The first part of Piper's book is composed of two chapters examining what it means to be born again. Piper reminds us of the assumption that the need to be born again makes, that we are dead before God, which he unpacks more in a later chapter. He then goes on to show us what happens at new birth: new life not new religion, experiencing the supernatural. He also helpfully shows that the spiritual life the Holy Spirit brings is by connecting us with Jesus Christ through faith.
In the second chapter he continues to examine what happens at new birth. We are made a new creation. He helpfully examines why he believes it is wrong to equate water in John 3 with baptism as so many do by taking us back to the text of John 3. Key to it is Jesus assumption (v10) that Nicodemus ought to know what he is talking about, therefore the answer must be in the Hebrew scriptures of which Nicodemus is a teacher. In Ezekiel 36 we see that water and the spirit are closely linked in the new covenant promise, as God promises to cleanse his people and give them new hearts. It is a helpful chapter which examines what it means to be born again and the changes that should be apparent as a result of being reborn by water and the spirit.
Showing posts with label born again. Show all posts
Showing posts with label born again. Show all posts
Thursday, 12 March 2009
Monday, 9 March 2009
Finally Alive - John Piper
I have just begun reading John Piper's new book Finally Alive. I'm going to write an in depth review almost chapter by chapter as I go through it.
Introduction
Piper begins with two very different stories of being born again, that of CS Lewis and Augustine, both born again but illustrating that being born again will be different. Piper's examination of our cultures use of 'born again' and 'evangelical' are timely reminders that when sued as such these terms are not Biblical. In contrast Piper contends that the New Testament moves from the absolute certainty that new birth changes people, to the observation that many professing Christians aren't radically changes to the conclusion that they are not born again.
Piper also contends that the term 'born again' is "very precious and very crucial in the Bible." He then outlines his intention in the book to look at what it means biblically to be born again and why it matters that the Christian understands what happened when they were born again.
In our age when we are shy of using this term, but when evangelical has become so falsely loaded I wonder if this isn't a timely reminder to reassert this idea of our new birth.
Introduction
Piper begins with two very different stories of being born again, that of CS Lewis and Augustine, both born again but illustrating that being born again will be different. Piper's examination of our cultures use of 'born again' and 'evangelical' are timely reminders that when sued as such these terms are not Biblical. In contrast Piper contends that the New Testament moves from the absolute certainty that new birth changes people, to the observation that many professing Christians aren't radically changes to the conclusion that they are not born again.
Piper also contends that the term 'born again' is "very precious and very crucial in the Bible." He then outlines his intention in the book to look at what it means biblically to be born again and why it matters that the Christian understands what happened when they were born again.
In our age when we are shy of using this term, but when evangelical has become so falsely loaded I wonder if this isn't a timely reminder to reassert this idea of our new birth.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)