The Gospel Saves Believers (Romans 1)
Romans 1:16-17 for I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the gospel a righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
We are asking the question, how does the gospel save believers? Not: How does the gospel get people to be believers? When spoken in the power of the Holy Spirit, the gospel does have power to open people’s eyes and change their hearts and draw them to faith, and save them. That’s what is happening on Tuesday nights and Wednesday nights this summer. People are being drawn to Christ through the power and beauty of the gospel.
But I am stressing what Paul says here in verses 16 and 17, namely, that "the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes." Believers need to be saved. The gospel is the instrument of God’s power to save us. And we need to know how the gospel saves us believers so that we make proper use of it.
Notice the link between verses 15 and 16: "So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome." Who is this "you"? Verses 6-7 tell us: ". . . among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints." So he says in verse 15 that he is "eager to preach the gospel" to these called, loved, saints whose "faith is being proclaimed all over the world" (v. 8). Why? Verse 16: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (literally: who is believing) namely, you. And, namely, you Bethlehem believers.
I say it with Paul: I, John Piper, am eager to preach the gospel to you who believe – exactly to you who believe – because this gospel which is laid out in the book of Romans is the power of God to save you. You believers need to hear the gospel in order to be saved. And Paul labors mercifully for 16 chapters to tell us the gospel and how it works to save believers.
John Piper
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
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5 comments:
Craig,
Great post!! This proclaiming of the Gospel of Grace to the church is crucial. I believe it’s the heart of the Father in this hour to see His sons and daughters set free from mixtures of law and grace, Old Covenant and New Covenant. As the Gospel of Grace is preached to the church, it can be catapulted it into a new boldness, a new freedom to move out of “maintenance” and into mission, a grace mission. What a joyful assignment! If the usual drift of the church is towards legalism and moralism, nothing less will do. Though John Piper annoys me on occasion, I love him and believe he is sent to free many of those taken captive by hyper Calvinism.
"John Piper annoys me on occasion"...gee i like your honesty there Jim. I have never seen him as a great grace preacher..though recently i found some stuff from him i like...
check this out from him...http://www.soundofgrace.com/piper98/8-16-98.htm
Craig,
Sorry if I came off too harsh on Piper but there is a certain contingent in the Reformed camp (not all; for example Terry Virgo and others) that proclaim a deeply sin-focused, law-based, performance driven “gospel” that we have helped some people recently come to terms with and get free. John Piper is probably on the softer side of the equation and for that I am grateful.
Love this dialog. P.S. the Bernie Brit downloads are terrific!
Jim
No need to apologise, I hear what yo say about Piper...i tend to agree with you Jim...
and you right...Bertie rocks!! I love his 10 part series on "Deeper insights on the fullfilment of the Law"
Hello, read these posts and comments almost daily was unaware I could respond without being "hooked up" on the site as a blogger (seems I was signed up anyway)....Anyway......- "Move out of maintenance and into mission" - gee I like that ... sounds like the church awakening to shine the light and BE the salt of the earth by HIS influence .......sooo many out there who need to know HIM and His Grace - JESUS - those who have met HIM but walk in the shadows of the law AND those who don't even know the TRUTH about HIM....
I agree BERTIE rocks..... light bulbs flashing....doors and windows opening.....bells ringing....FREEDOM FEEDOM FREEDOM HE teaches TRUTH AND GRACE as it is HE who resides in him......
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