How Does God Become Totally for Me?

00:00:04.000 | How do we get into a position where God is 100% for me and never again against me?

00:00:11.000 | Is there a more important question for each of us to answer? I don't think there is.

00:00:16.000 | So how do we find a satisfying answer, especially in a world that tells us we are good enough or special enough to warrant God's eternal favor?

00:00:25.000 | And in a world full of religions that say we can save ourselves?

00:00:29.000 | Everyone has an answer to how God can become 100% for you.

00:00:34.000 | But how does God himself answer the question in his holy word?

00:00:38.000 | Pastor John explained in a 2017 chapel message. Here he is.

00:00:44.000 | How do you get into this position? Who's he talking about?

00:00:48.000 | How do you get into the position where God is 100% for you and not against you?

00:00:53.000 | How do you get in there? I want in there!

00:00:57.000 | I want to be in that paradise!

00:01:00.000 | How do you get into the position where God is 100% for you and not ever at all against you?

00:01:11.000 | The answer of the New Testament is by faith alone.

00:01:15.000 | Now follow me.

00:01:18.000 | You need to be able to stand on this with all your might because of the accusations.

00:01:22.000 | Follow me.

00:01:24.000 | Romans 328.

00:01:27.000 | We hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

00:01:36.000 | I think works of the law here and usually means any effort at law keeping.

00:01:45.000 | Which does imply that Luther at least by way of interpretation got it right when he translated one is justified by faith alone apart from works of the law.

00:01:55.000 | I think that is implied there.

00:01:57.000 | But it doesn't say it. Let's look at another text.

00:01:59.000 | Philippians 3.9.

00:02:02.000 | Paul aims to be found "in Christ" that's crucial.

00:02:08.000 | Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from law.

00:02:14.000 | Law keeping.

00:02:16.000 | But a righteousness which comes through faith in Christ.

00:02:21.000 | The righteousness from God that depends on faith.

00:02:25.000 | So again he is denying and affirming.

00:02:30.000 | He denies that the righteousness he needs in the presence of God is his own.

00:02:37.000 | That comes from law.

00:02:40.000 | And he affirms that the righteousness he needs in the presence of God is in Christ.

00:02:46.000 | In union with Christ.

00:02:50.000 | Which comes through faith in Christ.

00:02:52.000 | The righteousness from God that depends on faith.

00:02:56.000 | So again not law keeping but faith implies faith alone.

00:03:05.000 | It gets clearer. Galatians chapter 2.

00:03:08.000 | Chapter 2 verse 21.

00:03:11.000 | I do not nullify the grace of God for if righteousness were through law Christ died to no purpose.

00:03:22.000 | So the righteousness we need before God is not through law.

00:03:28.000 | Not through law keeping.

00:03:30.000 | Now maybe though it means not completely through law keeping.

00:03:39.000 | Maybe this is room for a little bit.

00:03:43.000 | Maybe it's really salvation by faith.

00:03:47.000 | It's just a little bit.

00:03:49.000 | A little bit of law keeping.

00:03:51.000 | Like maybe just circumcision.

00:03:55.000 | That's not much.

00:04:00.000 | The most radical statement on this is Galatians 5 verses 1 to 3.

00:04:06.000 | For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm therefore and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

00:04:12.000 | Look. I Paul say to you that if you accept circumcision.

00:04:20.000 | Just one little effort at law keeping.

00:04:24.000 | If you accept circumcision.

00:04:27.000 | If you add that one little effort in addition to faith in Christ.

00:04:34.000 | Christ is no advantage to you.

00:04:38.000 | That's wildly radical.

00:04:42.000 | I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision.

00:04:47.000 | He is obligated to keep the whole law.

00:04:56.000 | So if you choose to rely just a little bit on law keeping as a way of getting justified.

00:05:06.000 | As a way of getting into a position where God is 100% for you.

00:05:13.000 | Christ is of no advantage to you.

00:05:20.000 | If you go the route of justification by faith plus a little bit of law keeping.

00:05:27.000 | You go the route of justification by total law keeping.

00:05:31.000 | All or nothing.

00:05:33.000 | Verse 3 again.

00:05:35.000 | I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision.

00:05:40.000 | He is obligated to keep the whole law.

00:05:47.000 | There are two ways of justification.

00:05:50.000 | The way of law keeping which requires your perfection.

00:05:54.000 | And the way of faith which depends on Christ's perfection.

00:05:59.000 | These two paths into the place where God is 100% for you are so distinct.

00:06:06.000 | They cannot be mixed at all.

00:06:09.000 | If you are trusting Christ for a righteous standing.

00:06:14.000 | Where God is 100% for you.

00:06:17.000 | You cannot mix one quiver of effort to establish your own righteousness.

00:06:25.000 | And if you are seeking to establish your own righteousness.

00:06:30.000 | Your own record of virtue.

00:06:32.000 | As an entrance into the position where God is 100% for you.

00:06:36.000 | You cannot mix the slightest faith in Christ as your all sufficient righteousness.

00:06:43.000 | They are mutually exclusive.

00:06:46.000 | That's solid.

00:06:47.000 | We need that reminder often.

00:06:49.000 | That was John Piper in a chapel message at Bethlehem College and Seminary on September 13th, 2017.

00:06:56.000 | It's titled, "Faith Alone. How Not to Use a Reformed Slogan."

00:07:01.000 | You can find the entire address at DesiringGod.org.

00:07:05.000 | And if you have a favorite sermon clip of Pastor John in a recent sermon or an old message.

00:07:09.000 | Send it to us.

00:07:10.000 | Email it in to me.

00:07:11.000 | Mention the time stamps from the audio clip of when it begins and ends.

00:07:16.000 | Or any clip that has most impacted your life.

00:07:19.000 | And email all that information in to me at AskPastorJohn@DesiringGod.org.

00:07:23.000 | That's AskPastorJohn@DesiringGod.org.

00:07:27.000 | Put the word "clip" in the subject line as well if you would.

00:07:30.000 | I'm always interested to hear your favorite clips.

00:07:33.000 | I'm Tony Reinke and Pastor John is back with us in studio on Friday.

00:07:37.000 | We'll see you then.

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How Does God Become Totally for Me?

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