The Lost Who Think They’re Saved But They’re Really Not: Faith in Future Grace #2
At long last, we continue our series of posts on John Piper’s book, Future Grace. Yes - as is my custom, it seems I took a little “break” from reading it, but have picked it back up in the past week. As a disclaimer, I make no claims with this post, but simply try to come to a better understanding of what Piper writes about in chapter fifteen - “A Taste of Spiritual Beauty,” as he writes about “lost believers.”
Not everyone who calls out to me, `Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, `Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, `I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ -
Matthew 7:21-23 Listen21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
(NLT)
Is it possible to believe everything you hear about God, and still be lost? Apparently, yes. Piper reveals that we must experience a “saving faith” that produces good works. He uses Charles Hodge to say that we must experience faith that makes us believe “in a different way.” This different way produces good works - in other words, we can’t help but to do good things, as a result of our saving faith experience. Without these good works, our faith is dead (
).
According to
Luke 10:21 Listen21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
, God reveals this saving faith to us. Piper says, “This revelation enabled that spiritual apprehension and taste which moves the heart to embrace and savor the reality, not just think that it is true,” (p.201).
Matthew 16:16-17 Listen16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
also shows us that God revealed Christ as the Messiah to Peter. “A spiritual work had been done to enable Peter to go beyond what human reason can do and taste the spiritual reality of Christ’s worth and embrace it,” (201).
As we can see from Scripture, we must have these experiences in our lives to have a true, saving faith. So, maybe I am making a claim, after all. Without these experiences, it’s evident in Scripture that at the end of our life, Jesus will likely say, “I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws,” (
Matthew 7:23 Listen23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
).
