Jonathan Enns

Book Review: The Passion of Jesus Christ by John Piper

// February 5th, 2010 // book review

The purpose of the book is to explain 50 purposes why Jesus Christ came and died, and ground the reader in the Gospel of grace.

It seems like Piper is all the rage nowadays in “conservative” evangelicalism, some people love him, others can’t stand him and his 5-pointedness. This is the first book I read by piper (it was a Christmas gift from my sister). I really enjoyed this book, and it challenged me! Even though some of his 5-point calvinist and reformed beliefs that I do not agree with did come through (see end). Don’t get me wrong, I agree with most of Calvins theology, especially about salvation. This book is very clear and explains in very clear theology exactly what happened to a believe at Salvation. Very foundational…truths about our positional and progressive sanctification.

Each chapter is 2-pages, short and to the point. Here are some things I highlighted during my read:

Chapter 1, Christ suffered and died to Absorb the wrath of God

…Therefore sin is not small, because it is not agains a small Sovereign. The seriousness of an insult rises with the dignity of the one insulted. The Creator of the universe is infinitely worthy of respect and admiration and loyalty. Therefore, failure to love him is not trivial – it is treason.

…The substitute, Jesus Christ does not just cancel the wrath, he absorbs it and diverts it from us to himself. Gods wrath is just, and it was spent, not withdrawn.

Chapter 10, Christ suffered and died to provide the basis for our Justification

…To be justified in a courtroom is not the same as being forgiven. Being forgiven implies that I am guilty and my crime is not counted. Being justified implies that I have been tried and found innocent.

…[Justification] is only the removal of guilt. That does not declare us righteous. Cancelling our failures to keep the law is not the same as declaring us a law-keeper. When a teacher cancels a from the record an exam that got an F, it’s not the same as declaring it an A. If the bank were to forgive the debts on my account, that would not be the same as declaring me rich. So also, cancelling our sins is not the same as declaring us righteous. The cancellation is essential to justification. But there is more.

Chapter 12: Christ suffered and died to take away our condemnation

…Faith is not the ground of our acceptance with God. Christ alone is. Faith unites us to Christ so that his righteousness is counted as ours

Chapter 22: Christ suffered and died to bring us to God

…Christianity is not first theology, but news.

…Many people seem to embrace the good news without embracing God….It doesn’t take a new heart to want the psychological relief of forgiveness, or the removal of God’s wrath, or the inheritance of God’s world. All these things are understandable without any spiritual change. You don’t need to be born again to want these things. The devil wants them. It is not wrong to want them. Indeed it is folly not to. But the evidence that we have been change is that we want these things because they bring us to the enjoyment of God.

Chapter 27: Christ suffered and died to become a sympathetic and helpful priest

…On the way to the cross for thirty years, Christ was tempted like every human was tempted. True, he never sinned. But wise people have pointed out that this means his temptations were stronger than ours, not weaker. If a person gives in to a temptation it never reaches its fullest and longest assault.

Chapter 29: Christ suffered and died to free us from the slavery of sin

[regarding sin]…we must be liberate by God’s power, not by our willpower.

Chapter 30: Christ suffered and died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness

…The old self that loved sin died with Jesus. Sin is like a prostitute that no longer looks beautiful. She is the murderer of my King and myself. Therefore the believer is dead to sin, no longer dominated by her attractions. Sin, the prostitute who killed my friend, has no appeal. She has become an enemy.

Chapter 31: Christ died so that we would die to the law and bear fruit for God

…the new way of obedience is fruit-bearing, not law-keeping.

Chapter 37:  Christ died to call us to follow his example of lowliness and costly love

Imitation is not salvation. But salvation brings imitation. Christ is not first given to use as model, but as Saviour

Chapter 43: Christ suffered and died to unleash the power of God in the Gospel

Gospel means good news. It’s news before it’s theology.

…We must see it [The Gospel] as true and good before we believe it. So the question is, why do some people see it as good, and others don’t?

Conclusion:

I highly recommend this book with reservation. I think it is valuable for every believer, especially those who have not though about the theological implications of what Salvation is and does. I would recommend it as foundational to a new believer, and would be a great book to give to a Catholic friend.

1. Chapter  42: Piper says regarding Revelation 12:10 “Look at what happened when Christ died…..This is the defeat and disarming of rulers and authorities“. This would be a standard reformed interpretation, however I disagree, I believe that Rev 12:10 is is referring to a future event when Satan will be disarmed.

2. Chapter 46: Pipers belief in limited atonement slips in: “By His blood he bought the mercy that makes His voice unmistakable to His own. Pray that God would apply that mercy to you”

You can buy it on Amazon.ca