Dear reader,
Sin leads us to ruin. Here is how it happens: first, “it already renders us guilty before God, so that we are under his just condemnation.” Second, it makes us morally ugly, disfiguring the image of God that we are meant to reflect. It condemns us with guilt and enslaves us to lovelessness — towards God and others. The best term for this condition is called the depravity of the human heart. We are not born righteous and then sin corrupts us; we are born already flawed with sin. This is shown by the state of our hearts (Romans 3:10).
This book reminds us that God’s holy anger burns against every speck of sin, and He holds every sinner accountable to his own state and crimes. Everyone is unjust and insolent against God and fellow man. And God’s righteousness is the standard. He doesn’t let any sin slide away by sweeping it under the carpet. The sinner has to pay for his own crimes. John Piper writes 50 Reasons that still point to this profound truth. The reasons remind us that no man or any sacrificial system he uses is sufficient to vindicate him. This book reveals the separateness of Christ. It reveals why His death is unique from any other ordinary man’s death.
His intention for his readers is to use these 50 reasons to set the reader on a quest to know more and more of God’s great design in the death of his Son.
According to my observation, he tackles the reasons in two frameworks,
- Using themes that point to Christ across the Bible.
He presents these reasons using the key themes of the Bible that point us to Christ. He hasn’t fetched these reasons elsewhere; he has used verses and passages to support each reason. Each verse or passage has a theme about Christ, and for every need observed in these verses, we see that it required his incarnation, life, death, and resurrection. The author helps us understand that we view the Bible as a whole, and we see its complete picture and meaning through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.
- Secondly, he provides at least 50 profound answers about salvation.
The author uses the right theology in showing us why the fall of man affected every area of our lives and the purpose of the death of Christ in addressing all these areas. In other words, these are practical answers any believer should know.
The foremost concern that I will have for a bible reader in light of this book would be,
- What are some of the key themes of Christ that you can identify as you study your bible?
- In which way have you seen man’s ruin and his major need in light of these themes?
- Are you beholding the Lord Jesus as your hope for salvation?
My great hope is that these reasons will help you behold Christ richly in your bible reading, to understand your bible much better, and to apply it in light of the gospel. To the unconverted, I trust the Lord will show you your ruined state and draw you to the Savior of sinners by faith.
Grace and peace to you,
Evans Odihambo