Providence and the Restraint of Sin
Hanko argues that God's providential restraint of sin does not constitute common grace or evidence of God's gracious disposition toward all people, but rather is merely God's sovereign power at work—comparable to muzzling a rabid dog. The article engages directly with the common grace controversy by examining Scripture's teaching on divine restraint and rejecting claims that such restraint modifies human depravity or enables genuine choice in the gospel.
Ronald Hanko In His providence, God controls and directs all things that happen. Even men’s lives in every detail are under this sovereign control of God. “He doeth,” as Nebuchadnezzar said, “according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth” (Dan. 4:35). By His providence, therefore, God also controls and directs the sinful actions of men, as is evident from the example of Nebuchadnezzar and others (1 Sam. 2:25; 2 Sam. 16:10; 2 Sam. 24:1; 1 Kings 22:19-22;...