Last week, to begin a series of messages about the truths most important to John Piper’s ministry, we took a look at Christian hedonism. This week we highlight Piper’s teachings on God’s sovereignty, both in the work of salvation and in daily events. of our lives.
We’re not promoting the new birth. God promotes the new birth. All we do spiritually well is the result of the new birth, not a cause of the new birth. It means that the new birth is taken from our hands. It’s not under our control. So it confronts us with our helplessness and absolute dependence on someone who is not ourselves. (Finally alive?)
- God does not describe the painful things that come into our lives as accidental or out of his control; it wouldn’t be a comfort.
- That God cannot stop a microbe.
- A car.
- A bullet.
- Or a demon is not good news; these are not the good news of the Bible; God can.
- And he does it ten thousand times.
- But when he doesn’t.
- He has his reasons; and in Christ Jesus.
- They are all for love; this sovereignty is taught to drink it until it saturates our bones (A sweet and bitter Providence?Sweet and bitter Providence?).
By John Piper. © Desiring God Website: desiringGod. org Original: Essential Piper. Website: desiringGod. org
NDT: Translation of the original title. Books not available in Portuguese.