John Piper is founder and lead teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary. He served for 33 years as the Pastor for Preaching and Vision of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

For more information on What is Saving Faith? and to purchase a copy, click here.

Quotes

1. Rome errs by merging faith as a virtue with justification, which then merges with sanctification. (Pg. 45)

2. If we see matters accurately in the New Testament, we will be true to God’s aims in the Old Testament. (Pg. 88)

3. The receiving nature of saving faith colors every aspect of the Christian life – interior and exterior. (Pg. 103)

4. Saving faith is the defining reality of those who are born again. (Pg. 128)

5. Faith has in it pride-killing power. (Pg. 130)

6. To have saving faith in Christ is to see his excellencies as superior to all the world. (Pg. 159)

7. When an unbeliever ceases to be an unbeliever, it is not Christ who has changed. (Pg. 164)

8. The reward of coming to Jesus, and believing in Jesus, and drinking the living water that he himself is – that reward is more than never thirsting again. It includes a life-giving overflow. (Pg. 202)

9. Saving faith is the God-given act of the human heart receiving, as its supreme treasure, Jesus Christ with all that God did for us and is for us in him. (Pg. 214)

10. We cannot maintain our faith or our assurance without God’s daily, omnipotent sustaining grace. Only God can keep us faithful, and only God can make us sure that we are saved. (Pg. 268)

Review of What is Saving Faith?

Are you treasuring Christ? Do you behold Him? In What is Saving Faith?, John Piper seeks to address that Christian’s are to take pleasure and satisfaction in the Lord Jesus Christ when they receive him. Jesus is our gift and we do not view him as merely fire insurance. Piper says, “Christ does not appear beautiful just because hell appears hot” (pg. 237). We behold Jesus as King and believers have nowhere else to go. We want Him! By this, it magnifies the work of Christ. John Piper begins to work through his argument of saving faith in Part 1: The Roots for My Concern and the 3rd chapter is titled Why I Am Not A Roman Catholic. Parts 2 through 5 are called Seeing Reality Through Six Hundred Lenses, Receiving Christ as Our Supreme Treasure, Christ, The Believer’s Treasure and Satisfaction, and Calling for Faith When Faith is Affectional. Throughout this book, John Piper grounds the readers in the Word and calls them to treasure Christ. We continue to come to our King here and now, then we behold Him face to face in eternity. If you are able, pick up a copy of this work, and think about your own life in light of God’s Word and you will be encouraged to treasure Christ.

We only get one life and it will soon pass. Only what is done for Christ will last.

I received a copy of What is Saving Faith? in exchange for an honest review.

---

Evan Knies is an elder of North Hills Church in West Monroe, LA. He is husband of Lauren and father to Maesyn. He is a graduate of Boyce College and Southern Seminary.