What is common grace?
Quick answer
Common grace is God’s undeserved kindness shown to all people — believer and unbeliever alike — through sunshine, rain, food, beauty, family, justice, art, science, and the restraint of evil.
"He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:45).
Common grace explains why the world is not as bad as it could be. Conscience, ordered government, even the laughter of children are gifts of God to everyone.
Recognizing common grace lets Christians appreciate excellence wherever it appears — in non-Christian art, science, scholarship — without confusing common grace with saving grace.
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Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.