The Gospel Is Not About You
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By John Piper About The Gospel
Audio Transcript
He became a servant “in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy” (Romans 15:9). Now notice, not just that the Gentiles might receive God’s mercy or experience God’s mercy, but that they might glorify God for his mercy.
The aim of the gospel overflowing to the Gentiles, the aim of the gospel is not man-centered. It is not ultimately that you might have mercy. It’s ultimately that you might glorify God for receiving mercy, right? He does not say, “Christ became a servant in order that the Gentiles might receive mercy.” He does not say that. He says, “Christ became a servant in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for receiving mercy from God.” The ultimate aim of the gospel is God — God glorified for his mercy.
Don’t fall short of the ultimate aim of the gospel when you preach the gospel. Don’t preach mercy to sinners as the aim of the gospel ultimately. Don’t always be stopping short of the point of verse 9. Get there. Get there. Not just that they might receive mercy, but that they might glorify God for his mercy. Mercy is a means, not an end. Savoring mercy is not the end. Savoring God for his mercy is the end.
