Titus 2:11-12; Acts 17:25-28

On the question of God’s enabling grace let us consider …

·        The value of common grace. 

o   Rom. 1:18-20:  Knowledge of creation cannot save us.  Rather it reveals the fact and character of the Creator as well as man’s guilty situation in that he has not sought out the Creator nor lived in a way to please Him.  People are without excuse, a prerequisite truth for faith in Christ.

o   Rom. 2:14-15: The conscience of every individual reveals God’s law and tells the individual he is guilty before God.  Again, this is a necessary truth in calling the unbeliever to seek God.

o   Acts 14:17: Paul spoke of rain and fruitful seasons as a testimony to the Creator.  This goodness that is part of the call to repentance (Rom. 2:4).

o   Acts 17:25-28: On Mars Hill Paul spoke of the Creator who gives life, breath and all things to mankind.  The Creator made mankind and put him in his dwelling places so he would seek out his Maker.  Paul understood this truth to be useful to the Spirit in drawing men to Christ.

o   Psalm 19:1-6: The Psalmist spoke of the powerful sermon in the sky, speaking of the sun in its daily course.  Let us be clear: this common grace cannot save anyone but it leaves man without excuse if he fails to seek out the Creator.  God uses this to draw men in some way.

·        The nature of God’s enabling grace.

o   Rom. 11:5-6; Eph. 1:4; 2 Tim. 1:9; 1 Peter 1:2: God is at work in man’s salvation before man himself begins to consider the gospel.  Romans speaks of the election of grace.  If we hold to the definition of grace as God’s favor, this says He is showing His favor in a choice (Strong’s definition is: the act of picking out, choosing).  Ephesians and 2 Timothy indicate that God is doing this before time began.  Peter speaks of this election as being according to foreknowledge.  The nature of this forethought is debated.  Some say God knew beforehand who would believe; others maintain that God knew no one would believe; and others maintain that foreknowledge is active, a force in drawing men to Christ.  The point is that God was at work before the foundation of the world.

We have no thought that we are ending the discussion.  We acknowledge disagreement but also acknowledge that both sides seek to satisfy Scripture.  The question is this: is it possible to serve alongside someone who has the same deep love for Scripture but a different interpretation on this issue?  Is this a necessary issue?  Are we winning an argument or promoting godly edification which is in faith (1 Tim. 1:4)?  Good discussion can be very profitable; but divisiveness has no place in the Body of Christ (Titus 1:9-11).  Consider these matters and tomorrow we will conclude this discussion with an amazing list of things we can count on from God in graciously enabling a person to come to Christ.