One of the essential keys to a life purified from the sins of wanting what we shouldn’t want and fearing what we shouldn’t fear is faith in future grace. Consider some examples of how faith in future grace conquers fear and selfishness and makes people radically loving.
You had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. (Hebrews 10:34)
By faith Moses . . . chose to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. (Hebrews 11:24-26)
Jesus, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross. (Hebrews 12:2)
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. (Matthew 5:11-12)
We heard of . . . the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. (Colossians 1:4-5)
But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. (Luke 14:13-14)
In other words, by profound satisfaction in all that God promises to be for us in the future (five minutes out—and five million ages out) we can conquer the cravings of selfish fear and greed that destroy love. Radical love is the fruit of faith in future grace. (John Piper)
You had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. (Hebrews 10:34)
By faith Moses . . . chose to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. (Hebrews 11:24-26)
Jesus, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross. (Hebrews 12:2)
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. (Matthew 5:11-12)
We heard of . . . the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. (Colossians 1:4-5)
But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. (Luke 14:13-14)
In other words, by profound satisfaction in all that God promises to be for us in the future (five minutes out—and five million ages out) we can conquer the cravings of selfish fear and greed that destroy love. Radical love is the fruit of faith in future grace. (John Piper)
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