"Restless" Responding to Grace

Vrses 14 Solomon is disturbed that good happens to wicked and bad happens to righteous.

Vrs 15 Solomon responds by saying what is the point I guess I will just enjoy the things of life.
The possessions of this world were never designed to bring us eternal happiness. So now Solomon is again “Restless” because he is not happy with enjoying the things of life. This issue is still bothering him. (ice cram did not take care of it)

Vrs 16 Now he is saying wait I want to understand this “applied my heart” I am losing sleep over it.

Vrs 17 There are things that are a mystery. Human nature wants all the answers

9:1- Solomon realizes though good and evil is dispensed over the wicked and the righteous, God has particular care over the “Righteous” and “Wise” “hand of God”

9:2- Solomon is saying of I realize there is a difference between the Christian and non-Christian. A description of sanctification (comparing the Christian and non-Christian)
Results of sanctification
1. Clean, sins washed away *Unclean sins remain
2. Sacrifice, inward and outward worship ((becoming set apart in this area is living more for Christ and less for self) *No Worship
3. Does good- has a desire to accomplish the good works that God prepared in advance Eph 2:10 *Doing good not a priority
4. Fears God- respect *Not much if any regaurd

But the problems that Solomon runs into is, there is not much difference in the comforts and the burdens of Christians and non-Christians.

The difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is not what we have but what we are.

Solomon is going back and forth and he sees that there is a difference between the believer and the non-believer but he sees similar if not the same thing happens to them both. They both receive good and bad stuff and they both die. We know that bad things do not come from God but He good does.

So the question here then become why should the bad or wicked people receive anything good?

The answer is…the Theology of Common Grace come in
Dutch Reformer Abraham Kuyper did a great deal of work with this theology.
9:3a
Common Grace-is the grace of God by which He gives people innumerable blessings that are not part of salvation, but are common to all. James 1:16-17 & Matthew 5:44-46

Kuyper would add “God working on the heart of the sinner”

Common Grace is a means by which God gets peoples attention and therefore assists in their possible Salvation. Salvation is born out of “Saving Grace”

Where do we see Common Grace
Realms of Common Grace (Out of Grudem’s Sytematic Theology)
-Physical- Rain, Mt 5:44-46, material possessions Gen 39:5 Potipher’s house blessed because of Joseph
-Intellect- People have the capacity for knowledge
-Moral- Restrains people from being evil all the time. Rom 1:32 Know right from wrong
-Creative- art, music, inventions
-Societal- Government Rom 13:1-4, development
-Religious- Love your enemies Mt 5:44. The fact that we have faith can bless others

Vrs 3 Solomon says this is evil…what is evil?
That people don’t recognize Common Grace
Romans 1:21 not thankful. They don’t see that God is the giver of good gifts James 1:16-17

Unbelievers look at God and if things are going great think “I don’t need God” and if things are going terrible “God is terrible”

Vrs 4 -5a A Christian that is suffering is better then a non-Christian who has much and is proud. Dog=unclean scavenger Lion= proud predator
Some other benefits of our Salvation…hope and security in death

9:5b-6 The demise of the unbeliever and their response. Common Grace is as good as it gets for an unbeliever. This is why many try to create heaven on earth with functional saviors.

What the unbeliever fails to realize is Common Grace is God’s way of pointing us to Saving Grace.

But they use the good things and make them ultimate things and put them in the place of God.

Then when those things don’t deliver the happiness, contentment, fulfillment we look for other things will and the cycle continues.

7-10 The response of the believer… If you have Jesus in your life enjoy the good things that God has given

Vrs 7 Enjoy Possessions
Vrs 8 Live Pure
Vrs 9 Enjoy the people
Vrs 10 Enjoy your work/calling

Why? because we have a good God who wants good for you

The negative responses from a believer.
1. Don’t enjoy the good gifts
2. We are angry with God because He sheds grace on people “who do not deserve it”
These responses result in no joy, complaining about everything
Paul said we should be content in all siuations

Remember in the end we win. 1 John 5:4-5 We overcome the world

Vrs 11 It is not by our own merit. Human knowledge verses God’ ways. You would think …”this” but sometimes its “that”. Everything you learned about life unlearn it

The ultimate example of this is Jesus dying for us. You would think it is “be Good” but Jesus paid it all for you. GOSPEL

Vrs 12 You don’t known when your life will be demanded of you

So To the unbeliever how are you responding to Common Grace?
Luke 12:17-20 Fool Is it helping you recognize Saving Grace

And To the believer how are you dealing with Common Grace? Are you using it as an opportunity to talk to the unbelievers & are you enjoying what God has blessed you with.