Common Error (Pt. 3)

Now the matter of Matthew 5:43-48, which is used as one of the major Scriptural proponents for common grace or unlimited atonement; this is a sticky area for me. Admittedly, there is no direct application within the passage referring to common grace or divine forbearance; it is indeed applicable to both. The thrust of the passage, however, is not whom the sun rises or the rain falls on but rather it is verse 48, “You therefore must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Thus treating individuals in the same manner whether they by wicked or righteous, friend or foe.

Thus to say it is common grace that the sun rises and falls on the wicked is similar to say God in his divine forbearance allows the sun to rise and rain to fall on all, but they are not the same.

“But this is grace.” Might be your first thought, to which I would respond, “Is it?” For if grace is an undeserved gift and divine forbearance is waiting while looking to justice then they are indeed two very different things. While one is a complete gift the other is apart of a divine plan, within which glory will be had.

Lastly, the idea of grace being bought for all who ever lived as opposed to those elect cheapens the grace given and, quite frankly, spits in the hand of the giver. For a gift that is given to only a few is a much more treasured gift, but a gift that is bought at Wal-Mart with a thousand others just like it is often forgotten in some remote corner of a toy box… Do you see what I mean? To say Jesus died to give all men a choice is to say Jesus died to give you a Hot Wheels car – cheap plastic.

The juxtaposition is clear. Either he died to save the elect or he died to give all men grace.

You cannot have both, either Christ died to purchase grace for believers or he died to give all men grace. For either it is expensive grace (i.e. treasurable grace) or cheap grace (common grace), it cannot be expensively cheap grace. Why not? Because the purpose of creation is the glory of God (so says Scripture) and as such it is necessarily important that God receives glory, which is not what cheap grace does. For cheap grace is the means by which the lost live in unrepentant sin. Whereas saving grace is that which leads to repentance and the transformation of lives.