Future Grace Seminar/Session 10: How Does It Work Against Sin? Part 4

From Gospel Translations

Jump to:navigation, search

Related resources
More By John Piper
Author Index
More About Sanctification & Growth
Topic Index
About this resource

© Desiring God

Share this
Our Mission
This resource is published by Gospel Translations, an online ministry that exists to make gospel-centered books and articles available for free in every nation and language.

Learn more (English).

By John Piper About Sanctification & Growth
Chapter 10 of the book Future Grace Seminar

Battling the Unbelief of Bitterness and an Unforgiving Spirit

Definition: Holding a grudge or savoring the thought of getting even with no true desire for the salvation and reconciliation of the offending person.

A Crucial Consideration of Bygone Grace

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

The Blessing You Will Receive Cuts the Need for Vengeance

Matthew 5:11-12

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

1 Peter 3:9 (compare 2:21)

Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but give a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

The Promise of God's Vengeance Releases You from that Role

1 Peter 2:21-23

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting to Him who judges righteously.

Romans 12:19

Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.

In the End There Will Be No Unrecompensed Sins

They will all be duly punished, either in the cross (Isaiah 53:6) or in hell (2 Thessalonians 7-10). We may leave that finally to God.

Battling the Unbelief of Impatience

Definition: Murmuring against Providence when we are forced to walk the path of obedience in an unplanned place or an unplanned pace. ("Do all things without grumbling or disputing" Philippians 2:14.)

Examples of Extraordinary Patience and Perseverance (Future Grace, p. 171)

1. The story of Joseph

Genesis 45:7

God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.

Genesis 50:20

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

2. Benjamin and Annie Kinkead Warfield

Romans 8:28

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

B. B. Warfield: "He will so govern all things that we shall reap only good from what befalls us." (Faith and Life, p.204)

God Works While We Patiently Wait

Isaiah 64:4

For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, nor has the eye seen a God besides You, who works for the one who waits for Him.

Jeremiah 32:40-41

I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me. 41 I will rejoice over them to do them good . . . with all My heart and with all My soul.

Isaiah 30:18

Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; how blessed are all those who wait for Him.

Psalm 40:1-3

I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Colossians 1:11

[May you be] strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience...

William Cowper's Hymn, "God Moves in a Mysterious Way"

God moves in a mysterious way
his wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
and rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
of never failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs
and works his sovereign will.
You fearful saints, fresh courage take;
the clouds you so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
in blessings on your head.
His purposes will ripen fast,
unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
but sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
and scan his work in vain:
God is his own interpreter,
and he will make it plain.
©Public Domain
Navigation
Volunteer Tools
Other Wikis
Toolbox