John Piper's Blog

If you only hope for unconditional love from God, your hope is great, but too small.

Unconditional love from God is not the sweetest experience of his love. The sweetest experience is when his love says: “I have made you so much like my Son that I delight to see you and be with you. You are a pleasure to me, because you are so radiant with my glory.”

This sweetest experience is conditional on our transformation into the kind of people whose emotions and choices and actions please God.

Unconditional love is the source and foundation of the human transformation that makes the sweetness of conditional love possible. If God did not love us unconditionally, he would not penetrate our unattractive lives, bring us to faith, unite us to Christ, give us his Spirit, and make us progressively like Jesus.

But when he unconditionally chooses us, and sends Christ to die for us, and regenerates us, he puts in motion an unstoppable process of transformation that makes us glorious. He gives us a splendor to match his favorite kind.

We see this in Ephesians 5:25–26.

“Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her [unconditional love], that he might sanctify her . . . and present the church to himself in splendor” — the condition in which he delights.

It is unspeakably wonderful that God would unconditionally set his favor on us while we are still unbelieving sinners. The ultimate reason this is wonderful is that this unconditional love brings us into the everlasting enjoyment of his glorious presence. But the apex of that enjoyment is that we not only see his glory, but also reflect it. “The name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in him” (2 Thessalonians 1:12).

This glory that we have in the last day is profoundly pleasing to God. This will not be unconditional love. This will be God’s response to us when he has finished making us “worthy of his calling and fulfilled every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power” (2 Thessalonians 1:11). Then we will receive praise from God (Romans 2:29; 1 Corinthians 4:5).

So put your hope in the unconditional, electing love of God for sure. But don’t stop there. Let that glorious news catapult you into the greater hope that this very love will make you worthy of his calling, glorify you, and fit you to receive the praise of God.

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Recent posts from John Piper —

My Response to the Vote on Jason Meyer
Letter to a 12-Year-Old Girl About the Eternal Destiny of Those Who Have Not Heard the Gospel
The Story of Ian & Larissa

Last night, in a special All-Church-Strategy Meeting, 792 of Bethlehem’s members gathered at 7 PM and voted 784 to 8 to confirm God’s call on Jason Meyer to take hold of the baton that I have carried for the last 32 years. I wrote a letter to be read at that meeting giving my sense of God’s leading to this point. Then I wrote a response that we sent to all our people this morning.

Below is what I wrote in my journal when I couldn’t sleep for joy.

Journal Entry (6:30 AM, May 21, 2012):

I am up early this morning. Unable and uneager to sleep. My heart is seeking ways to praise the Lord, thank the Lord, be devoted to the Lord.

What shall I render to the Lord? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fix my eyes on the gospel of the glory of Christ.

The glory of Christ’s Calvary love.
The glory of Christ’s obedience.
The glory of Christ’s patience.
The glory of Christ’s purity and utter guilelessness.
The glory of Christ’s kindness.
The glory of his wisdom over his church.
The glory of his jealousy for his bride.
The glory of his friendliness.
The glory of his power to disarm the rulers and authorities, to conquer death (“If I lay it down, I will take it up again”).
The glory of his lowliness.
The glory of his prayers for his enemies.
The glory of his authority over all things (“Peter, when you have turned strengthen your brothers”).
The glory of his voice, used (“If I sinned bear witness”) and not used ("like a lamb going silent to the slaughter").
The glory of his compassion ("son, behold your mother").
The glory of his overflowing allegiance to God’s word (“that the Scripture may be fulfilled”).
The glory of his passion for the glory of his Father (“Father, glorify your name”).

All this and more lay beneath last night’s vote. Overflowing from the gospel of the glory of Christ, Jesus has loved his church. Loved her. Loved her.

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Recent posts from John Piper —

Letter to a 12-Year-Old Girl About the Eternal Destiny of Those Who Have Not Heard the Gospel
The Story of Ian & Larissa
I Don't Think So, Doug

Dear [Sarah],

You asked what happens to people who live far away from the gospel and have never heard about Jesus and die without faith in him.

Here is what I think the Bible teaches. 

God always punishes people because of what they know and fail to believe. In other words, no one will be condemned for not believing in Jesus who has never heard of Jesus.

Does that mean that people will be saved and go to heaven if they have never heard of Jesus? No, that is not what God tells us in the Bible.

The main passage in the Bible that talks about this is Romans 1:18–23. Here is what it says. Then I'll make a comment or two.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that havebeen made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Notice several things:

All people "know God," even if they have never heard the Bible. "What can be known about God is plain to them" (verse 19). "Although they knew God..." (verse 21).
The way they know God is by the way God has made the world and their own consciences (verses 19–20).
Even though they know God, no one who knows God anywhere in the world "honors God as God or gives him thanks" (verse 21). Instead, they "suppress the truth" (verse 18). That is, they resist the truth deep in their hearts and "exchange it" for other things that they would rather have (verse 23).
Therefore, they are "without excuse" (verse 20). That is, they are guilty and deserved to be punished.

So I don't think the Bible teaches that people can be saved without hearing the gospel. Look at what Paul says in Romans 10:13–17. You need to hear the gospel to be saved.

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14How then will they call on him in whom they have notbelieved? And how are they to believe in him of whom theyhave never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

So let's pray for missionaries and ask God if maybe we should be one. The world really needs more people to tell all the lost people in the world about Jesus and the amazing good news that he died for sinners so that whoever believes will be saved.

Thank you for your good question.

Keep praying and reading your Bible. God will give you growing understanding.

Pastor John

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Recent posts from John Piper —

The Story of Ian & Larissa
I Don't Think So, Doug
C. S. Lewis on the Temporary Importance of Fear

Estimados amigos,

Deseando a Dios existe para ayudar a gente de todas partes a comprender y aceptar la verdad de que Dios es más glorificado en nosotros cuando estamos más satisfechos en él. Y yo agregaría, sobre todo en el sufrimiento.

Estar satisfechos en Dios (o en cualquier otra cosa) siempre parece más fácil cuando todo va bien. Pero cuando las cosas que usted amas están siendo despojadas de sus manos, entonces la prueba es real. Si Dios sigue siendo precioso en esos momentos, entonces su valor supremo brilla más. Él es más glorificado.

Los testimonios más significativos que recibo es cuando la gente me dice que fue una visión de la soberanía y la bondad de Dios la que los sostuvo a través de los momentos más difíciles de su vida.

Aquí está uno de esos testimonios. Tiemblo con la grata responsabilidad de introducir a Ian Murphy y Larissa en este video. Tiemblo, porque es “su” historia y de modo muy personal. Tan delicada. Puede ser fácilmente abusada. Tan incompleta. Y me alegro, porque Cristo es exaltado sobre todas las cosas.

Nosotros tenemos una gran visión en Deseando a Dios: queremos llegar a la mayor número posible de gente con nuestro mensaje de hedonismo cristiano- La alegría de Dios en ser Dios y en hacer que la gente sea feliz en él. Tenemos a nuestra disposición el asombroso poder de la Web. Esa es nuestra principal forma de difundir.

Pero las estadísticas del Internet pueden ocultar, así como revelar. Estas son personas. Cada visita al sitio web representa una persona real con un alma eterna. ¡Qué responsabilidad! Ore por nosotros que podamos tener una buena mayordomía de nuestra influencia. Y gracias por su colaboración para hacer posible este ministerio.

Ame a Ian y Larissa mientras usted mira esta increíble historia. Ore por ellos. Y por nosotros.

Su asociado en la principal causa,

John Piper

Con Josh Etter

Watch the video in English. Download the book as a free PDF.

Posts from Larissa...
Part 1: Why We Got Married

Part 2: Learning Contentment in Suffering

Dear Friends,

Desiring God exists to help people everywhere understand and embrace the truth that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. And I would add, especially in suffering.

Being satisfied in God (or anything) always seems easier when all is going well. But when things you love are being stripped out of your hands, then the test is real. If God remains precious in those moments, then his supreme worth shines more brightly. He is most glorified.

The most meaningful testimonies I receive are when people tell me that it was a vision of the sovereignty and goodness of God that got them through the most difficult times of their life.

Here is one of those testimonies. I tremble with the glad responsibility of introducing you to Ian & Larissa Murphy in this video. Tremble, because it is their story and so personal. So delicate. So easily abused. So unfinished. Glad, because Christ is exalted over all things.

We have a big vision at Desiring God: we want to reach as many people as possible with our message of Christian Hedonism—the gladness of God in being God and in making people glad in him. We have at our disposal the amazing power of the Web. That is our main way of spreading.

But internet statistics can conceal as well as reveal. These are people. Each Website visit represents a real person with an eternal soul. What a responsibility! Pray for us that we would steward our influence well. And thank you for your partnership to make this ministry possible.

Love Ian and Larissa as you watch this amazing story. Pray for them. And us.

Your partner in the greatest cause,

John Piper

with Josh Etter

Watch the video with Spanish subtitles.

Doug Wilson, in a recent blog titled “Paul on Divorce and Remarriage,” says 1 Corinthians 7:28 permits a divorced man to remarry. I don’t think that’s what Paul is saying.

1 Corinthians 7:27–28 says, “Are you bound to a wife (or literally, “woman,” as in a betrothal)? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife (or “woman)? Do not seek a wife (or “woman”). But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned.”

The question is whether “free from a woman” in verse 27 means divorced, or whether it means not yet married. If it means “divorced from a woman,” then he is saying, “If such a divorced person remarries, he does not sin.”

The best argument in favor of reading verse 27 that way is that behind the English “free from a woman” is the Greek lelusai which is the passive voice of luō (“I loose”) so that lelusai sounds like “loosed from a woman” that is, “divorced.”

I think it is unlikely that Paul is telling divorcees they are permitted to remarry. Rather, he is probably saying that betrothed virgins — men and women — should seriously consider the life of singleness, but do not sin if they marry.

Here are the arguments for this view:

Verse 25 signals that Paul is beginning a new section and dealing with a new issue. He says, “Now concerning the virgins (tōn parthenōn) I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.” He has already dealt with the problem of divorced people in verses 10–16. Now he takes up a new issue about those who are not yet married, and he signals this by saying, “Now concerning the virgins.” Therefore, it is very unlikely that the people referred to in verses 27 and 28 are divorced.
A flat statement that it is not sin for divorced people to be remarried (verse 28) would contradict verse 11, where he said that a woman who has separated from her husband should remain single. “The wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.”
Verse 36 is very likely describing the same situation in view in verses 27 and 28, but clearly refers to a couple that is not yet married. “If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed (parthenon) if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin” (1 Corinthians 7:36). This is the same as verse 28 where Paul says, “But if you marry, you do not sin.”
The English reference in verse 27 to being bound to a “wife” may be misleading because it may suggest that the man is already married. But in Greek the word for wife is simply “woman” and may refer to a man’s betrothed as well as his spouse. The context dictates that the reference is to a man’s betrothed virgin, not to his spouse. So “being bound” and “being loosed” have reference to whether a person is betrothed or not.
It is significant that the verb Paul uses for “loosed” (lelusai from luō) or “free” is not a word that he uses for divorce. Paul’s words for divorce are chorizō (verses 10, 11, 15; cf. Matthew 19:6) and aphienai (verses 11, 12, 13). In fact, luō is not used for “divorce” anywhere in the New Testament.

________

Recent posts from John Piper —

C. S. Lewis on the Temporary Importance of Fear
Old Shocks in Getting Ready for Romania, Switzerland, and Germany
Learning from John Stott's Godly Ambition




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I think that when we are sinless we will still fear God in the sense of reverential, trembling awe — as when we stand on a peak before vast stretches of unscalable cliffs. And we will also fear, I suppose, in the sense of shuddering with thankfulness that we are not among the number who still dishonor God.

But the painful fear, the guilty fear, the craven fear, the humiliating fear — all such fear will one day be taken way. But only in the way God intends. And in his time. We should not be done with it in the wrong way, or too soon.

Here is the way C. S. Lewis puts it:

Perfect love, we know, casteth out fear [1 John 4:18]. But so do several other things — ignorance, alcohol, passion, presumption, and stupidity.

It is very desirable that we should all advance to that perfection of love in which we shall fear no longer; but it is very undesirable, until we have reached that stage, that we should allow any inferior agent to cast out our fear. (“The World’s Last Night” in C. S. Lewis: Essay Collection and Other Short Pieces, 51)

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Recent posts from John Piper —

Old Shocks in Getting Ready for Romania, Switzerland, and Germany
Learning from John Stott's Godly Ambition
My Future at Desiring God






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I have been preparing for ministry in Romania, Switzerland and Germany. One of the messages I am to give is “What is Gospel-Centered Ministry?” I have let my mind run back over the decades of preaching about this. One message leaps out of my memory with great joy and force. The message at One Day in May, 2000.

The text was Galatians 6:14, just one verse — for One Day with one Passion.

Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Or to state it positively: Only boast in the cross of Jesus Christ. The word can be translated “exult in” or “rejoice in.” Only exult in the cross of Christ. Only rejoice in the cross of Christ.

In preparing for this message twelve years ago two things blew me away as never before. Two shocking things in this one verse.

1) It’s like saying: Only boast in the electric chair. Only exult in the gas chamber. Only rejoice in lethal injection. Let your one boast, and one joy, and one exultation be the lynching rope.

No manner of execution that has ever been devised was more cruel and agonizing than to be nailed to a cross, and then hung up till dead. It was horrible. You would not have been able to watch it — not without screaming and pulling at your hair and tearing your clothes.

So boast in that. Exult in that. Rejoice in that.

Really?

2) And as if that were not enough, Paul says this is to be the only boast of your life. The only joy. The only exultation. “Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

What can he possibly mean? No other boast? No other exultation? No other joy.

Really?

That is what I tried to answer in “Boasting Only in the Cross.” That is some of what I am asking the Lord to help me say on this trip to Europe. Thank you for praying.

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Recent posts from John Piper —

Learning from John Stott's Godly Ambition
My Future at Desiring God
Earnestness in Preaching (and Life)




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Today is John Stott’s first birthday in heaven.

Coming toward the end of my (32-year) ministry as Pastor for Preaching and Vision at Bethlehem Baptist Church, I read Alister Chapman’s new biography of John Stott with special interest. I wanted to see how he finished at All Soul’s and how he shaped the rest of his life.

Stott became Rector at All Souls in 1950 at the age of 29. Just shy of 20 years later he told the church council on September 20, 1969 that “he wanted to stand down.” The church was not prospering as it once had. He felt his calling was to “wider responsibilities.”

The council accepted the proposal and 15 months later Michael Baughen took the helm. “Within a few years All Souls was bursting again” (75). But, Chapman observes, “by almost any measure, Stott’s ministry at All Souls was a success” (77).

Stott was still on the ministerial team at All Souls for another five years. When the severance was complete in September, 1975, he wrote, “I find myself pulled and pushed in various directions these days, and need divine wisdom to know how to establish priorities” (Timothy Dudley-Smith, John Stott, A Biography: The Later Years, IVP, 2001, 248).

I found this comforting. It is remarkable how many good things there are to do. And if one is ambitious to live an unwasted life for the glory of Christ, discernment is crucial. Sudden release from decades of familiar pastoral expectations can easily lead to sloth or superficial busy-ness.

Stott’s discovery was that his calling was a remarkable global ministry. “As with Jim Packer, Stott gave himself to Anglican politics but in the end tired of them. Neither had an obvious, appealing role to fill in England. Both were in demand elsewhere. The result was that two of England’s most gifted evangelicals spent most of the end of their careers serving the church beyond England’s shores” (Godly Ambition, 111).

The thesis of Chapman’s book, Godly Ambition: John Stott and the Evangelical Movement (Oxford, 2012), is that Stott “was both a Christian seeking to honor God and a very talented man who believed he had key roles to play in God’s work in the world and wanted to play them. In short, he combined two things that might seem incongruous: godliness and ambition” (8). With that double drive, “few did more than John Stott to shape global Christianity in the twentieth century” (160).

This ambition was as vital to the end of Stott’s days as his mental and physical life would sustain. One reason is that it was biblically grounded. Explaining his own understanding of ambition he said,

Ambitions for God, if they are to be worthy, can never be modest. There is something inherently inappropriate about cherishing small ambitions for God. How can we ever be content that he should acquire just a little more honour in the world?

Christians should be eager to develop their gifts, widen their opportunities, extend their influence and be given promotion in their work — not now to boost their own ego or build their own empire, but rather through everything they do to bring glory to God. (156)

May every one of us, in the transitions of our lives, seek the kind of holy fire that gives both the light of discernment and the heat of ambition. All of it for the glory of God. This is my deep longing as I face whatever future God gives.

________

Recent posts from John Piper —

My Future at Desiring God
Earnestness in Preaching (and Life)
Ajith Fernando – Through the Eyes of His Son

Dear Friends,

This has been a season of transition at both Bethlehem and Desiring God. In both cases I feel more carried along than pushing or pulling. God is manifestly moving. May the Lord give me grace to stay in step with the Spirit, as he kindly leads us through these happy days.

I am overjoyed with the elders’ choice of Jason Meyer as the candidate to eventually take my place as the Pastor for Preaching and Vision at Bethlehem. As I wrote in the transition questions and answers, there were times when I wept for joy — both at the process God designed, and the person God provided.

I thought, “God is actually doing this. God is loving Bethlehem. God is giving unity. God is anointing Jason. His hand is on him for this. This is no mere human process. God has been at work in this for over twelve years. (Yes, and in eternity!)” Thank you for praying.

My Future at Desiring God

You might wonder what my transition from Bethlehem leadership means for Desiring God. I asked myself, “What would be on a post-pastor business card?” One answer is: “Desiring God: Founder and Teacher.” If God gives me strength, I hope that is one of my roles till I’m not able to function any more.

In other words, transition at Bethlehem does not mean transition at Desiring God. Actually, as I told our church, one of the reasons for my transition is that there is an ever increasing pull on my life to be involved in ministry outside Bethlehem through Desiring God. Much of this feels strategic to me for the cause of Christ, and it seems to me that the Lord is saying: “You have led Bethlehem to this point; it is time to hand off the internal leadership labors to another; I have a few other things yet for you to do.”

This feels particularly timely and weighty as we begin to move ahead with our next season of ministry here at Desiring God — what we've called "Desiring God 3.0". Along with changes in my life and with the church, it's been amazing to see God clarify, lead, and provide for us at Desiring God as we've come to this clarified focus on the Internet as the main megaphone for our message. And as long as God gives me life and health, along with my role as Chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary, the plan is for these next years of my life to be devoted to that mission as founder and teacher at Desiring God.

A Few Updates

1. Thank you to everyone who has helped "lighten our load" as we close our Web store. We were able to distribute roughly 75,000 resources in short order. This move away from having a store will free us up to focus on our core strategy of free content on the Web, to the world. Meanwhile, our books will still be available through Amazon and Westminster Bookstore and many other channels. As always, if you aren't able to afford a resource, you can request a book through our whatever-you-can-afford policy.

2. Last week we launched a Persian section of our Website. Along with Arabic, these represent our first major efforts online to reach the Muslim world. It won't be our last. Pray for us as we continue to invest in translations and technology to reach the non-English speaking world. God has been kind to us: In the last 12 months we've seen a 40% increase in Website visits from outside the United States.

3. On June 6th the Desiring God board will be meeting to approve a strategic plan for our next 12 months of ministry. Please pray for the wisdom of God in leading us to make effective and God-magnifying plans.

Under God, it is through your support that we can continue our mission to reach the world through the Web. Thank you for your partnership. Through all this transition, my life’s calling remains the same — I exist to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ. Pray that I will spend and be spent for this till I can speak and write no more.

Your partner in the greatest cause,

John Piper

with Josh Etter

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Recent posts from John Piper —

Earnestness in Preaching (and Life)
Ajith Fernando – Through the Eyes of His Son
What Does Paul Mean: "Christ Will Reconcile to Himself All Things"?

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