Six Crucial Truths

(adapted from John Piper’s book, Desiring God – chapter 2)

1. God created us for his glory

We are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26) so that we would image forth his glory in the world. We exist for the glory of God.
“Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory.” Isaiah 43:6-7
 

2. It is the duty of every person to live for the glory of God

If God made us for His glory, it is clear that we should live for His glory. Our duty comes from God’s design. What does it mean to glorify God? It means to acknowledge his glory, to value it above all things, and to make it known.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

“So since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For though they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him…” Romans 1:20-21
 

3. Man failed to glorify God by choosing to disobey him

Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden plunged the entire human race into a state of sinfulness. No one, who is able to make moral choices, has completely obeyed God. Everyone has violated at least several of God’s commandments.

“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” Genesis 3:6-7

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.” ….. “Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam…” Romans 5:12, 14a

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
 

4. The punishment for sin is eternal condemnation

Having held the glory of God in contempt through ingratitude and distrust and disobedience, we are sentenced to be excluded from the enjoyment of the glory of God forever and ever in the eternal misery of hell. Some think everlasting punishment in hell is too large of a punishment for the crime. That shows they do not understand the Holiness and Justice of God – God cannot violate His own character by allowing sin to go unpunished! Hell is…A place of torment

“The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23

“They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power.” 1 Thessalonians 1:9

Jesus often warned that there would be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30).

“It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.” Matthew 18:9

Everlasting

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:41, 46

“And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night.” Revelation 14:11

5. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners

Over against the terrifying news that we have fallen under the condemnation of our Creator and that he is bound by his own righteous character to preserve the worth of his glory by pouring out eternal wrath on our sin, there is the wonderful news of the gospel. The good news (gospel) is that God himself has decreed a way to satisfy the demands of his justice without condemning the whole human race. The wisdom of God has ordained a way for the love of God to deliver us from the wrath of God without compromising the justice of God – the death of the Son of God. The death of Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God by which the love of God saves sinners from the wrath of God, and all the while upholds and demonstrates the righteousness of God.

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15

“[Jesus] was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” Romans 4:25

If the most terrifying news in the world is that we have fallen under the condemnation of our Creator and that he is bound by his own righteous character to preserve the worth of his glory by pouring out his wrath on our sin, then the best news in all the world (the gospel) is that God has decreed a way of salvation which also upholds the worth of his glory. He has given his Son to die for sinners and to conquer their death by his own resurrection.

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

“God [sent] his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man.” Romans 8:3

“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” 1 Peter 3:18
 

6. Turn from your sin and trust the Savior

Not everyone is saved from God’s wrath just because Christ died for sinners. There is a condition we must meet in order to be saved. The condition is repentance of our sins (a turning from them), and trust in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and eternal life. Conversion is really two things: repentance (turning from sin and unbelief) and faith (trusting in Christ alone for salvation). They are really two sides of the same coin.

“Repent, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out.” Acts 3:19

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Acts 16:31

“I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” Acts 20:21
 

Click here if you have decided to follow Jesus or if you have questions.