Posted in Bible, Bible Commentary, Book Review, Christianity, Christmas, John Piper, Reformed, Theology, tagged Bible, Bible Commentary, book review, Christianity, Christmas, John Piper, Reformed, Theology on December 21, 2020| 21 Comments »
John Piper. The Dawning of Indestructible Joy. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, August 31st 2014. 94 pp.
4 out of 5
Free: Desiring God
Purchase: Amazon
Looking for a devotional book on the Advent Season that would make you love Christ more and increase your joy meditating on Christ’s incarnation? This book is by John Piper will flame your passion for Jesus. As the subtitle states the book is a “Daily Readings for Advent.”
Posted in Book Review, Calvinism, Christianity, free, free book, God, Gospel, John Piper, Prayer, Reformed, Theology, tagged book review, Calvinism, Christianity, free, Free Book, God, Gospel, Jesus, John Piper, prayer, Reformed, Salvation, Theology on May 19, 2020| 19 Comments »
John Piper. Coronavirus and Christ. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, April 28th 2020. 112 pp.
5 out of 5
Free: PDF and other format at Desiring God
Purchase: Amazon
According to the Bible what are the possible things God is doing with the Coronavirus? In this book by pastor and theologian John Piper the author looks at the issue from a Gospel driven perspective. Piper is nuanced in the beginning to say that no doubt readers will know more about what will happen with the virus situation than the book is able to capture at the moment he wrote this book; instead Piper is going to focus on God’s work in crisis and also look at the issue of death and suffering from an eternal perspective. I am grateful that Piper wrote this book.
Posted in Advent, Christianity, Christmas, Crossway, Incarnation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John MacArthur, John Piper, Martin Luther, Nancy Guthrie, RC Sproul, Reformed, Theology, tagged Advent, book review, Christ, Christmas, Incarnation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John Piper, Nancy Guthrie on December 22, 2016| 14 Comments »
Nancy Guthrie. Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus: Experiencing the Peace and Promise of Christmas. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, August 1st, 2008. 142 pp.
5 out of 5!
First let me say that I have a hard time with devotional books; I prefer heavier theology books since I find most devotionals to be rather shallow. But I enjoyed this particular collection of devotional readings for the Advent. So if I enjoyed this book in light of my bias against devotionals, I think that this work might be something worthwhile for others too.
Posted in Christianity, Theology, tagged Free Book, John Piper, The Cross of Christ on April 29, 2013| 5 Comments »
Please see this free ebook concerning the reasons why Jesus came to die. May this book be useful for your preaching of God’s Word.
Posted in Christianity, tagged Future Justification, John Piper, N.T. Wright on February 21, 2013| 8 Comments »
Piper, John. The Future of Justification: A Response to N.T. Wright. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Books, 2007.
Before covering the positives of the book, I will first cover a few negatives regarding this book. Negatives of this book can be found in these areas: some unclear areas, defense of N.T. Wright, and perhaps the lack of exposure to the dangers of N.T. Wright’s clever perspectives regarding justification. In light of the negatives, I will first tackle the issue of the book being unclear in some areas.
Although I appreciate John Piper’s attempt in trying to address this issue, I did find it hard at times reading his book. Towards the latter part of his book, the issues started to make sense (i.e. covenant community, justification, etc.). But I wish I did not have trouble understanding the concepts in the beginning chapters of his books. Understanding it better at the beginning would of given a better flow of the reading. If Piper would have provided a clear proposition regarding the crux of the matter, the reading would have been less convoluting and more fruitful to me as a reader.
I appreciate Piper’s graciousness towards others who are not in agreement because we are called to be gentle and gracious to those who are in opposition (1 Peter 3:15). However, I think Pastor Piper maybe a bit too gracious to Wright. Wright’s view of justification is really no different from Rome and hence is a works righteous understanding of justification. Wright believes that one is declared righteous or justified at the eschaton. Based on Wright’s understanding of justification, he is treading on dangerous ground and falls under the condemnation as described by Apostle Paul in Galatians 1:6-9. I find it hard for me to see him as an evangelical. Paul condemns the notion of works righteousness that was implemented by the Judaizers. Here in this book, Wright is implementing the notion of works righteousness that is finally realized at the eschaton. But justification is realized at the moment when one places his faith in Christ.
I think it would have been helpful if Piper uncovered Wright’s cleverness. Wright does seem to be subtle in terms of how he teaches his view of justification. As a result, it is hard for some who are not familiar with the terms he uses to be lost. Hence, I think it would be helpful for Piper to uncover his dangerous subtleness.
In regards to the positives of the book, here are the areas I would like to cover: Piper’s familiarity with the topic, Piper’s exegesis, and Piper’s breakdown of the misinterpreted term of justification used by N.T. Wright.
In terms of Piper’s strengths, I really enjoyed his breakdown of the misinterpretation of justification. For example, he clarified the mishandling of the term by explaining the relationship between covenant and law-court imagery, law-court dynamics of justification and the meaning of God’s righteousness, law-court dynamics of justification and the necessity of real moral righteousness, law-court dynamics of justification and the necessity of real moral righteousness, justification and the Gospel, the place of our works in justification, imputed righteousness, second-temple Judaism, etc. (Piper, Table of Contents).
Another strength by Piper is his familiarity with the topic. He understood Wright’s views and was able to define it well. For that, I commend him.
CONCLUSION
The Gospel hinges on the doctrine of justification because the doctrine of justification hinges on penal substitution. If one has a misunderstanding of justification, then it is safe to say that one has a misunderstanding of penal substitution. For example, when one sees penal substitution in its biblical lens, one will believe that His sacrifice is enough to declare one right.
Justification happens and becomes a reality because of the sacrifice of Christ and is operated once one places his faith in Christ. He is not justified at the eschaton as Wright suggests. With that said, justification has nothing to do with one being part of the covenant community because one cannot be part of the covenant community unless one is justified by Christ (Theo. III notes; pg. 188). As a result, justification has nothing to do with whether we are members of God’s covenant people. To say that justification is related to members of the covenant people is to blur the line of justification and ecclesiology. Justification is solely soteriological.
It must be understand by the people of God for the sake of assurance, that justification is a once in a lifetime transaction by God. In other words, God justifies only once. Not only is justification once in a lifetime, but justification has no degrees. Scripture is clear that positionally; we are justified at the same level. No one is more justified than another person. But to embrace Wright’s justification would imply a works righteousness process. Justification has nothing to do with works. Moreover, once one is justified, one cannot be unjustified. But to pursue a works righteousness system would open up a Pandora box of one possibly being unjustified if one does not live a righteous life.
Because justification is an important topic, much has been said. For me to worry about a system of works as Wright described is no different from Rome. To believe in Wright’s view of justification would cause much worry and anxiety upon a believer. But to believe in the biblical understanding of justification brings peace when we take our last breath here on earth because we know that God will forgive us for our imperfections.
For a free PDF book of Future Justification, please see this link: Future Justification
Posted in Christian, Church, tagged Aging, Christian Life, Christianity, Church, Francis Chan, John Piper, Mission, Serving on June 23, 2012| 4 Comments »
It mirrors John Piper’s message, “Don’t Waste Your Life,” especially the illustration on collecting sea shells.
Posted in John Piper, tagged John Piper, Transition on March 30, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Please see the link regarding John Piper’s transition from pastoral ministry.
Posted in Christianity, Church, Reformed Theology, tagged D.A Carson, James Macdonald, John Piper, TGC11, Tim Keller on April 12, 2011| Leave a Comment »
The languages available for this conference – English, Spanish, Chinese and French
The live video and recorded audio will appear on this page. Download available immediately after each session!
Tuesday, April 12
| 2 PM | R. Albert Mohler Jr. | Studying the Scriptures and Finding Jesus (John 5:31-47) |
| 4 PM | Tim Keller | Getting Out (Exodus 14) |
| 5:30 PM | White Horse Inn | Live Recording: The Great Commission and the Great Commandment |
| 7 PM | Alistair Begg | From a Foreigner to King Jesus (Ruth) |
| 8 PM | Tim Keller, John Piper, Crawford Loritts, Don Carson, Bryan Chapell | Preaching from the Old Testament |
| 9 PM | Hymn Sing | Sing Them Again: An Evening of Old and New Hymns |
Wednesday, April 13
| 9:30 AM | James MacDonald | Not According to Our Sins (Psalm 25) |
| 12:30 PM | Matt Chandler, Kevin DeYoung, Trevin Wax, Jonathan Leeman | Gospel, Mission, and the Church |
| 7 PM | Conrad Mbewe | The Righteous Branch (Jeremiah 23:1-8) |
| 8 PM | Matt Chandler | Youth (Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14) |
| 9 PM | Keith and Kristyn Getty | Concert |
Thursday, April 14
| 7:30 AM | Don Carson, Tim Keller, Crawford Loritts, Kevin DeYoung, and Stephen Um | God: Abounding in Love, Punishing the Guilty |
| 9:30 AM | Mike Bullmore | God’s Great Heart of Love Toward His Own (Zephaniah) |
| 11 AM | D. A. Carson | Getting Excited about Melchizedek (Psalm 110) |
Posted in Christianity, Current Affairs, tagged Abortion, John Piper, Obama, Politics on October 31, 2008| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Desiring God Ministries, Homosexuality, John MacArthur, John Piper, tagged Christian, grace cathederal, hate, homosexual, John MacArthur, John Piper, O'Reilly, paul addis, Persecution, San Francisco, Sermon, speech on November 12, 2007| 1 Comment »
I believe the legalization of homosexual marriage and future laws pushing the homosexual agenda will be the tell-tale signs. Hate speech criteria and freedom of speech restrictions will mark just the beginning.
I thought I’d bookmark what certainly won’t be last hostile attack against the Christian faith:
“Burning Man suspect held in Grace Cathedral arson attempt”
“Another Church Under Attack In San Francisco”
Some good sermons to listen to:
The Domain for Truth 
Review: Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer Volume 1
Posted in Bible, Bible Commentary, Book Review, Christianity, Psalms, Reformed, Theology, tagged Bible, Bible Commentary, book review, Christianity, Christmas, John Piper, Psalms, Reformed, Theology on December 22, 2020| 30 Comments »
David Kitz. Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer Volume 1. Plymouth, MA: Elk Lake Publishing, Inc., December 2nd, 2020. 262 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
Are you looking for a new devotional through the Psalms? Bible dramatist, author, minister and blogger David Kitz has written the first installment of his 365 days devotionals on the Psalms. This book goes up to Psalm 51. After reading and using this devotional I hope there will be future volumes from the author and the publisher.
(more…)
Read Full Post »