There is common grace given of God that to many faith persons is little understood, and even when recognized, may be too little respected. Common grace freely affords a friendly context for communicating the gospel of divine grace. Jesus used it daily in the information we have of him – his ideas and work for a thousand days of public ministry. Common grace is available to all mankind – no matter how evil or righteous. The playing field is level for all. Habits of nature are evenly distributed to the righteous and the wrongdoer. The good or ill is equally available to all. The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike. This text is an important perception, necessary to the understanding of Scripture and the life of individuals and societies. Common grace is important for the survival of imperfect persons in an imperfect world. Orientation in spiritual faith is not a necessary factor, if temporal matters are the only consideration. God appears to have given common grace in consideration of every child who, not having asked to be born, at least deserves the right and opportunity to live decently in mortal context. Mankind violates common grace in many ways growing out of human imperfection identified as depravity or sin condition.
Divorce is a permission of common grace. Scripture asserts that God hates divorce. It is related to sin, and is made disqualification for some privileges in earth’s created kingdom. A divorced Levite could not serve as priest in Israel. Divorce commonly appears when two persons, likely normal persons, can’t find it in themselves to solve their problems. Most persons I have counseled proceeding to divorce were, if taken alone, normal persons. Their solution to infidelity, or periodic problems, was divorce. It is clear that God gave divorce in common grace, even though he notes it as violation of divine grace. At the spiritual level it violates principles of love, forgiveness, spiritual/human problem-solving, and other positive actions to good ends. He gave marriage for the good of the human race. Divorce presumes on God’s creative principles.
Why did the Lord grant divorce? He gave it because common grace affords adaptations. In common grace one sin is less heinous than another sin. Divorce is less objectionable than murder. Had King Henry been permitted by the church to divorce two of his wives, they would not have been beheaded. Anne Boleyn was queen for three years, and lost her head to the machinations of the king so that he might be free to marry another princess. In redemptive grace, any sin is as serious as any other- so must be accounted for by mankind, or forgiven by God. All sin is against God. God created mankind perfectly and is violated when imperfection is permitted to prevail (even if only for a period of time). Perfection is defined in God’s economy. The perfect was clear for husband and wife, at the beginning. Mankind was accommodated, after the fall, to make society a livable context for imperfect mankind. There are some things that God has winked at (Acts 17:30 KJV), or overlooked (NEB). The privilege of common grace is from God, and Christians do well to encourage the best that we can do, even assist in making it work, all the while holding out the promise of immortal life in Christ following natural life, that is related to immortality. If persons choose to live by common grace only, they may. But, there will be ultimate otherworldly loss. Jesus Christ, the God/man taught how to live under both common and divine grace. For the Christian divine grace defines life, thought, conduct in faith related to Jesus Christ. Life for the Christian, is guided by Scripture, administered to the person by the Holy Spirit, and is overseen by God, the Father – known to mankind in his Trinity. The rainbow is unified in infra-red, visible and ultra-violet rays: God is unified in Father, Son and Holy Spirit. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020