Providence

PROVIDENCE by John Piper is a book that could only have been written by a biblical grandmaster! The pattern of God’s providence in the Bible is so compelling that ignoring it (especially when it comes to your personal salvation!) is an intellectual sin. An intellectual sin is the denying of truth in the face of clear biblical knowledge. Is salvation a miracle? Consider the following syllogism: 1. A miracle is a pure supernatural event. 2. Salvation is a miracle. 3. Therefore, salvation is a pure supernatural event. Unless you can prove that being saved by Almighty God is less than a genuine miracle, the case is closed! Do you really think that YOU can actually convince Almighty God to save YOU? Does anyone have that kind of power over God? Many people have fallen into this religious trap! Sometimes the more we learn about religion the less we learn about God and what He teaches. Anyone with even the smallest knowledge of God, knows in their heart that God decides their destiny. God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit decide who will be saved– certainly not the likes of mankind! There is nothing more basic than Almighty God saving whomever He pleases! Why would anyone be so arrogant to believe anything different? You could sing “I have faith” from the rooftop, but if God refuses to save you, you certainly will die in your sinful nature. How could it be otherwise? Why? Because you are not saved by your words of faith, whatever that means to you. You can only be saved if God chooses you! That is plain common sense. Would you let just anyone live in your home? Neither will God. If Almighty God does give you the knowledge that He really has saved you, a miracle has occurred, and you can appreciate the faith that you do have is coming from Him! Look at the proof that comes directly from the Bible: John 6:45... It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Ephesians 2:8-9… For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Note: You are saved through the “gift of faith” that comes from God, not you! John 3:27... John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Summary: Unless you know in your heart that you have contributed absolutely nothing to being saved by Almighty God, you are committing an intellectual sin to think your faith has any merit toward being saved. An intellectual sin is the denying of truth in face of clear biblical knowledge. Here are words from Lord Jesus: John 17:9... I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. Note: Here is a simple test: Do you love Jesus so much that you want to learn more and more about Him for all of eternity? Is Jesus your life and Treasure? Or do you want to be saved just to get more good stuff from God for your personal eternal enjoyment? Be honest. Here’s more biblical proof: John 6:35-45: 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? 43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Here is even more proof repeating some important verses from above: 1. John 6:44... No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 2. Proverbs 16:4... The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. 3. Proverbs 16:9... A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. 4. Proverbs 19:21... There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand. 5. Proverbs 20:24... Man’s goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way? 6. Proverbs 21:1... The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. 7. Job 42:2... I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. 8. Isaiah 14:24... The Lord of host hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: 9. Isaiah 14:27... For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? 10. Isaiah 46:9-10... Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 11. Isaiah 48:3... I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass. 12. Jeremiah 1:5... Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. 13. Psalms 139:16... Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 14. John 3:3... Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 15. John 3:5... Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 16. John 3:27... John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. 17. John 6:39... And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 18. John 6:45... It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 19. John 6:64-65... But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 20. John 8:47... He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 21. John 10:14... I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 22. John 10:16... And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 23. John 10:26-29... But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 24. John 13:18... I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. 25. John 14:6... Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 26. John 15:16... Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 27. John 15:19... If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 28. John 17:2-3... As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is eternal life, that they might know thee only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 29. John 17:6... I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 30. John 17:9-12... I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name; those that thou hast given me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 31. John 17:16... They are not of this world, even as I am not of this world. 32. Acts 13:48... And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. 33. Romans 8:28-30... And we know all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 34. 1 Corinthians 12:3... Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 35. Galatians 1:15-16... But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 36. Ephesians 1:4-5... According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 37. Ephesians 1:11... In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 38. Ephesians 2:8-9... For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. 39. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14... But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 40. 2 Timothy 1:9.... Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 41. 1 Peter 1:20-21... Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 42. 1 Peter 2:2... Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 43. 1 Peter 2:1-5... Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 44. Revelation 17:8... The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. 45. Job 37:16... Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of his which are perfect in knowledge? 46. Psalm 147:5... Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. 47. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7... I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Want to learn more? Dive into PROVIDENCE by John Piper. You will be led through a journey of biblical evidence that is so compelling, that you may be overwhelmed with biblical truth. Please don’t miss this opportunity that may change the way you look at the providence of God. Also, dive into another jewel you can find on Amazon: “SAVED BY ALMIGHTY GOD” by Mark Smith, B.A., M.S.M. You will be amazed with this one!

Wonderful and well-written book. A classic from Piper.

This book is a lot. It is very thought-provoking, and the reader should plan on taking time to stop and meditate on what they read. The questions or thoughts it provokes in your mind should drive you to scripture to confirm and understand further. This is a deep read. Take time to process and learn.

In this work, Dr. John Piper thoughtfully traces the doctrine of divine providence from eternity past to eternity future. His sustained emphasis on God’s purposeful sovereignty is both theologically rigorous and pastorally sensitive, consistently grounded in careful biblical exegesis. The result is a book that is intellectually satisfying while also deeply comforting. I would highly recommend this book—10/10.

"Providence" by John Piper is an excellent book that delves into the complex topic of God's sovereignty and the role of providence in our lives. Piper's writing is clear, concise, and deeply rooted in Biblical teachings, making this book a valuable resource for Christians seeking to deepen their understanding of God's plan for their lives. One of the most impressive aspects of "Providence" is Piper's ability to tackle such a weighty topic with both sensitivity and depth. His writing is both scholarly and approachable, making the book accessible to readers of all backgrounds and levels of theological knowledge. The book is also very well-organized, with each chapter building upon the last to provide a comprehensive exploration of the subject matter. What I appreciate most about "Providence" is its emphasis on the practical implications of God's sovereignty. Piper does an excellent job of showing how an understanding of providence can help Christians face difficult circumstances with faith and trust in God's ultimate plan. Whether you are struggling with illness, loss, or uncertainty about the future, "Providence" offers valuable insights and encouragement to help you navigate life's challenges. In summary, "Providence" by John Piper is a clear and concise book that explores the complex topic of God's sovereignty and providence in our lives. The book is well-organized and accessible to readers of all backgrounds. The practical implications of God's sovereignty are emphasized, offering valuable insights to help Christians face difficult circumstances with faith and trust in God's plan. This thoughtful and pastoral book is recommended for those seeking to deepen their understanding of God's sovereignty and grow in their faith. Overall, I highly recommend "Providence" to anyone looking to deepen their understanding of God's plan for their lives. Piper's thoughtful analysis and pastoral insights make this book a valuable resource for Christians seeking to grow in their faith and trust in God's sovereignty

I love John Piper's work and I'm excited to read through it... once I get a replacement. It arrived pretty beat-up and I think looking at some other reviews it seems that it's happened to more people as well... The design is great and the text itself looks great!

Long but interesting book which outlines the overarching Providence of God as shown and demonstrated in the Bible. I found one chapter per day made it easier to understand and digest.

An amazing read on God’s purposeful sovereignty. Highly recommend for anyone searching for answers to why an omnipotent God allows us to experience pain and suffering.

There are many good books on God`s sovereignty as understood by the Reformed Christians but this is the best one I have read so far. Piper backs up everything he writes by the Scriptures and although it was a great experience to read it from cover to cover it can be used as a reference book when a person wants to know what the Bible says about God`s (purposeful) sovereignty in many areas, for instance, government, death, sin, salvation.

It's truly baffling that it gets shipped without the minimal amount of protection. It is truly an amazing book and beautifully made but the disregard shown in it's shipping is awful.

At a towering 711 pages, John Piper has given a gift to the church in this book. The doctrine of God’s Providence is often misunderstood and under appreciated, and Piper has masterfully written a work that will stand the test of time. The reason I believe this is because of how biblically grounded his arguments and conclusions are. Piper is a Bible man, and this book on providence is drawn from the river of Scripture. The book is divided into 3 parts: Part 1 lays the immense foundation of God’s providence, namely that God “sees to it that things happen in a certain way” (p. 30). Here, Piper stresses how providence and sovereignty are not interchangeable words. Sovereignty is God’s right to govern, and providence is God’s direct activity to “see to it” that all things happen according to his sovereign will, to the praise of his glorious grace. Part 2 is a thematic Bible commentary, tracing the theme of God’s providence from Genesis to Revelation. In addition to a view of providence before creation and in the act of creation, Piper guides his readers slowly throughout the history of Israel, and the glories of the New Covenant in Christ. Part 3 is a more specific topical approach to understanding Providence and is very helpful. This is a book for every Christian. Some buy big theological books to display on their shelf, with rare reference. But this is truly a book to turn to regularly. What is the driving power behind the events and people of the Bible? When a personal (or global) crisis arises, can we be assured that God truly is “seeing to it” according to his infinite wisdom and plans for human history? This book will increase your vision of God for who he truly is, and how he is purposefully sovereign in all things—from the molecular to the cosmic level. There are two ways you can read this book, and both are very good ways. First, you can use this as a reference tool (i.e. in personal devotions, bible study prep, ad hoc encouragement when considering the events in your life). Secondly, you can read this book cover to cover. That may seem daunting, but it doesnt have to be. I brought this book to work and read 10-15 pages a day on my coffee and lunch breaks. Small and regular consumption will eat a giant elephant (or theological book). Some of the payoff might come in the course of your reading, as Piper’s expert handling of the topic through the lens of Scripture edifies and encourages you. And maybe, just maybe, one day you’ll be in a situation like mine outside an operating room and desperately need a deep well of confidence in God. As D.A. Carson wrote in his endorsement, “This book will enlarge your vision of God and thereby strengthen your faith.”

I have read a few of John Piper's books and have been blessed by a number of them, however, Providence is clearly his best book so far for me. It is near essential reading for every Christian from the new-believer to the seminarian, as this book will bolster their faith and confidence in God.

Never mind the length, we are called to know God. I think this book is necessary for all Christians to have on the shelf in their homes. Gods’ providence is a wonderful topic to explore and study. The depths that this book addresses is a gift from God.