Friday At Five is our weekly prayer meeting. This is what you can expect when you arrive on Friday evenings. Someone will be at NCCF at 5PM and stay until at least 6PM. Often, the doors will be open before 5 and folks will stay beyond 6.
Usually, we will pray freely. Sometimes, we will pray in a certain direction or for specific occasions and purposes. We will see how the Lord leads.
This will be a great time to bring your prayers of thanksgiving to the Lord. We will want to ask for the resources, strength and empowering of the Spirit to carry out our mission to the Brunswick and beyond. Intercession will play a major part as we pray that people will come to Christ in faith, that others will be healed and that all will grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus.
We could go on, but I think you get the picture. We are coming together at the end of each week to meet the Lord and enjoy His presence.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
When speaking on the subject of God and the existence of evil, it’s important to speak as carefully as possible and that’s where I think John Piper shines in this book. Some things he says, I wouldn’t say. But, I have to admit that he goes right up to the limit without stepping over the line and I think that’s because he leans more heavily to Biblical exegesis than philosophy. Here is what he has to say about secondary causes, an important component to his point of view:
This book is also meant to show that everything that exists — including evil — is ordained by an infinitely holy and all-wise God to make the glory of Christ shine more brightly. The word ordained is peculiar, I know. But I want to be clear what I mean by it. There is no attempt to obscure what I am saying about God’s relation to evil. But there is an attempt to say carefully what the Bible says. By ordain I mean that God either caused something directly or permitted it for wise purposes. This permitting is a kind of indirect causing, since God knows all the factors involved and what effects they will have and he could prevent any outcome. So his permission is a kind of secondary causing, but not a direct causing. This distinction is an effort to be faithful to the different ways the Bible speaks about God’s relation to events.
We spent two weeks discussing this chapter. These are the questions we considered:
- The author says another aim of this book is to present Jesus as supreme — above all angels, kings, commanders, scientists, artists or philosophers – All Things For Jesus – Even Evil (pg. 54). John Piper states that he doesn’t see God’s involvement in the sinful acts of men through secondary causes as a philosophical conclusion. Where does he find those intermediate or secondary causes? Do you think he makes the case?
- Why does the author conclude that God’s ordaining and permitting sin, glorifies the Son? (pg. 56)
- Christianity is not primarily therapeutic (although it has that effect on those who believe). Faith, hope and love do not float in the air, but are grounded in ___________________. (pp. 56 & 57). How does this rock-solid truth affect you, emotionally?
- How does God’s plan to defeat sin and Satan demonstrate that He is not merely responding to a world of moral free agents? In light of God’s purpose, do we make authentic choices? (pp. 58-59)
- Jesus is not a copy of Adam, but Adam was a type of Christ. What does that tell us about their relationship in God’s plan? How are Christ and Adam alike – how are they different? (pp. 60 & 61)
- What are the three ways Paul celebrates the superiority of Jesus over Adam? How do these three truths equal good news for you and me?(pp. 61-64)
- There are a number of wonderful statements in this chapter. For example, “what he knows to be wise, he has always known to be wise – eternally.” “Christianity begins with the conviction that God is an objective reality outside ourselves. We do not make him what he is by thing a certain way about him. As Francis Schaeffer said, he is the God who is there. We don’t make him, He makes us.” “Rootless emotionalism that treats Christianity like a therapeutic option will be swept away in the last days.” Did you find a gem in this chapter?
How did Satan fall? This is a common question in the discussion of sin and evil in the world. John Piper observes:
The Bible does not take us deep into the heart of such a mysterious sin to explain the soul-dynamics that make rebellion rise out of righteousness. We are not given the final answer of how the origin of sin in the soul of a holy being takes place. But neither are we left to wonder if God was surprised or if he had to revamp all his plans.
The author cautions against speculation and urges his readers instead, to focus on the victory Jesus won at the cross, bruising the serpent’s head and destroying the works of the devil. When we do that, our hearts turn to worship and our minds gain courage in the face of evil.
Piper concludes with Eight Things to Do with Evil and Four Things Never to Do with Evil. I have found this one to be helpful in wrestling with questions about the existence of evil, sin and suffer in a world created by an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving God:
3. Never yield to the thought that God sins or is ever unjust or unrighteous in the way he governs the universe. “The Lord is righteous in all his ways. (Psalm 145:17).
We discussed these questions:
- John Piper tells us on page 40 that the absence of detail about the origin of evil is not meant to promote speculation, but rather to awaken worship and give us courage in the face of sin and misery. How can we avoid speculating and experience the awe and comfort the author points to?
- What is the greatest weapon that Jesus stripped from Satan at the cross (pg. 42)? Is Christ’s victory over evil an ever-present reality to you or do you need to remind yourself occasionally? What one discipline do you think would be the most effective in keeping you from lapsing into depression or despair over your own moral lapses?
- I like how the author’s conclusion that libertarian free will “is simply another way of naming the mystery” (pg. 43). What is the mystery he’s talking about and, since that doesn’t solve the mystery, how does he think we should proceed to get some understanding?
- Questions from the seven points: In what sense is “Satan the ruler of this world?: (pg. 44) Describe the difference in authority that God wields in the 10 commandments and the authority He exercises over the demons. (pg. 45) If Satan is the murderer, does he possess the power over our life and death? (pg. 46) In point number 6 on pg. 46, we read God’s words of comfort to Peter… do you think God cares for you in the same way?
- Why not wipe out Satan? (pp. 48 & 49)
Continue reading about Spectacular Sins: The Fall of Satan and the Victory of Christ
I think it’s very wise of the author, when discussing questions about the sin and misery that are in the world, to remind his readers of two things. First, God has not been silent, but there is plenty of room for speculation and we do not want to go there:
“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever… Deuteronomy 29:29
Second, when evil seems to triumph and God’s people appear weak or defeated, the truth is that the ultimate victory has been won and Christ stands victorious:
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. Colossians 1:15-20
Our faith rests in Jesus, Who alone is able to give us this assurance in the face of trouble:
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39
These are the questions we discussed:
- On page 32, John Piper lists 15 attributes or “glories” of Jesus Christ from Colossians 1: 15-20; then, he suggests we memorize them. Why would we want to commit them to memory and what practical value would they have in day-to-day living?
- If nothing in the universe exists for its own sake, for what purpose do all things exist? How can we find personal meaning and significance, if that’s the case? (pg. 33)
- Were you surprised to learn that principalities and powers were created for Christ, but they were not created evil? (pg. 35) What possible comfort can we draw from this snippet of truth from the Letter to the Colossians – why would God reveal that through Paul’s pen?
- What does the author tell us is the main point for writing the book on page 35 and what is his antidote for wimpy Christians (pg. 36)?
- John Piper closes with five summary statements that lead to the conclusion that everything and everyone serves to magnify the glory of our Savior and increase the gladness of his people in him. (pg. 38) Have you ever found yourself in a situation or condition where one of these truths served to console or encourage you?
Continue reading about Spectacular Sins: Christ Sovereign Over All Hostile Powers
