James Montgomery Boice (1938–2000) on Common Grace and God's Good Purpose

There is one more thing we need to learn about common grace from Paul's sermon on Mars Hill. It is in the words that immediately follow those I quoted earlier. Having spoken of grace, Paul concluded, "God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:27-28). This is important. For it is a way of saying that God also has a good purpose in his good actions. He wants us to recognize his goodness, to turn from sin, to reach out and find him, and so be able to express our gratitude in true faith and proper obedience.

Paul writes the same thing in Romans, observing that the "kindness, tolerance and patience" of God are meant to lead us to repentance (Rom. 2:4).

James Montgomery Boice, The Glory of God's Grace (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1999), 24.