Finally alive by John Piper (available from Amazon or free on the internet here)
Today's reading gives the first half of the answer by looking back and asking what our condition is that makes the new birth necessary. Whereas next week's reading will look forward and ask what must happen for our future joy that only the new birth can bring about (although Piper does introduce this second part of the answer at the end of the Chapter Four he will really answer it in the following chapter).
So today we are taught that the new birth is necessary because apart from the new birth we are:
(i) dead in trespasses and sins;
(ii) by nature children of wrath;
(iii) love darkness and hate the light;
(iv) ones who have hearts that are hard like stone;
(v) unable to submit to God or please God;
(vi) unable to accept the gospel;
(vii) unable to come to Christ or embrace him as Lord;
(viii) slaves to sin;
(ix) slaves of Satan;
(x) no good thing dwells in us.
I liked the opening of Chapter Three where Piper says that man's problem is not only that we don't know God, but we don't know ourselves: 'What we may need reminding of in our day is not that the knowledge of God is difficult to comprehend and to embrace - that's more or less obvious - but that the knowledge of ourselves is just as difficult to comprehend and to embrace. Indeed, it may be more difficult, first, because a true knowledge of ourselves assumes a true knowledge of God, and second, because we tend to think we do know ourselves, when in fact, the depths of our condition are beyond our comprehension without the help of God.'
Earlier this week I was appreciating this truth when reading Psalm 19:12 'Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.' David knows that he can't comprehend all his sins and so asks God's forgiveness for his hidden faults as well as those known to him. Sometimes we're tempted to think we aren't all that bad, but what about all those sins that you have committed without even knowing about them. Piper is right, we really don't know ourselves.
Next week's reading
Chapters Five and Six.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
2 comments:
like you mentioned Joel, what stuck out to me in these two chapters is that there is a condition which we see and believe (we're not that bad, we're have it together, etc) and then there is the reality of our true condition before God (we are dead spiritually, we are slaves to sin, our hearts are set against God, etc). Piper makes a clear case why it is imperative that one be born again. I couldn't help but think while readin these chapters that this would be an excellent book to share with someone for evangelism purposes.
from Margo
I found these 2 chapters awesome! All the things we were before the new birth and what God has done for us. I also found it easy to keep the 10 points in my mind to think about.
And the illustration about the cockroach was extremely vivid for me - about throwing away sin, and instead, to see the beauty and worth of Christ. I hate cockroaches!! I hope I hate sin just as much!
Post a Comment