It's gracious of God in the "common-grace" sense to send rain on the just and the unjust. Ishmael was a scoffer and a persecutor. So was Paul. Ishmael seems to have rejected a relationship with God, as did Esau. Paul was knocked down, and turned around, by saving-grace.

Merely because God shows some favors to the non-elect--e.g. by not throwing them into hell immediately, by given them a space in which they might have repented, by preaching the gospel to them, by bringing them so close (!) to his kingdom of mercy--is not ultimately to their lasting benefit. Only to their temporary, superficial benefit. And they store up judgment against the Day of Judgment.

The degree of blessing the reprobate may experience is quite wide. The closer he is to the kingdom of God, the greater his opportunity to "enter it" (Mk. 12:34) and the greater his condemnation when he refuses (Mt. 11:21-24). The difference between the above referenced Pharisee (himself in the OT church) and a believer is total: the difference between "close" and "in". But, Paul states (Rom 3:1-2), it is still a blessing and an advantage to be in the church. There he may hear the gospel. A hypocrite can turn from his hypocrisy.

__________________
Rev. Bruce G. Buchanan
ChainOLakes Presbyterian Church, CentralLake, MI


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