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Common Grace v Specific Grace: September 2017
Perhaps the Boss's favourite careworker, a Roman Catholic, originally from the Philippines,(paraphrased) asked me, from my Reformed and Protestant theological view, what I thought happens to deceased persons that are outside of Jesus Christ.
I opined that common grace covers all of humanity, to various degrees, while in this realm...
From John Calvin:
CALVIN, JOHN (1599) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Printed at London by Arnold Hatfield, for Bonham Norton, Introduction by John Murray.
Book 2:Chapter 2: 17 segment,,,
The sum of the whole is this: From a general survey of the human race, it appears that one of the essential properties of our nature is reason, which distinguishes us from the lower animals, just as these by means of sense are distinguished from inanimate objects. For although some individuals are born without reason, that defect does not impair the general kindness of God, but rather serves to remind us, that whatever we retain ought justly to be ascribed to the Divine indulgence. Had God not so spared us, our revolt would have carried along with it the entire destruction of nature. In that some excel in acuteness, and some in judgment, while others have greater readiness in learning some peculiar art, God, by this variety commends his favour toward us, lest any one should presume to arrogate to himself that which flows from His mere liberality. For whence is it that one is more excellent than another, but that in a common nature the grace of God is specially displayed in passing by many and thus proclaiming that it is under obligation to none. We may add, that each individual is brought under particular influences according to his calling.
Example from Scripture
Many examples of this occur in the Book of Judges, in which the Spirit of the Lord is said to have come upon those whom he called to govern his people (Judges 6:34). In short, in every distinguished act there is a special inspiration.
An example from the New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Matthew 5:44-45
44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may [a]be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Footnotes: Matthew 5:45 Or show yourselves to be
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As common grace ends, Revelation 20 summarizes the culminated future post-mortem events, although in figurative literal terms, for those that reject the gospel.
Revelation 20:14-15
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if [a]anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Footnotes:
Revelation 20:15 Lit anyone was
Equated with having one's name in the book of life, is to have the atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ applied to one through grace through faith, not by good works, but for good works. (Ephesians 2).
I explained to the careworker (paraphrased) that to be in Christ means to trust in the gospel work for justification, sanctification and complete salvation alone, as opposed to trusting in, for example, the biblical, gospel work of Christ plus human works through the Roman Catholic Church, or Protestant churches, or Eastern Orthodox churches for salvation.
Human works of grace and faith, through Christian churches are a sign of embracing salvation, not means of salvation. (see Ephesians 1-2, James). These demonstrate that one is saved, but do not save in themselves.
So, someone is not simply saved by an intellectual belief in the gospel, but by being born from above, regenerated (John 3, Titus 3) being enlightened and transformed by the gospel leading to works within salvation.
Post-mortem, those outside of the saving work of Jesus Christ are post common grace and are as spirit cast into Hades (Luke 16) again using figurative literal language, and eventually the lake of fire (Revelation 20).
