Grace for All

Grace for All

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14

Recommended Reading
Acts 14:14-17

Christians are very familiar with the grace of God--it is a staple of the biblical diet upon which we are nourished. But non-Christians have received the grace of God as well. Why? Because God's gift (His grace) is extended to every person on earth in a general sense. There is general grace for temporal life and there is saving grace for eternal life.

What is general grace? It's what Paul and Barnabas described to the crowd at Lystra: "rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness" (Acts 14:17b). In other words, everything we take for granted in our world is a result of the grace of God: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17a). But there is also the specific grace--the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:14, 17). It is that grace-gift that awakens in man the need for salvation. General grace causes us to think of God (Romans 1:19-20), but specific grace causes us to call upon Him.

You have already received God's general grace. Be sure to receive His saving grace in Christ as well.

Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Paul the Apostle