Spectacular Sins: The Fatal Disobedience of Adam and the Triumphant Obedience of Christ

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:

1. 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?
2. Why does the author conclude that God’s ordaining and permitting sin, glorifies the Son? (pg. 56)
3. 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?
4. 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)
5. 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)
6. 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)
7. 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?