Future Grace

What's Future Grace about?

• Focus on God's Promises: Future Grace by John Piper emphasizes trusting in God's promises for future grace as essential for a fulfilling Christian life. It argues that this faith is crucial for overcoming sin and living in obedience to God.
• Connection Between Past and Future: The book discusses how past grace, particularly through Christ's work, serves as a foundation for faith in future grace, helping believers rely on God's promises daily.
• Practical Application: Piper provides insights on applying future grace to life challenges, such as anxiety and pride, encouraging a mindset that anticipates God's provision and support.

Why should I read Future Grace by John Piper?

• Revitalizes Faith: The book helps deepen your understanding of faith and grace, moving from a transactional to a relational view of God, encouraging trust in His character and promises.
• Addresses Common Struggles: It tackles issues like anxiety and impatience, offering biblical solutions rooted in faith, making it a practical guide for spiritual growth.
• Encouragement for Daily Living: Piper's emphasis on future grace provides hope and resilience, reminding readers of God's active involvement and provision in their lives.

What are the key takeaways of Future Grace?

• Faith in Future Grace: Living by faith in future grace is essential for spiritual growth and obedience, empowering believers to overcome sin and live righteously.
• Past Grace as Foundation: Understanding that past grace, especially through Christ's sacrifice, undergirds faith in future grace, assuring believers of God's ongoing support.
• God's Sovereignty and Goodness: The book emphasizes God's sovereignty and goodness, assuring believers that He works all things for the good of those who love Him.

What are the best quotes from Future Grace and what do they mean?

• “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.”: This quote highlights that true satisfaction in God glorifies Him, emphasizing joy in God over worldly things.
• “The fight for faith is a fight for joy.”: It underscores that maintaining faith in God's promises is essential for experiencing true joy, which is a result of trusting in God.
• “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”: This reassures believers that they need not seek revenge, as God will bring justice, encouraging forgiveness and trust in His timing.

How does Future Grace by John Piper address anxiety?

• Faith Over Anxiety: Piper argues that anxiety stems from a lack of faith in God's future grace, and trusting in His promises can combat anxiety and bring peace.
• Practical Promises: The book offers specific scriptural promises, like Philippians 4:6-7, to claim during anxiety, serving as anchors for the soul.
• Transformative Power of Prayer: Emphasizing prayer, Piper suggests casting cares on God as a way to humble oneself and trust in His grace, crucial for experiencing peace.

What is the relationship between faith and obedience in Future Grace?

• Faith as the Root of Obedience: True obedience flows from faith in future grace, linking the ability to obey God's commands to trust in His promises.
• Obedience Through the Spirit: The Holy Spirit empowers believers to obey, but this empowerment comes through faith, making living by faith in future grace essential.
• Love and Commandments: Genuine love for God results in a desire to keep His commandments, cultivated through faith in God's future grace.

How does Future Grace define grace?

• Grace as Unmerited Favor: Piper defines grace as God's goodness shown to those who do not deserve it, highlighting its free and unconditional nature.
• Conditional Grace: The book discusses conditional grace, where blessings are promised based on conditions like humility, emphasizing different ways grace can be received.
• Grace as Empowerment: Grace is not only about forgiveness but also empowerment for living a holy life, encouraging reliance on God's strength for obedience.

What role does past grace play in Future Grace?

• Foundation for Future Faith: Past grace serves as the foundation for faith in future grace, with remembering God's past faithfulness strengthening trust in His future promises.
• Encouragement in Trials: Reflecting on past grace provides encouragement during trials, reminding believers of God's previous support and fostering hope.
• Biblical Examples: The book offers biblical examples, like the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt, illustrating the importance of looking back to build future faith.

How does Future Grace connect to the concept of humility?

• Pride as Unbelief: Piper links pride with unbelief, suggesting that a lack of faith in future grace leads to pride, while humility recognizes dependence on God.
• Faith in Future Grace as Humility: Trusting in God's future grace is an expression of humility, acknowledging our inability to secure our own future and fostering a humble heart.
• Scriptural Basis for Humility: The book cites Scriptures like 1 Peter 5:6-7, encouraging humility as essential for experiencing God's grace.

What is the significance of Romans 8:28 in Future Grace?

• Promise of Future Grace: Romans 8:28 assures believers that God works all things for their good, foundational for understanding His sovereignty and grace.
• Connection to Justification and Glorification: Linked to Romans 8's broader context, it emphasizes God's comprehensive and secure plan for believers.
• Encouragement in Trials: The promise provides encouragement during trials, reminding believers that difficult circumstances are under God's control and serve their good.

How can I apply the teachings of Future Grace in my life?

• Cultivate Faith in God's Promises: Identify specific scriptural promises that address your struggles, meditate on them, and pray for faith in God's future grace.
• Reflect on Past Grace: Remember instances of God's past faithfulness to strengthen trust in His future promises.
• Practice Humility and Surrender: Acknowledge dependence on God, casting anxieties on Him, opening the door to experiencing His future grace.

How does Future Grace address the issue of sin?

• Sin as Unbelief: Piper asserts that all sin stems from a lack of faith in future grace, highlighting that "whatever does not proceed from faith is sin."
• Fighting Sin with Faith: The battle against sin is fundamentally a battle for faith, with belief in God's promises enabling believers to overcome temptation.
• Grace for Transformation: God's grace not only forgives sin but also empowers believers to live righteously, ensuring sin has no dominion over them.