Grudem on Common Grace

This quote comes from an audio download of a lesson on Common Grace that Wayne Grudem teaches at Scottsdale Bible Church. This lesson, including many others, can be downloaded here.

Here is the quote:

Here's a quick way we can think about Common Grace. If you walk down Scottsdale Road, you see businesses, and cars, and people, and schools, and parks, and trees. If you walk down Scottsdale Road, everything that looks different from the fires of hell is a result of Common Grace. You see, the fires of hell is what the world deserves. (emphasis mine)

Grudem and Scottsdale Bible Church also provide a lesson outline which you can download as well. It looks like this:

Chapter 31: Common Grace

What are the undeserved blessings that God gives to all people, both believers and unbelievers?

I. Explanation and Scriptural Basis

A. Introduction: When people sin, they become worthy of eternal punishment and separation from God (Gen. 2:17; Rom. 6:23)

Angels experienced separation from God and from all good immediately: 2 Pet. 2:4
But Adam and Eve did not die and go to hell at once. Nor do people who sin today.

Why? How can God continue to give blessings to people who deserve only death and hell?
Answer: common grace

Def.: Common Grace is the grace of God by which he gives people innumerable blessings that are not part of salvation.

Common grace is different from saving grace in result, recipient, and source.

II. Examples of Common Grace

A. Physical Realm (Matt. 5:44-45; Acts 14:16-17; Gen. 39:5; Ps. 145:9, 15-16).

B. Intellectual Realm (John 1:9; Rom. 1:21; science and technology).
C. Moral Realm (Ps. 81:12; Rom. 1:32; 2:14-15; Luke 6:33; 2 Kings 12:2; warnings of final judgment).
D. Creative Realm.
E. Societal Realm (family – Gen. 5:4; government – Rom. 13:1, 4; other institutions).
F. Religious Realm (Matt. 5:44-45; 1 Tim. 2:1-2, 4; 4:10; Luke 4:40; 6:35-36; Matt. 7:22).
G. Common Grace and Special Grace Influence Each Other.
H. Common Grace Does Not Save People (Rom. 14:23; Matt. 22:37; cf. Rom. 2:4)

III. Reasons for Common Grace

A. To Redeem Those Who Will Be Saved (2 Pet. 3:9-10).
B. To Demonstrate God's Goodness and Mercy (Luke 6:35; Ps. 145:9; Mark 10:21; Ezek. 33:11).
C. To Demonstrate God's Justice (Rom. 2:5; 3:19).
D. To Demonstrate God's Glory.

IV. Our Response to the Doctrine of Common Grace

A. Common Grace Does Not Mean That Those Who Receive It Will Be Saved (Rom. 5:10; Eph. 2:3; Phil. 3:18-19).
B. We Must Be Careful Not to Reject the Good Things That Unbelievers Do as Totally Evil.
C. The Doctrine of Common Grace Should Stir Our Hearts to Much Greater Thankfulness to God.