John Piper and Athanasius

During Passion 06, John Piper led a breakout session about the life of Athanasius (296-373).

For those who don't know, Athanasius was the bishop of Alexadria, Egypt. During his lifetime, a man named Arius started spreading the idea that Jesus was not God (homoiousious-of like substance). Although specially endowed with powers by God and was as close to God as one could become, he was not God (There was a time when hen was not). Athanasius fought this idea his whole life, saying that Jesus was God (homoousious-of same substance).

Piper brought out several points from the lives of these two men, but during one of his points he stated six propositions that rattled my head, along with everyone else in the room. For those who don't know, I do, in fact, believe every word that he said. Here they are:

1. God rules the world of bliss and suffering and sin right down to the role of the dice in Reno and the fall of a bird from a tree and the driving of the nail into the hand of his son, yet, though he wills that such sin and suffering be, he does not sin but is perfectly holy.

2. God governs all the steps of all people, both good and bad, at all times and in all places, yet such that all are accountable before him and will bear the just consequences of his wrath if they do not believe in Christ.

3. All are dead in their trespasses and sins and are not morally able to come to Christ because of their rebellion yet they are responsible to come to him and will be justly punished if they don’t.

4. Jesus Christ is one person with two natures, divine and human, such that he upheld the world by the word of his power while living in his mother’s womb.

5. Sin, though committed by a finite person and in the confines of finite time is nevertheless deserving of an infinitely long punishment because it is a sin against an infinitely holy God.

6. The death of Jesus Christ so displayed and glorified the righteousness of God that God is not unrighteous in to declare righteous ungodly people who simply believe in Christ.

I am so thankful that I don't have to understand this; but rather simply believe it.