Common Grace and the Delay of Judgment

Common Grace and the Delay of Judgment

Another expression of common grace is God’s merciful determination to suspend the immediate manifestation of his wrath and judgment warranted by human sin. Paul puts this truth in the form of a question in Romans 2:4: “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance” (cf. Gen. 6:3 delay of the flood for 120 years; Acts 17:30-31 God fixed a day of judgment; 1 Pet. 3:18-20 reminder of God’s delay of the flood; 2 Pet. 3:8-9 Why does He delay?)? In similar fashion, God exerts a restraining influence on the destructive tendencies in the natural creation.What this means is that in addition to placing restraint upon the ungodly tendencies of the human heart, God freely suspends the immediate manifestation of his holy wrath that is warranted by sin. God’s goodness or kindness in common grace means that he not only restrains the sin of man but also the ready execution of the full measure of judgment which sin demands.