistic understanding of "special" or "saving" grace, which extends only to those whom God has chosen to redeem. An example of the concept can be found in the idea that God allows the sun to shine upon both the righteous and the unrighteous and sends rain on both the just and unjust.
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Common grace v. Specific grace
In particular with recent hell ponderings, I have been praying and reasoning on common grace versus specific grace, which is my synonymous theological term for special grace or saving grace.
I was reasoning specific grace as in specifically for those chosen in Jesus Christ for salvation, justification, sanctification through the applied atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ, through the trinue God. It is not a grace for those outside of the trinue God, Jesus Christ and his gospel work.
This is biblically and theological orthodox as is my limited free will PhD terminology.
However, to be clear, I certainly agree with Reformed theological concepts of common grace versus special and salvific grace. My attempts at theological reasoning, thankfully remain within biblical orthodoxy.
Every human being receives common grace in this temporal life. Whereas only those chosen in Jesus Christ, receive specific grace.
Very non-exhaustive examples of what would require specific grace (special/salvific grace).
John 3: To be born again.
Ephesians 1-2: To be chosen in Jesus Christ by grace through faith, alone, not by good works, but for good work (s).
Romans 1-3: To receive the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ and be legally justified.
Romans 8: To be predestined to be conformed to the image of God the Son.
1 Corinthians: The resurrection of those in Jesus Christ.
Titus 3: Regeneration.
Hebrews 8-10: To be within the new covenant.
I John: To receive the applied atoning work of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 20: To have one's name written in the book of life.
Revelation 20-22: In resurrection to inherit everlasting life in the new heaven and new earth.
Separately, from the negative:
(To avoid hell1 (Hades) and hell2 (the lake of fire). This is post-mortem, disembodied and resurrection states, respectively.)
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| Vancouver rooftop, 5:30 am. The orange clock (trees) is more accurate. |
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