Atos 14
John Piper · Citado em PreceptAustin
Atos 14
Piper has an interesting comment noting that "even if signs and wonders can't save the soul, they can, if God pleases, shatter the shell of disinterest; they can shatter the shell of cynicism; they can shatter the shell of false religion. Like every other good witness to the word of grace, they can help the fallen heart to fix its gaze on the gospel where the soul-saving, self-authenticating glory of the Lord shines. Therefore the early church longed for God to stretch forth his hand to heal, and that signs and wonders be done in the name of Jesus." (Are wonders against the Word?) Warren
Atos 14
Piper comments on this passage in Colossians - The completion of our holiness and blamelessness is contingent. We will be presented complete if we continue in the faith. But it is also certain because God is faithful and he will do it (1 Thess. 5:24+). The “if” is real. Will you “continue in the faith”? Will you endure to the end? “The one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matt. 24:13). “In due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:9+). “We are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence” (Heb. 3:6+). ESV Study Bible adds "The form of this phrase in Greek (using the Gk. particle ei and the indicative mood of the verb epimenō) indicates that Paul fully expects that the Colossian believers will continue in the faith; no doubt is expressed. Mt 10:22 Finally we see a similar statement by Paul in 1 Corinthians that implies that genuine believers will continue in faith. Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. (1 Cor 15:1-2+) Holding fast does not SAVE a person but is only the evidence that they are a NEW CREATION (they have a new internal motivation, new internal power, new internal direction (cf Ezekiel 36:27+) and if a person does not manifest these qualities they need to soberly meditate on 2 Co13:5+, for if "Christ is in you" you will BE DIFFERENT then before HE WAS IN YOU! If you are not different (note it does not say "perfect") then INDEED you have serious reason to doubt your salvation and you need to cry out to the God of all grace for His gracious gift of repentance (Ro 2:4, 2 Ti 2:25) and faith (Ep 2:8). John