Pastor John Samson over at Reformation Theology Blog has much to say on grace, when reviewing John Piper’s book Future Grace. This is more than a review, it is an exultation in God’s free grace.
He says,
“God’s grace is a huge subject with many facets to it. Grace has meaning only when mankind is seen as fallen, unworthy of salvation, and fully deserving of eternal wrath. It is precisely because people today have lost sight of the depths of human corruption and sin that they think so little of divine grace. Grace is not “amazing grace” to them, but merely “boring grace.” “….”Grace is seen in this – while we were wretches; while we were sinners, shaking our fists at God, hating God, defying God in thought, word and deed – every single one of us; God did something ridiculous – paying an outlandish and scandalous price to redeem us (the blood of His beloved Son). This was not because He calculated it all out and thought it was a good investment on His part; that we were “worth it.” No, God was motivated by His radical, amazing, abundant and all conquering love alone, as He set about saving a people for Himself. There was nothing of intrinsic worth in the creatures He redeemed. Any worth we had was entirely borrowed from the God who made us in His image.”….
“Grace is sovereign and free. Although God is gracious in His eternal being, He need not be gracious or shower His grace upon anyone. Think about it – though many angels had fallen into sin, no plan was ever initiated to rescue even one of these angels from the fierce wrath of God. Yet, the angels of God surrounding the throne are still singing “holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of His glory.” In the heavenly courts, there is not even a hint of injustice in any of this. Why? Because God is never obligated to show mercy to any of His creatures. No injustice takes place when justice is administrated! If God was ever obliged to show mercy, we would not be speaking of mercy at all, but of justice.”….
“Since grace is a gift, no work is to be performed, no offering made, to repay God for His favor. The biblical response to grace received is faith to receive yet more.”….
“”Future Grace” is a rich book, and one to read more than once. Though the book is about grace, it is, in reality, a book about holiness… a grace-empowered holiness. It includes practical chapters on how faith in future grace defeats anxiety, pride, shame, lust and despondency. People will very much identify with the issues that are raised and connect with the biblical remedies found in trusting the future grace of God. I recommend the book highly.”
∼striving for the unity of the faith for the glory of God∼ Eph. 4:3,13 “¢ Rom. 15:5-7