Common Grace
Civic Righteousness
Grace · 5 verses
Common grace enables unregenerate persons to perform acts of relative righteousness in the civil sphere—acts that benefit society and reflect remnants of the divine image, though falling short of true spiritual goodness. These civic virtues, while commendable in their external manifestation, remain tainted by sin's corruption and cannot merit divine favor or contribute to salvation.
Scripture References
“For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)”
“And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.”
“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.”
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
“The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”