Such thing as common grace?

I was thinking of Common Grace that a lot of Calvinist and Arminians like to espouse today. I know Wayne Grudem has a chapter on it but I couldn't find what I was looking for as to his view of Genesis 17:18-22 where God says he will bless Ishmael. Anyways, I will have to look for it and post it here. But, my question is does these set of verses display common grace? What was the reason for Ishmael receiving a gift from God? If God knew that He would destroy Ishmael in Hell then can we say that God gave him a gift out of love? Consider if you give someone a peanut who is allergic, I mean you might say that you did not know but over all you cannot say that the peanut was really good for him. God knows all things, he gave Ishmael a blessing and he also gave Pharaoh a blessing but over all he destroyed Pharaoh in the sea. Just thoughts to consider.

The Christian's rewards are the result of Christ's death burial and resurrection

20For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.21What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

-Romans 6

We assume that this is talking about our good works and not about the result of the legal union which is being set apart for salvation and being saved from the wrath to come.



Many people speak of "fruit" but never explain what they mean by it.

What does fruit mean?

The Bible says anyone believing in the gospel is saved. What else is there to do? The result of what Christ accomplished on the cross means life for the elect alone.

I'm surprise you are just now getting upset at this.

The problem with the rewards thing is that it doesn't clarify anything. The Christian hope is that Christ has set us free from bondage of sin and death so that in Him we live. What rewards are given is nothing but the result of Christ's imputed righteousness.