Chapter 42: Pages 597-606
He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life....ow the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:6,17-18
This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) with Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 8 "Providence Over Christian Living" - moving to chapter forty-two "Working in Us That Which Is Pleasing in His Sight".
Here, Piper seeks to demonstrate that "God brings about obedience in his people[.]" We are encouraged to step back and reflect on the ultimate purpose of God's providence; that it "necessarily includes the Christ-exalting (2 Thessalonians 1:10,12), grace-praising (Ephesians 1:6), God-glorifying (Philippians 2:11) holiness and happiness of his people...[and] happiness in God as our supreme treasure is the essence of holiness." Our holiness was predestined, promised, purchased, and performed by God - with the latter being the core focus of this chapter. Under the Old Covenant, "[o]bedience was commanded but not created." Ezekiel 36:27 was highlighted in my last post, and Piper draws the connection from this Old Testament prophecy to that and how God causes obedience in believers and it is from God and the Holy Spirit - 2 Corinthians 3:6,17-18 and Hebrews 13:20-21 both serve as scriptural evidence. "[The] transformation-conformity to Christ that God commands and creates-is required not because the righteousness imputed to us in justification is insufficient to bring us instantly into God's eternal favor. At the moment we are united to Christ through faith, his sin-bearing punishment and perfect obedience are counted as ours."
Piper wraps up the chapter by stating that our obedience is an "effect of our acceptance with God, not a means to it. Our acceptance with God is the root of our obedience, not the fruit."
Comment and discuss this post here.
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who gave me a heart of flesh and are working in me to cause obedience and ever increasing conformity to Yourself - for Your glory and my happiness. Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of how You work in my life. I fall short, with sin...daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
