By Nick Bibile
Pelagius was a British monk (c. AD 354–after 418) who exalted human free will and denied both original sin and predestination. He taught that Adam’s sin affected only Adam, that men are born morally neutral, and that each person has the natural ability to choose good or evil apart from grace. As Pelagianism spread, it became a grave threat to the church. The aged Augustine rose up vigorously to oppose it, insisting that fallen man is spiritually dead and utterly dependent upon grace.
Pelagius pointed to pagans who lived outwardly virtuous and moral lives. Augustine responded that such “virtues” were not true virtues at all, because they did not proceed from faith nor aim at the glory of God. Deeds that do not spring from love to God are, in God’s sight, corrupted by sinful motives.
Augustine famously said:
“Virtues,
if they are not referred to God, are but splendid vices.”
—
Augustine,
City of God
More than a thousand years later, John Calvin firmly maintained the same truth: the natural man cannot perform a single truly good work apart from the saving grace of God. Calvin articulated the doctrine of common grace, by which God bestows temporal blessings, moral order, and restraint upon all mankind. Common grace does not forgive sin, regenerate the heart, or save the soul—but it restrains human wickedness and preserves society.
“There
is no will in man inclined to good, unless it be prepared by the
Lord.”
—
John
Calvin
Common grace extends to all people and all creatures:
“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45)
Through common grace, God maintains a measure of moral order, distributes gifts and talents, and restrains sin. Closely connected to this is God’s restraining grace, which prevents fallen man from becoming as wicked as he possibly could be.
Men seek comfort and escape—some travel to beautiful places like the Bahamas—but there is no paradise on earth. Everywhere there is pain, sickness, crime, and death. The only paradise man ever knew was Eden, before the fall. When sin entered the world, man spiritually died, and creation itself was cursed.
“Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.” (Genesis 3:17)
All natural men are spiritually dead and enemies of God. We build our homes on cursed ground, under the influence of a cursed world, ruled by a cursed prince.
“In
whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which
believe not.”
(2
Corinthians 4:4)
“The
prince of the power of the air.”
(Ephesians
2:2)
This world is dangerous because of three enemies:
The devil
A cursed creation
The fallen human heart
We see this evil everywhere.
Crimes often shock us because the perpetrators look ordinary—just like us. Teenagers commit murder. Neighbors commit rape. Educated and respected men become violent criminals. We ask, “How could this happen?”
The
usual answer is, “They
are bad, and we are good.”
Scripture
gives a far more terrifying answer: we
are the same by nature.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” (Jeremiah 17:9)
All natural men are enemies of God. If some live outwardly moral lives, it is not because their nature is good, but because God restrains them. Their hearts still love sin, but God holds them back.
The apostle Paul describes fallen humanity:
“Their
throat is an open sepulchre… the poison of asps is under their
lips.”
(Romans
3:13)
“Their
feet are swift to shed blood.”
(Romans
3:15)
“There
is no fear of God before their eyes.”
(Romans
3:18)
This is not merely a description of criminals—it is a description of human nature apart from grace.
Jonathan Edwards wrote:
“Sin is the ruin of the soul. It is the disease of the heart, the corruption of the nature, and the poison of the affections.”
John Calvin powerfully summarizes this truth (as you cited):
“If
the Lord were to permit human passion to follow its bent… no
ravenous beast would rush so furiously… God, by his providence,
curbs the perverseness of nature.”
—
Institutes,
Book II, Chapter 3, Section 3
We are no better by nature than Judas, Pharaoh, Herod, the Pharisees, Hitler, or the violent criminal—except for the restraining grace of God. If we have not committed certain sins, it is not because we are righteous, but because God has restrained us.
Thomas Watson wrote:
“There is no sin so great but the seed of it lies in the heart of the regenerate, and would break forth if God did not restrain.”
Jesus said:
“Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” (John 8:34)
A slave cannot control his master. Sin reigns where grace does not rule.
God restrains human corruption in several ways:
God ordains rulers, laws, courts, and law enforcement to restrain violence and disorder.
“The powers that be are ordained of God.” (Romans 13:1)
Remove government, and there would be hell on earth.
The church stands as a light in the world. Even unregenerate sinners sitting under the Word may be restrained by fear, conviction, conscience, or shame.
“The
Word of God awes the conscience, though it does not renew the
heart.”
—
William
Gurnall
Some are awakened, troubled by guilt, restrained from deeper wickedness—yet not converted.
God places men in different situations. Given Pharaoh’s power, many would act as Pharaoh did. Given Hitler’s authority, many would commit the same atrocities. Providence restrains by limiting opportunity.
God intervenes directly, as with David and Abigail, preventing bloodshed (1 Samuel 25).
Christians are deeply indebted to restraining grace. Even regenerate men can fall grievously when God withdraws restraint—David, Noah, and Peter prove this.
John Owen wrote:
“Let no man think that he hath mortified sin because it doth not appear; sin may be restrained and yet not mortified.”
Yet there is a difference: God restrains His people in covenant mercy. He disciplines, restores, and preserves them.
“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5)
God’s restraining grace is one of His most glorious works. It is more astonishing than His command over the raging seas. Without it, the world would collapse into unspeakable evil.
Let us never boast in ourselves—our knowledge, morality, or discipline. We stand only by grace.
“By the grace of God I am what I am.” (1 Corinthians 15:10)
We are greatly indebted—the world is indebted—to the restraining grace of God.