The Suffering of Christ and the Sovereignty of God
Notes on John Piper's Book - Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, Chapter 3.
The entire universe exists to display the greatness of the glory of the grace of God.
And - - the glory of God shines most brightly, most fully, most beautifully in the manifestation of the glory of his grace. This is the aim of all things - - and the explanation of all things - - including suffering.
Jesus - by suffering and dying - - and by that suffering and death to save sinners like you and me - - is the highest, clearest, surest display of the glory of the grace of God.
So - - the ultimate reason that suffering exists is so that Christ might display the greatness of the glory of the grace of God. The suffering of the innocent and infinitely holy Son of God in the place of undeserving sinners like you and me, to bring us to everlasting joy, is the greatest display of the glory of the grace of God.
Bible walkthru
Before the beginning of the world, God had planned that Jesus would be slaughtered....
Revelation 13:8 - 8All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.
God gave us grace in Christ Jesus before the ages began - - before we were even created
2 Timothy 1:9 - 9who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
The suffering and death of the Lamb of God is the best possible display of the glory of the grace of God!.... and that's why it was planned before the beginning of time....
Ephesians 1:4-12 - 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. 11In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
The hosts of heaven are worshipping the Lamb because He was slaughtered..... The greatest suffering in history will be at the center of our worship forever and ever....
Revelation 5:9-12 - 9And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." 11Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
The mystery of God Ordaining but not doing Sin
God permits sin into the world
Sin has led to suffering and death
Horrible things followed - disease, defects, disabilities, catastrophes, human atrocities
God does not delight in this suffering
God sends His Son into the world to suffer in the place of sinners
All that Christ accomplished for us sinners he accomplished by suffering.
The Display of the Glory of the Grace of God in the Achievements of Christ by His Suffering
1. Christ absorbed the wrath of God on our behalf - and He did it by suffering
Galatians 3:13 - 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."
2. Christ bore our sins and purchased our forgiveness - and He did it by suffering
1 Peter 2:24 - 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed
3. Christ provided a perfect righteousness for us that becomes ours in Him - and He did it by suffering
Philippians 2:7-8 - 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Romans 5:19 - 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
4. Christ defeated death - and He did it by suffering
Hebrews 2:14-15 - 14Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 - 55"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
5. He disarmed satan - and He did it by suffering
Colossians 2:14-15 - 14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
6. Christ purchased perfect final healing for all His people - and He did it by suffering
Isaiah 53:5 - 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Revelation 7:17 - 17For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
7. Christ will bring us finally to God - and He will do it by suffering
1 Peter 3:18 - 18For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,
Conclusion
The ultimate reason that suffering exists is so that Christ might display the greatness of the glory of the grace of God by suffering in himself to overcome our suffering and bring about the praise of the glory of the grace of God.
