Common Grace Covenant provides stage for Christ The

Common Grace Covenant provides stage for Christ The Lord’s promise in Gen 3: 15 entails an ongoing conflict between the offspring of the Serpent and that of the woman, which needs a stage on which to unfold. l Common Grace – Stage for drama of Redemptive History l 8

Drama of Redemption Special Grace 歌剧 Stage for Redemptive History Common Grace 舞台

Special Grace Redemptive Elect (Eph 1: 4) Blessings Regeneration Justification Adoption Rom (8: 28 -30) Common Grace Non - Redemptive l. Common Sunshine, Grace rain, food, and possessions (Matt Acts 14: 17), Blessings to Christians and 5: 45, non-Christians skills, trades, learning 1: 4 -5; 1 curse Kingsof 5: 6) All undeserved since(Dan All deserve God’s Wrath 12

Key Passage in OT Gen 8: 20 -9: 17 注释 Key Passage in NT 2 Peter 3: 1 -13 14

Gen 8: 20 -9: 17 Common Grace

2 Peter 3: 7 -9 exegesis of significance of Gen 8: 20 -9: 17 in Redemptive History 22

Parties of the Covenant of Common Grace l First Party is GOD l l GOD makes his promise “in his heart” - Noah didn’t hear Second Party is multiple Noah, descendants, animals (Gen 9: 10) l All living, Earth (Gen 9: 13) l Note No Single Federal Head !! l 25

Signs of Covenant Special Grace l l l Redemptive Selective Individual Ø Circumcision, baptism Common Grace l l l Non-Redemptive Non-selective Public Ø Rainbow, part of Natural World v Meaning of Rainbow v Bow weapon Rainbow GOD’s war bow set aside v

Terms of Covenant l Gen 9: 16 “天虹在云彩中出现，我看见了 就记念我与地上一切有生命的活物，所立 的永约” Ø God is the one who sees the sign and remembers his promise not to destroy but to sustain. Ø The ONLY terms of the covenant is GOD keeping his promise Ø Man CANNOT do anything to break it. 27

Three Obligations for Mankind in Common Grace Covenant 29

1) Fruitful and multiply (Gen 9: 1) 2) All things for food (Gen 9: 3) Ø Ø Ø 3) Distinction between clean and unclean in the ark no longer in force. But still prohibition of eating blood (Lev 17: 11) Corollary – Work is obligation – To till soil/shepherd of herds for food. Government to maintain stability (9: 6) Ø Ø Ø 流人血的，人也必流他的血；因为神造人，是按着他自己的形 象。 Image of GOD As Judge Rom 13: 1 -4 v. 1 - 政府的权柄，人人都应当服从。因为没有一样权柄不是从 神来的；掌权的都是神设立的 v. 4 - 因为他是神的仆役，是对你有益的。但如果你作恶，就 应当惧怕；因为他佩剑，不是没有作用的。他是神的仆役，是 向作恶的人施行刑罚的 30

Gen 6: 8 -8: 1 Special Grace Role of Noah Type of Christ Gen 8: 20 -9: 17 Common Grace

Ø Adam was under probation… Ø Noah, unlike Adam, is viewed as a covenant servant who has already demonstrated his fidelity. He therefore receives…actual reward. (p. 235)

神 Work for Christ 基督 Grace for us

Special Grace Redemptive Judgment 创 6: 18 创 8: 1 Common Grace Non - salvation 创 8: 21 创 9: 9 -17 Noah 40

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