Made Alive by Great Love

If our forgiveness If our forgiveness depended on the fullness of the depended on the fullness of the depended on the fullness of the knowledge of our sins, we would all knowledge of our sins, we would all knowledge of our sins, we would all perish. perish. perish. Without exception. Without exception. Without exception. No one knows the extent [music] of his No one knows the extent [music] of his No one knows the extent [music] of his sinfulness. No one. I don't care how sinfulness. No one. I don't care how sinfulness. No one. I don't care how guilty you feel tonight. You don't know guilty you feel tonight. You don't know guilty you feel tonight. You don't know how bad you are. how bad you are. how bad you are. You don't know. >> There are times, aren't there, when our >> There are times, aren't there, when our guilt can feel overwhelming? But one of guilt can feel overwhelming? But one of guilt can feel overwhelming? But one of the striking things John Piper says in the striking things John Piper says in the striking things John Piper says in this episode is that even our deepest this episode is that even our deepest this episode is that even our deepest awareness [music] of sin actually barely awareness [music] of sin actually barely awareness [music] of sin actually barely scratches the surface, which means also scratches the surface, which means also scratches the surface, which means also the grace of God in Christ reaches far the grace of God in Christ reaches far the grace of God in Christ reaches far deeper than we can even begin to deeper than we can even begin to deeper than we can even begin to imagine. [music] imagine. [music] imagine. [music] I'm your host, Dan Cruver. I'm your host, Dan Cruver. I'm your host, Dan Cruver. In this episode of Light and Truth, John In this episode of Light and Truth, John In this episode of Light and Truth, John Piper turns to Ephesians 2:1-10 Piper turns to Ephesians 2:1-10 Piper turns to Ephesians 2:1-10 to show why spiritually [music] to show why spiritually [music] to show why spiritually [music] dead sinners need nothing less than to dead sinners need nothing less than to dead sinners need nothing less than to be made alive by the [music] great love be made alive by the [music] great love be made alive by the [music] great love of God.

of God. of God. This message was originally delivered at This message was originally delivered at This message was originally delivered at Bethlehem Baptist Church on December Bethlehem Baptist Church on December Bethlehem Baptist Church on December 9th, 2007. But God But God who is rich in mercy who is rich in mercy who is rich in mercy out of the great love with which he out of the great love with which he out of the great love with which he loved us loved us loved us made us made us made us alive. Oh God, Oh God, thank you. >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> Father, I pray that a humble gratitude >> Father, I pray that a humble gratitude >> Father, I pray that a humble gratitude would would would wash over this people for life for life in the spirit. And I pray, oh God, that any who is dead And I pray, oh God, that any who is dead here who does not embrace Jesus as Lord, who does not embrace Jesus as Lord, rest in Jesus as savior, treasure Jesus treasure Jesus as gold, as gold, as gold, would tonight, would tonight, would tonight, today, North Campus, North Campus, South Campus, South Campus, South Campus, and here and here and here be made alive.

be made alive. be made alive. This is your work, not mine. This is your work, not mine. This is your work, not mine. I plead with you to make it happen. I plead with you to make it happen. I plead with you to make it happen. In Jesus' name. In Jesus' name. In Jesus' name. Amen. The first sentence The first sentence >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> in one of the greatest books that has >> in one of the greatest books that has >> in one of the greatest books that has ever been written about ever been written about ever been written about God about 500 years ago, God about 500 years ago, God about 500 years ago, namely John Calvin's Institutes, begins namely John Calvin's Institutes, begins namely John Calvin's Institutes, begins or is or is or is this sentence. this sentence. this sentence. Nearly all the wisdom we possess, Nearly all the wisdom we possess, Nearly all the wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists of two parts, consists of two parts, consists of two parts, the knowledge of God the knowledge of God the knowledge of God and of ourselves. Now, Now, it probably doesn't require any it probably doesn't require any it probably doesn't require any reminding reminding reminding today that today that today that the knowledge of God is difficult to the knowledge of God is difficult to the knowledge of God is difficult to come by and to comprehend and to come by and to comprehend and to come by and to comprehend and to embrace. He's God.

embrace. He's God. embrace. He's God. That everyone would assume the knowledge That everyone would assume the knowledge That everyone would assume the knowledge of God is a challenge. of God is a challenge. of God is a challenge. If he's God and we're not. If he's God and we're not. If he's God and we're not. However, it might bear reminding However, it might bear reminding However, it might bear reminding that the knowledge of ourselves is also that the knowledge of ourselves is also that the knowledge of ourselves is also difficult. In fact, I'm going to venture to say it In fact, I'm going to venture to say it is more difficult than the knowledge of is more difficult than the knowledge of is more difficult than the knowledge of God. God. God. And the reason I'm going to venture that And the reason I'm going to venture that And the reason I'm going to venture that risky statement is because risky statement is because risky statement is because to know yourself to know yourself to know yourself the way you need to know yourself the way you need to know yourself the way you need to know yourself requires that you first requires that you first requires that you first know God. Therefore, self-knowledge and Therefore, self-knowledge and God-knowledge are both required for God-knowledge are both required for God-knowledge are both required for self-knowledge. self-knowledge. self-knowledge. And another reason why And another reason why And another reason why self-knowledge is I think perhaps more self-knowledge is I think perhaps more self-knowledge is I think perhaps more difficult is because we're prone to difficult is because we're prone to difficult is because we're prone to think we have it when we don't have it.

when we don't have it. There is not a person on the planet There is not a person on the planet There is not a person on the planet who knows himself who knows himself who knows himself as deeply as we need to know ourselves. as deeply as we need to know ourselves. as deeply as we need to know ourselves. Nobody. The prophet Jeremiah wrote The prophet Jeremiah wrote "The heart is deceitful above all things "The heart is deceitful above all things "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick. Who [snorts] can and desperately sick. Who [snorts] can and desperately sick. Who [snorts] can understand it?" David a great knower of himself wrote David a great knower of himself wrote in Psalm 19 verse 12 in Psalm 19 verse 12 in Psalm 19 verse 12 "Who can discern his errors? "Who can discern his errors? "Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults." In other words, In other words, we never get to the bottom of our we never get to the bottom of our we never get to the bottom of our sinfulness. sinfulness. sinfulness. Ever. We have to end all of our prayers of We have to end all of our prayers of confession with confession with confession with and as well declare me innocent and as well declare me innocent and as well declare me innocent of the ones that are tucked down so of the ones that are tucked down so of the ones that are tucked down so deeply in the folds of my deeply in the folds of my deeply in the folds of my self-justifications self-justifications self-justifications that I didn't see them and I'll never that I didn't see them and I'll never that I didn't see them and I'll never see them until the judgment day If our forgiveness If our forgiveness depended on the fullness of the depended on the fullness of the depended on the fullness of the knowledge of our sins, we would all

knowledge of our sins, we would all knowledge of our sins, we would all perish perish perish without exception. without exception. without exception. No one knows the extent of his No one knows the extent of his No one knows the extent of his sinfulness. No one. I don't care how sinfulness. No one. I don't care how sinfulness. No one. I don't care how guilty you feel tonight. You don't know guilty you feel tonight. You don't know guilty you feel tonight. You don't know how bad you are. how bad you are. how bad you are. You don't know. It's deeper than anyone can fathom. It's deeper than anyone can fathom. The Bible, however, that The Bible, however, that The Bible, however, that glorious book of God glorious book of God glorious book of God does not leave us without help in does not leave us without help in does not leave us without help in knowing ourselves. The fact that you knowing ourselves. The fact that you knowing ourselves. The fact that you can't know yourself fully does not mean can't know yourself fully does not mean can't know yourself fully does not mean you can't know yourself deeply, you can't know yourself deeply, you can't know yourself deeply, significantly, significantly, significantly, and to that degree truly. and to that degree truly. and to that degree truly. Indeed, you must. You just must. The Bible has a clear and devastating The Bible has a clear and devastating word word word about our souls. about our souls. about our souls. And the reason it has a clear and And the reason it has a clear and And the reason it has a clear and devastating word about our souls devastating word about our souls devastating word about our souls is so that we will know is so that we will know is so that we will know what we need what we need what we need and dance when God gives it.

John 3:7 says, "You must be born again." John 3:7 says, "You must be born again." And John 3:3 says, "Unless one is born And John 3:3 says, "Unless one is born And John 3:3 says, "Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of again, he cannot see the kingdom of again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." God." God." In other words, being born again In other words, being born again In other words, being born again is serious, is serious, is serious, to put it mildly. to put it mildly. to put it mildly. I feel a tremendous weight in this I feel a tremendous weight in this I feel a tremendous weight in this series, series, series, that we not be cavalier about this, that that we not be cavalier about this, that that we not be cavalier about this, that I not joke around about this, that I not I not joke around about this, that I not I not joke around about this, that I not entertain you with this. You will not see the kingdom if you're You will not see the kingdom if you're not born again. You'll perish forever if you're not born You'll perish forever if you're not born again. again. again. This is not This is not This is not child's play. It's not It's not turning over a new leaf. turning over a new leaf. turning over a new leaf. It's not moral improvement. It's not It's not moral improvement. It's not It's not moral improvement. It's not self-discipline. self-discipline. self-discipline. The question is, why do we need this?

The question is, why do we need this? The question is, why do we need this? Why do we need this? I mean, can't we just get a new start? I mean, can't we just get a new start? Can we just Can we just Can we just do some steps? Ephesians chapter 2 verse 1 and verse 5 Ephesians chapter 2 verse 1 and verse 5 says, says, says, verse 1, verse 1, verse 1, "You were dead "You were dead "You were dead in trespasses and sins." Verse 5, in trespasses and sins." Verse 5, in trespasses and sins." Verse 5, "God being rich in mercy," "God being rich in mercy," "God being rich in mercy," this is 4 and 5. "God being rich in this is 4 and 5. "God being rich in this is 4 and 5. "God being rich in mercy because of the great love with mercy because of the great love with mercy because of the great love with which he loved us, which he loved us, which he loved us, even when we were dead even when we were dead even when we were dead There it is the second time. We were There it is the second time. We were There it is the second time. We were dead. dead. dead. In our trespasses, made us alive. Made In our trespasses, made us alive. Made In our trespasses, made us alive. Made us alive. us alive. us alive. Together with Christ, by grace Together with Christ, by grace Together with Christ, by grace you have been saved. So, two times you have been saved. So, two times you have been saved. So, two times verse one, verse five, verse one, verse five, verse one, verse five, we're dead.

The remedy The remedy in verse five is in verse five is in verse five is God made us God made us God made us alive. And And notice the roots of it in verse And And notice the roots of it in verse four. four. four. Being rich in mercy Being rich in mercy Being rich in mercy out of the great out of the great out of the great love with which he loved us, love with which he loved us, love with which he loved us, made us alive. made us alive. made us alive. So, what's underneath this act? It's So, what's underneath this act? It's So, what's underneath this act? It's wealth of mercy and greatness of love. wealth of mercy and greatness of love. wealth of mercy and greatness of love. Which means this. You will never enjoy You will never enjoy to the full to the full to the full the greatness of the love of God until the greatness of the love of God until the greatness of the love of God until you know you were dead. It'll seem like a light thing. It'll seem like a light thing. Grew up in the church. Grew up in the church. Grew up in the church. Kept my nose clean.

Kept my nose clean. Kept my nose clean. What's the big deal? Why you singing? What's the big deal? Why you singing? What's the big deal? Why you singing? Why do people lift their hands? What's Why do people lift their hands? What's Why do people lift their hands? What's so great about so great about so great about this salvation? this salvation? this salvation? Those people who talk that way don't Those people who talk that way don't Those people who talk that way don't know themselves. know themselves. know themselves. They don't know themselves. It takes a wealth of divine mercy. It It takes a wealth of divine mercy. It takes greatness of love. It takes takes greatness of love. It takes takes greatness of love. It takes sovereign grace sovereign grace sovereign grace to make us alive. to make us alive. to make us alive. And that's what's happened if you're a And that's what's happened if you're a And that's what's happened if you're a Christian. I take this phrase, "He made us alive." I take this phrase, "He made us alive." to be identical with the new birth. It's not the new birth language, I know It's not the new birth language, I know that. that. that. It's just the same reality. It's just the same reality. It's just the same reality. We were dead.

We were dead. We were dead. He He He He made us alive. He made us alive. He made us alive. That which is born of the spirit is That which is born of the spirit is That which is born of the spirit is spirit. It is the spirit that gives spirit. It is the spirit that gives spirit. It is the spirit that gives life. John 6:63. life. John 6:63. life. John 6:63. So, that statement is the spirit that So, that statement is the spirit that So, that statement is the spirit that gives life and he made us alive, same gives life and he made us alive, same gives life and he made us alive, same thing. So, So, now we can say it. Regeneration Regeneration understanding what's happened to you and understanding what's happened to you and understanding what's happened to you and experiencing the regeneration, the new experiencing the regeneration, the new experiencing the regeneration, the new birth, the being made alive birth, the being made alive birth, the being made alive is the experience of a unique kind of is the experience of a unique kind of is the experience of a unique kind of divine love. love. This is covenant love. He plights love. This is covenant love. He plights his troth with the dead and makes her and makes her his own his own his own forever.

forever. forever. Nobody can pluck them out of my hand. This is unique covenant-keeping love. He This is unique covenant-keeping love. He doesn't love everybody like this, or doesn't love everybody like this, or doesn't love everybody like this, or everybody would be born again. Know yourself covenanted Know yourself covenanted with an extraordinary with an extraordinary with an extraordinary great love, great love, great love, riches of mercy. You were dead. You were dead. Why are you alive? Why are you alive? Why are you alive? Great covenant love, great overflowing Great covenant love, great overflowing Great covenant love, great overflowing mercy, sovereign grace. Those are the mercy, sovereign grace. Those are the mercy, sovereign grace. Those are the three words in this text. Mercy, love, three words in this text. Mercy, love, three words in this text. Mercy, love, and grace. So, the question is, So, the question is, why did it take a new birth?

Why couldn't you just do it another way? Why couldn't you just do it another way? Why can't we just Why can't we just Why can't we just be [snorts] less dramatic, less be [snorts] less dramatic, less be [snorts] less dramatic, less supernatural, supernatural, supernatural, less scary? Why do you have to do it this way? Why do you have to do it this way? Why do we need this? Why do we need this? Why do we need this? One main reason given in this text, One main reason given in this text, One main reason given in this text, namely, we're dead. namely, we're dead. namely, we're dead. And I want to unpack that with nine And I want to unpack that with nine And I want to unpack that with nine other biblical ways of saying it that other biblical ways of saying it that other biblical ways of saying it that explain deadness. Why do we need to be explain deadness. Why do we need to be explain deadness. Why do we need to be born again and change? Number one, Number one, now, all of these are simply an effort now, all of these are simply an effort now, all of these are simply an effort to to to help me help me help me know myself. know myself. know myself. I don't know myself. James talks about I don't know myself. James talks about I don't know myself. James talks about the Bible as looking at yourself in a the Bible as looking at yourself in a the Bible as looking at yourself in a mirror, right? It's cuz the mirror in mirror, right? It's cuz the mirror in mirror, right? It's cuz the mirror in the bathroom lies. the bathroom lies. the bathroom lies. It doesn't help at all. Might make you It doesn't help at all. Might make you It doesn't help at all. Might make you feel bad, but not real deep.

feel bad, but not real deep. feel bad, but not real deep. Oh, shoot, another wrinkle. That's not Oh, shoot, another wrinkle. That's not Oh, shoot, another wrinkle. That's not the point at all. The Bible is is the point at all. The Bible is is the point at all. The Bible is is another kind of mirror and that's why another kind of mirror and that's why another kind of mirror and that's why I'm just going to try to hold it up. I I'm just going to try to hold it up. I I'm just going to try to hold it up. I want to be faithful. Don't care about want to be faithful. Don't care about want to be faithful. Don't care about what John Piper says. what John Piper says. what John Piper says. But if I read Bible, But if I read Bible, But if I read Bible, listen. listen. listen. So, number one, So, number one, So, number one, and stay with this for a moment, apart and stay with this for a moment, apart and stay with this for a moment, apart from the new birth, we are dead in from the new birth, we are dead in from the new birth, we are dead in trespasses and sin. Dead means trespasses and sin. Dead means trespasses and sin. Dead means what? Lifeless, but not physically what? Lifeless, but not physically what? Lifeless, but not physically lifeless. lifeless. lifeless. Not morally Following the world. We're not dead. Following the world. We're not dead. We're following. We got legs. We're following. We got legs. We're following. We got legs. Verse two. Verse two. Verse two. Passions Passions Passions of the flesh. Desires of the body and of the flesh. Desires of the body and of the flesh. Desires of the body and the mind.

the mind. the mind. Some dead men. Some dead men. Some dead men. So, what dead mean? So, what dead mean? So, what dead mean? You're walking, you're following, you're You're walking, you're following, you're You're walking, you're following, you're passions, you're desiring. passions, you're desiring. passions, you're desiring. What's this dead business? It means It means spiritually spiritually spiritually dead. That is dead. That is dead. That is a rock toward God. Resistant Resistant to God. Unresponsive, insensitive to God. Unresponsive, insensitive to God. Unresponsive, insensitive to God. to God. to God. To the gospel, to the beauty of Christ, To the gospel, to the beauty of Christ, To the gospel, to the beauty of Christ, to the lordship of Jesus. No No moving, no quickening, no loving, No No moving, no quickening, no loving, no embracing, no treasuring no embracing, no treasuring no embracing, no treasuring towards that. Oh, we can love all the towards that. Oh, we can love all the towards that. Oh, we can love all the wrong things. wrong things. wrong things. >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> And we can't love the right things. Spiritually dead. Spiritually dead. Number two. Number two. Number two. Apart from the new birth, we are by Apart from the new birth, we are by Apart from the new birth, we are by nature children of wrath, verse three.

nature children of wrath, verse three. nature children of wrath, verse three. By nature By nature By nature children of wrath. Let that phrase sink children of wrath. Let that phrase sink children of wrath. Let that phrase sink in. in. in. Verse three, we were by nature children Verse three, we were by nature children Verse three, we were by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind. In of wrath like the rest of mankind. In of wrath like the rest of mankind. In other words, nobody's excluded. We're all children We're all children of wrath. Now, the point of that is of wrath. Now, the point of that is of wrath. Now, the point of that is this, this, this, to make clear to make clear to make clear that our problem is not that our problem is not that our problem is not first or primarily first or primarily first or primarily what we do, what we do, what we do, but who we are. I am my main problem. I am my main problem. You aren't my problem. You aren't my problem. You aren't my problem. My parents are not my problem. My parents are not my problem. My parents are not my problem. My job is not my problem. My job is not my problem. My job is not my problem. I'm my problem. I'm my problem. I'm my problem. That's what it says. I'm by nature That's what it says. I'm by nature That's what it says. I'm by nature suited suited suited for wrath.

for wrath. for wrath. That means that God, in his infinite That means that God, in his infinite That means that God, in his infinite holiness, when he is angry at me, is holiness, when he is angry at me, is holiness, when he is angry at me, is doing the perfectly suitable thing. We're so quick to tell people God's not We're so quick to tell people God's not mad at us. mad at us. mad at us. We're designed for madness at us. That's We're designed for madness at us. That's We're designed for madness at us. That's who we are. We're woven in our mother's who we are. We're woven in our mother's who we are. We're woven in our mother's womb like that. womb like that. womb like that. In sin did my mother conceive me. I was In sin did my mother conceive me. I was In sin did my mother conceive me. I was brought forth in iniquity, David said. brought forth in iniquity, David said. brought forth in iniquity, David said. I came in bent and rebellious and I came in bent and rebellious and I came in bent and rebellious and selfish and demanding. It's like you're selfish and demanding. It's like you're selfish and demanding. It's like you're sitting there right now bristling at sitting there right now bristling at sitting there right now bristling at this. I didn't have a good nature, I didn't have a good nature, do some bad things and get a bad nature.

do some bad things and get a bad nature. do some bad things and get a bad nature. There's a name for that, but I won't There's a name for that, but I won't There's a name for that, but I won't bother you with the old theological bother you with the old theological bother you with the old theological name. Just confuse everybody. name. Just confuse everybody. name. Just confuse everybody. Start off good or neutral, do some bad Start off good or neutral, do some bad Start off good or neutral, do some bad things, nothing bad things give you bad things, nothing bad things give you bad things, nothing bad things give you bad nature, now you're stuck in nature, now you're stuck in nature, now you're stuck in there'll be some bad stuff in the there'll be some bad stuff in the there'll be some bad stuff in the future. future. future. Didn't happen that way. Didn't happen that way. Didn't happen that way. That's not the way the Bible describes That's not the way the Bible describes That's not the way the Bible describes us. We are children of us. We are children of us. We are children of wrath. It's who I am. It's who I am. My nature is selfish. My nature is selfish. My nature is selfish. My nature is self-centered. My nature is self-centered. My nature is self-centered. My nature is demanding. My nature is demanding. My nature is demanding. And my nature is that I am really And my nature is that I am really And my nature is that I am really skilled, really skilled in making you skilled, really skilled in making you skilled, really skilled in making you feel like you're the problem. Some people are better at this than Some people are better at this than others. Everybody's a little bit good at others. Everybody's a little bit good at others. Everybody's a little bit good at it. it. it. Thousand ways to do it. And if your response to that statement And if your response to that statement is I know somebody like that, >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> you may be >> you may be >> you may be totally blind Paul describes our nature as children of Paul describes our nature as children of wrath.

wrath. wrath. In other words, God's wrath belongs to In other words, God's wrath belongs to In other words, God's wrath belongs to us the way a parent belongs to a child. us the way a parent belongs to a child. us the way a parent belongs to a child. Children of wrath. Children of wrath. Children of wrath. Our nature is so rebellious, so selfish, Our nature is so rebellious, so selfish, Our nature is so rebellious, so selfish, so callous towards the majesty of God so callous towards the majesty of God so callous towards the majesty of God that his holy anger that his holy anger that his holy anger >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> is right, natural, good, wise, fitting. >> is right, natural, good, wise, fitting. >> is right, natural, good, wise, fitting. And there will be [music] no objection And there will be [music] no objection And there will be [music] no objection at the last day when it is poured out. at the last day when it is poured out. at the last day when it is poured out. >> Thank you for listening to this episode >> Thank you for listening to this episode >> Thank you for listening to this episode of Light and [music] Truth, where we are of Light and [music] Truth, where we are of Light and [music] Truth, where we are committed to providing God-centered committed to providing God-centered committed to providing God-centered preaching to help you see Christ clearly preaching to help you see Christ clearly preaching to help you see Christ clearly and treasure him truly. I'm your host, and treasure him truly. I'm your host, and treasure him truly. I'm your host, Dan Cruver. Dan Cruver. Dan Cruver. On our next episode, John Piper On our next episode, John Piper On our next episode, John Piper continues our 15-part series Born from continues our 15-part series Born from continues our 15-part series Born from Above with a message titled Loving Above with a message titled Loving Above with a message titled Loving Darkness, Hating Light. I hope you'll Darkness, Hating Light. I hope you'll Darkness, Hating Light. I hope you'll join us. join us. join us. For more resources, visit For more resources, visit For more resources, visit desiringgod.org.