Future Grace

In Future Grace, John Piper writes about the purifying power of the promises of God and the way God’s grace sustains us throughout the Christian life. This masterful book shows how grace is not merely something God gave us in the past when he saved us, but something he continues to give us in the present and promises to give us in the future. God’s grace is not only the foundation of our faith, but it is also what sustains us in every moment as we learn to trust him and live by faith.

Practical Applications of the Grace of God

Early in the book, Piper examines the debtor’s ethic, which says that “paying back God” is what drives us forward in the Christian life. Piper shows why this is a problem. Our response to God’s grace in the past is not to attempt to repay him, as though we could ever settle our debt. Rather, we are called to continue trusting in his grace and his promises for the future.

I was deeply encouraged by how practical this book is. God gives us grace through his promises, and Piper walks through the Bible to build a compelling case for how God’s promises speak directly to the struggles we face. He applies this truth to anxiety, showing how we fight for faith by looking to what God has promised us. This particular approach was how I learned to fight the fight of faith: by turning to God’s promises and trusting that his grace will sustain me.

Regarding pride, Piper says, “Humility can only survive in the presence of God,” and “pride is an issue of what you are trusting in for your future.” In ministry, as a husband, and as a father, Piper reminds me that I must continually learn to trust in God’s grace rather than in myself. As I grow in confidence in his promises, my pride is put down, and I am reminded that my hope and strength are found in him.

Paradigm-Shifting for Understanding What Grace Is and What Grace Does

Piper also examines shame, impatience, covetousness, bitterness, despondency, and lust, showing how the promises of God speak to each of these struggles. Rather than treating grace as an abstract theological concept, he demonstrates how it meets us in the real battles of the Christian life and teaches us to look beyond our immediate desires, fears, and circumstances to the goodness God has promised us.

Finally, Piper shows how even in suffering and dying, it is the grace of God that sustains us. The promises of God are not merely helpful for the ordinary struggles of life, but they are sufficient even when we face suffering, weakness, and death. The same grace that has carried us in the past will sustain us in the present and give us hope for the future.

This is a paradign-shifting book that will deepen your understanding of what grace is and what it does. Grace is not merely a reality of the past, but of the present and the future. It is a blessing and a source of strength. It is enduring power. It teaches us to trust God, sustains us in the fight of faith, and gives us hope in every circumstance. God’s grace is for our good, and his promises give us every reason to keep trusting him.

I received a media copy of Future Grace (Amazon, 5% off your entire order always at Westminster Bookstore with code DIVEINDIGDEEP) and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.