GOD’S WORD FOR JUNE 29 ~ ~ Romans 8:4~ ~ “so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Continuing with excerpts from John Piper’s book, “The Pleasures of God”
This entire book assumes something about the reader, in describing the promises and pleasures that we’ve been discussing
It assumes that the reader has responded to the drawing of God in the proper way.
I have repeatedly assumed that the benefits of God’s promises and the purchase of Jesus’ death and resurrection are for the people of God. I have also assumed that the mark of this people is not merely that they are “chosen before the foundation of the world,” but that they have WILLINGLY RESPONDED to God in a certain way.
In this chapter I have focused mainly on God’s pleasure in the good of his people. He rejoices in doing us good with all his heart and all his soul. But it has become clear that, in order to explain this, I have had to raise the question of our proper response to God.
God does not rejoice to do good to everyone in the same way. Though his sun rises on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45), there is a saving grace that abounds to those who hope in his love.
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble….Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:6-8)
It is fitting therefore that we dwell on this for a while. God’s pleasure in the good of his people is inseparably connected with his pleasure in a CERTAIN KIND OF RESPONSE that defines who his people are.
“He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already. (John 3:18).
Our response to God is utterly crucial. God has pleasure in a certain kind of response.
(one prominent teacher said about walking in the Spirit—that it is like physical walking. We take one step, and immediately take another with the other foot. If we wait too long to put the other foot down, we’ll be off balance. We go from one to the other to keep balanced—-to walk “upright, in the Spirit”.
He said that those two legs are REPENTANCE AND FAITH. We should repent often of sins we don’t know about, and run to him in repentance for ones that we do know. Then we immediately put down the leg of faith that those sins are forgiven, not because of us in any way, but strictly because of the finished work on the cross of our Savior. He pointed out, that these two legs will assure us of humility, and the fruits of the spirit. Walking in the Spirit this way is the mark of a true child of God through Jesus.)
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.