Common Grace
Restraint of Sin
Grace · 5 verses
Through common grace, God mercifully restrains the full manifestation of human depravity, preventing society from descending into absolute chaos and enabling civil order to persist. This divine restraint operates through conscience, human government, social structures, and providential circumstances, holding back the floodgates of wickedness until the appointed time.
Scripture References
“And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.”
“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”
“And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.”
“Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.”
“And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.”