Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Chapter 43: Pages 608-619

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13

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-three "Killing Sin and Creating Love-by Faith".

Here, Piper examines how God uses faith to fulfill his transforming or sanctifying promise - the process itself.  Faith is described as producing love (and killing sin) and Galatians 3:5 to demonstrate that "faith has in it the power to sever the root of sin's deceptive promises by saving the superior promises of God." 1 John 5:4 is yet another example of how faith gives believers victory over sin.  Piper describes the process in play: "[i]t is the work of his Spirit, awakening faith in the word of God, that kills sin (Romans 8:13) and creates love (Galatians 5:6)."  In this process, "we act the miracle...and [h]e causes the miracle - see also Philippians 2:12-13 - God is finally and ultimately decisive as "[w]e work, because God is at work in us. We will and do, because God is willing and doing in us". Both Paul and Peter provide additional examples of how this works:

• Galatians 2:20
• Colossians 1:28-29
• 1 Peter 4:11 

Finally, Piper looks at the question, which many believers have, including myself, of why the sanctifying process can be so slow - why does God tolerate sin and imperfection from believers? Piper writes that is not because God cannot perfect us in an instant at conversion - He can.  This process works itself out over time and sometimes slowly because God seeks "for the fullness of his beauty and worth to be magnified in the way his people prefer him over what Satan offers.  God's worth and beauty are magnified in proportion to our preference for them over all that Satan can offer.  God intends for Satan to be defeated in this age not merely by being shown to be weaker than Christ but also by being shown to be less beautiful, less valuable, less desirable, less satisfying....triumphs in warfare with sin would not happen without the warfare." 

Comment and discuss this post here. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I know You and Your Spirit are at work in me, willing obedience and love for You and others.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving how You work in me.  I fall down and sin every single day.  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 to You Jesus.  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.