Ask Ligonier Podcast: "What Is Common Grace?"
Date: December 11, 2025
Host: Nathan W. Bingham
Guest: Dr. W. Robert Godfrey, Chairman and Teaching Fellow, Ligonier Ministries
Episode Overview
This episode tackles the theological concept of common grace within the Reformed tradition. Dr. W. Robert Godfrey explains the origins of common grace, its distinctiveness from Roman Catholic ideas, and how it is both applied and misconstrued in contemporary Christian thinking. The conversation offers both historical context and modern implications, clearly outlining why understanding common grace matters for Christians today.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Defining Common Grace
- Dr. Godfrey identifies Abraham Kuyper as the primary figure in articulating the doctrine of common grace within Reformed theology.
- Kuyper’s aim was to clarify and refine Reformed thought, particularly in relation to how sin affects all aspects of human experience.
2. Roman Catholic vs. Reformed Distinction
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In Catholic medieval theology, notably with Thomas Aquinas, a sharp distinction was often made between "nature" (creation, unaffected by sin) and "grace" (God’s saving work).
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Aquinas and others proposed that some aspects of life remained relatively untouched by sin, while other parts were in need of redemption.
"The Roman Catholics wanted to talk about part of life being relatively unaffected by sin and part of life radically needing grace." — Dr. Godfrey [01:25]
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Kuyper rejected this dualism, emphasizing that the fall into sin corrupted every aspect of human existence.
3. The Problem: Total Depravity but a Not-Terrible World
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The puzzle: If humanity is totally fallen, why is the world not as evil as possible?
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Kuyper’s answer: It’s not that our nature is partially uncorrupted, but God actively restrains evil in the world.
"Kuyper recognized that, in point of fact, [...] the world was not as bad as it could be. [...] So how do we account for the fact that the world is not as bad as it could be if we're radically fallen into sin, if we're totally depraved? And this is where Kuyper came up with the notion of common grace..." — Dr. Godfrey [02:12]
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This restraint of evil is what Kuyper termed common grace—God's non-saving kindness extended to all, holding back the full effects of sin.
4. Common Grace vs. Saving Grace
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Common grace: God’s action that preserves order and goodness, restraining sin universally.
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Saving (or regenerating) grace: God’s action that brings redemption to the elect.
"He distinguished common grace, which restrains general human experience from becoming as bad as it could be, from saving grace, regenerating grace." — Dr. Godfrey [02:56]
5. Areas of Misunderstanding and Critique
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Misunderstanding #1 – Restricting “grace” to salvation: Some critics think grace should apply exclusively to redemption, denying that God shows general benevolence to creation.
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Misunderstanding #2 – Blurring the lines: Others (sometimes called "neo-Kuyperians") almost suggest that common grace can transform into saving grace, risking a theological drift toward universalism or liberalism.
"Some have misunderstood Kuyper by not really seeing what he was after as we might say cultural apologetic. Then some have taken the idea of common grace...and have almost implied that common grace can become saving grace." — Dr. Godfrey [03:19]
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The debate: One side risks denying God’s benevolence to all creation; the other risks overstating common grace as salvific.
6. Kuyper’s Cultural Apologetic
- Kuyper’s doctrine was meant as a "cultural apologetic," accounting for good in a fallen world and God’s ongoing positive relationship with creation at large.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On the inadequacy of dividing “nature” and “grace”:
"Kuyper thought that was a bad division of experience and thought. And he wanted to stress how sin had compromised and corrupted everything." — Dr. Godfrey [01:49]
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On the function of common grace:
"It's not that there's some part of experience unaffected by sin, it's that God restrains sin, that it's God's action, not our lack of corruption, that makes things not as bad as they are." — Dr. Godfrey [02:34]
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On modern distortions of Kuyper’s teaching:
"...some of Kuyper's critics...almost implied that common grace can become saving grace. And...others...can become almost sectarian in their denial of any general benevolence of God for creation as a whole." — Dr. Godfrey [03:38]
Key Timestamps
- 00:10 – Introduction to the episode and guest
- 00:26–02:12 – Historical context: Kuyper and the Catholic-Reformed distinction
- 02:12–02:55 – The theological puzzle: total depravity vs. a not-wholly-evil world
- 02:56–03:38 – The definition and implications of common grace, saving grace, and misunderstandings
- 03:38–04:09 – Summary of misunderstandings and concluding thoughts
Summary Takeaway
Dr. Godfrey explains that common grace is God’s merciful restraint of sin in the world, providing order and enjoyment even to those who are not redeemed. Rooted in Kuyper’s legacy, the doctrine asserts that while all of creation is affected by sin, God’s grace keeps the world from becoming utterly corrupt. This teaching should not be confused either as a step toward universal salvation or as a denial of God’s goodness shown to all people. Understanding and properly distinguishing common grace helps Christians both appreciate God’s daily mercies and uphold the necessity of saving grace for redemption.