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All That Jesus Commanded: Introduction | John Piper · Reformed Thinking

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Welcome to Reformed Thinking, the show that helps you grasp
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significant ideas with clarity and insight.
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I'm your host. And I'm glad to be here.
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Today we're embarking on, well, a deep dive into some really
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weighty concepts about Christian living.
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Definitely weighty. Our source material comes from
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the introduction to John Piper's book All That Jesus Commanded
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the Christian Life according to the Gospels.
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Right. It used to be called what Jesus
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demands from the world, I believe.
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Exactly. But this new title, All That
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Jesus Commanded, really pinpoints its relevance for
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every Christian follower, wouldn't you say?
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Absolutely. It shifts the focus slightly,
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perhaps more towards the believer's life.
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Our mission in this deep dive is to unearth crucial ideas about
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what Jesus taught and what that means for people seeking to
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follow Him today. And we're drawing our
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understanding, you know, solely from the Gospels.
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Sticking close to the source text.
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It's an absorbing look at the very core of what it means to
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live for Christ. It truly is.
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And as we dig into these writings, the central quotient
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we are aiming to answer for you is this.
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How can followers of Jesus genuinely live out all that he
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asked. Especially when some of it
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seems, well, really hard. That's just it.
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Some of his requests appear to be beyond human capacity, don't
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they? Yeah.
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You read them and think how on earth?
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Right, you might find certain commands seem impossible for us
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to live by through our own effort.
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Yet the source indicates there's a divine approach, something
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that makes them possible. A God centered solution.
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Precisely, and this sets the stage for discovering how
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Jesus's very identity and his accomplishments are central to
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understanding his instructions for us.
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Who he is makes the how possible.
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Exactly. So let's unpack the central idea
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then. The main aspiration of all that
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Jesus commanded is what the author describes as God
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glorifying obedience to Jesus. That's the phrase he uses, God
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glorifying obedience. And this isn't just, you know, a
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general good intention or a vague desire to be a better
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person. It's presented as the very core
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purpose of the book. And arguably the core aspiration
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for every follower of Jesus, right?
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And this aim is directly tied to Jesus final instructions.
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We find them in Matthew 28.1920. The Great Commission.
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Where he says, Make disciples of all nations, teaching them to
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observe all that I have commanded you.
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So the book is trying to help with that essentially.
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It seeks to aid in that global instruction, helping people
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around the world not just know about Jesus teachings, but
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actually live them. Out extinction is key.
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Knowing versus living. For many of us, though, this
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idea of God glorifying obedience might sound a bit abstract.
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What does it actually mean for our obedience to glorify God?
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That's a fair question. It signifies that our actions,
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which should be driven by our heart for Jesus, ought to
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reflect his character and ability.
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Reflect them in such a way that God himself is honored.
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Yes, honored, recognized, and appreciated for who He truly is.
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It's about our lives becoming a visible proof of His worth.
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Like a living demonstration of his character.
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Exactly. We're not merely following rules
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for the sake of rules. We're seeking to make God's
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intrinsic beauty an infinite worth, known and admired through
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how we live. So it goes beyond just morality.
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It does, which is why the author highlights it is the central
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aspiration because it moves beyond mere moralism into a
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higher, more profound purpose of revealing God to the world.
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OK, that helps clarify. And what's especially compelling
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here is the precise wording Jesus used in that final
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instruction. Back to Matthew 28.
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Yes, he didn't simply say teach them all my commandments.
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He added a vital word. Teach them to observe all my
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commandments. Observe.
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Not just hear, not just learn. Observe.
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Right. This distinction marks a truly
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significant difference in what Jesus is calling us to do.
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It's not just about acquiring intellectual knowledge or, say,
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memorizing a list of doctrines. It's about active, lived out
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obedience. Active lived out obedience that
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stems from an inner disposition, a changed heart.
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The source uses an interesting illustration here, doesn't it?
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Ah yes, the parrot. Consider this.
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You could train a parrot to repeat every command Jesus ever
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gave, word for word. OK, a very talented parrot.
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Indeed, that parrot could recite them perfectly, but could that
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parrot truly observe them? Well, no, obviously not.
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Absolutely not. A parrot cannot genuinely repent
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of sin because it lacks, well, a moral consciousness.
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Right. Can't feel sorry for wrongdoing.
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And it cannot truly worship Jesus with the heart of
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adoration, nor can it treasure heavenly things over earthly
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ones. Can't love its enemies either, I
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suppose. And it certainly cannot love its
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adversaries as that requires a deep spiritual capacity for self
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giving affection, a capacity only God can give.
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So this vivid example underscores that Jesus asks for
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much more than superficial actions or mere intellectual
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ascent. Much more, he seeks a life that
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reflects A genuine interchange of heart and mind.
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Where the commands are embraced, not just externally.
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But from the very core of 1's being, this distinguishes his
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call from simply following a legal code.
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It's a call for a transformed life.
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That distinction truly highlights the depth of what
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Jesus is asking. It moves beyond just outward
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actions into the inner landscape.
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You know our desires and motivations.
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Exactly, and this leads us to what the source identifies as
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the ultimate aim of all these commands.
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The Supreme. Goal.
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The supreme goal of Jesus commands isn't solely that
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believers perform good actions. That's interesting.
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I think many people assume good works are the main point.
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They are vital. Certainly the material notes
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that good works are a penultimate objective, a
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valuable, necessary step, but not the final destination.
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Penultimate, so second to last. What's the ultimate then?
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What's truly ultimate, what stands as the supreme objective,
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is that God be displayed as the most beautiful reality in the
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world through believers obedient lives.
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Wow, God displayed as the most beautiful reality.
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That's Jesus's supreme name, and the author's as well.
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It's about God's radiance shining through us, becoming
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visible to a world that often struggles to see or recognize
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His worth. So when we talk about God being
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displayed as the most beautiful reality, it's more than just
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being a good person morally. It includes that, of course, but
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it goes further. Think of maybe a masterpiece of
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art that perfectly captures the artist's genius, OK?
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Or a scientific discovery that reveals the fundamental laws of
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the universe. God desires our lives to be like
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that. A reflection of the creator,
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yes. Our obedience, stemming from a
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renewed heart, becomes a living, breathing canvas that showcases
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his nature, his boundless love, His perfect wisdom, His radiant
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holiness, His absolute justice. All of it.
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It's a beauty that transcends mere morality.
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It's the attractiveness of divine character shining through
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human lives. OK, I think I'm getting that
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it's a much higher calling. And if that's the ultimate aim,
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if God being displayed as the most beautiful reality is the
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goal. Then the teaching has to reflect
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that, right? Precisely for God to utilize
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teaching to foster this type of obedience, the teaching itself
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should constantly maintain God's glory at its core.
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It needs to keep his supremely valuable beauty in clear focus.
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As the motivation and reason for our obedience, this means the
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teaching about Jesus's commands isn't just about listing rules
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or outlining moral principles. It's about presenting the why.
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Yeah, it's about presenting the commands in such a way that the
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intrinsic beauty of God revealed through Christ, becomes the
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driving force for following his instructions.
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So when we understand who is commanding.
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And why he is worthy of this kind of allegiance, then
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obedience becomes not a burden, but ideally a natural outflow of
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our appreciation for his worth. It makes sense.
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The teaching helps us see that the commands aren't arbitrary.
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No, they are expressions of God's own character, designed to
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lead us into a life that mirrors his goodness and draws others to
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recognize His supreme value. So we've spoken about this deep
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interchange and this outward display of God's beauty that
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Jesus calls for. Yes, this God glorifying
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obedience. But for many of us, maybe for
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all of us, and when we look at our own lives honestly, that
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sounds not just challenging, but utterly impossible.
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It can certainly feel that way. And as the source points out,
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Jesus himself didn't shy away from that truth.
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The material directly calls this task humanly impossible.
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He did. He highlighted this human
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barrier in that that memorable encounter with a rich man.
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The rich young ruler. Right.
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This individual was struggling to follow Jesus because he
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couldn't bring himself to give up his great wealth.
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It was his idol, essentially. And Jesus observed that it is
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easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a
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rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.
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A famous Stark image. Very.
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And he then added this blunt truth with man.
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It is impossible. Think about that for a moment.
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Impossible. And it's not just about giving
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up possessions, is it? Not at all.
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Beyond that, Jesus calls for things like genuine repentance,
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a complete turning, a reorientation of our will from
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sin towards God. Which is incredibly hard.
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Our wills are bent. He calls for worshipping Him
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alone is our ultimate satisfaction.
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He asks us to store up treasures in heaven, which means valuing
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unseen spiritual realities over tangible earthly games.
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Which goes against every natural instinct we have.
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And perhaps most startlingly, he calls us to love our
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adversaries, our enemies. That one really hits home as
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seemingly impossible sometimes. These are not superficial
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actions that can be performed by Rd. are they?
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They are actions that arise from a renewed heart, a change
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spirit, a mindset on different things.
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And from a purely human standpoint, relying solely on
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our own willpower or strength. They extend far beyond what any
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human can do in isolation. They seem unattainable without
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some external divine aid. So humanly impossible.
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But that's not the end of the story.
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No, thankfully not. And this is where the hope truly
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shines through. Jesus immediately completed that
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statement about human inability with words of divine
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possibility. How did He say?
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He said but not with God, for all things are possible with
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God. The crucial addition?
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Absolutely. This means the impossible
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becomes possible, but certainly not through our own limited
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strength or resolve. It's a God power possibility.
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Precisely. And this fundamental truth posed
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a significant challenge for the author in writing this book.
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How to discern and articulate God's method for making this
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seemingly impossible obedience truly achievable for His
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followers? How does God do it?
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How does he make it possible? Well, the source notes that
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Jesus clearly indicated this goal becomes real through
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teaching. Remember.
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Right back to Matthew 28 again. He commanded make disciples,
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teaching them to observe all that I've commanded you.
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So teaching is God's chosen instrument in large part.
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This implies that God has chosen teaching the careful
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instructions in His ways and the revelation of His character as a
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primary means to bring about this divine possibility within
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us. It's not just inspiration, then,
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or a sudden feeling. It's more grounded than that.
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It's not simply about inspiration or a sudden burst of
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zeal, but a steady progressive growth fostered by the
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consistent unfolding of God's truth.
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And this teaching isn't just for the head.
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No. It's meant to penetrate the
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heart and reshape our desires. Aligning them with God's
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teaching is key. OK, so teaching is a primary
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means, but how does it work together with other aspects of
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God's work? What else does the source
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highlight that makes this obedience actually possible for
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us? That's a great question.
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While teaching is central, the material makes it clear that
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Jesus's atoning sacrifice holds supreme value in making
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obedience possible. His death on the cross.
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Yes, by shedding his blood on the cross, He secured the
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promises of what the Bible calls the New Covenant.
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The new Covenant? What does that entail?
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Well, this isn't just a list of good deeds we have to do, it's a
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profound remaking of our relationship with God.
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OK, how so? Under this new covenant, we
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receive the forgiveness of sins, which cleanses us from guilt and
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frees us from the condemnation of the law that's foundational.
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A clean slate. A clean slate, and crucially, it
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also promises the writing of God's instruction on our hearts.
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Written on our hearts. What does that mean practically?
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It implies an internal alteration where obedience isn't
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just a burden externally imposed, but ideally becomes a
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natural overflow of our renewed desires.
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God changes our water, so to speak.
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I see an internal change agent. And we gain a personal
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acquaintance with God, drawing us into an intimate relationship
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with our Creator. So these new covenant blessings,
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forgiveness, internal change, fellowship.
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They are absolutely vital for enabling us to obey Jesus's
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commands. They address the root issues of
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human inability, our sinfulness, and our spiritual disconnect.
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They change us from the inside out.
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Providing both the motivation and the capacity for true
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obedience. You've articulated that so well.
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It really shows how interconnected it all is.
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Precisely these blessings reshape our very being.
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And beyond teaching and the new covenants provisions, there's
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more. The Source notes that the work
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of the Holy Spirit in prayer also play a crucial part in the
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larger picture of making this God glorifying obedience
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possible. The Holy Spirit's role.
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Yes, the Holy Spirit indwells believers, providing the inner
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strength, wisdom and inclination to live out God's ways and.
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Prayer. Prayer is our constant line of
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communication with God where we receive the grace and strength
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we need to walk in His ways day by day.
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So like a. Whole system of support.
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You could say that it's a holistic provision, a divine
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ecosystem of grace that empowers us.
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The source mentions a quote here I think from Augustine.
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Ah yes, a classic. This concept is beautifully
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captured by the quote from Augustine, the early church
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theologian. Command what you wish, but give
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what you command. Command what you wish, but give
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what you command but profound it really captures.
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The essence of God's approach. He doesn't just issue commands
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from afar, expecting us to somehow muster up our own
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strength to obey. He's not a distant.
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Taskmaster. Not at all.
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Instead, He provides the inner working, the spiritual capacity,
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and the empowering grace to live them out.
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God doesn't merely demand, He also enables.
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He calls us to. A high standard, but he also
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provides. The means to reach it through
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the new Covenant, the Spirit, and the persistent practice of
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prayer, all rooted in the instruction He gives us this
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idea of. Divine enablement.
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It leads us directly to the very foundation of this obedience,
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doesn't it? Which is Jesus himself, exactly
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His. Person and his work.
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The sources. Make it undeniably clear that
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Jesus's person, who he is, and His work, what he accomplished,
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are described as the main channels through which God has
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displayed himself self in the world.
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The primary. Revelation.
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There's no. Revelation of God's glory that
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surpasses this no greater unveiling of the divine.
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Jesus himself made this staggering assertion a truly
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incredible. Claim when he stated.
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Whoever has seen me has seen the father.
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John 14. .9 Think about the implications of that statement.
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It's huge. To truly see Jesus, to grasp his
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character, his actions, His very essence is to.
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Perceive the infinitely valuable beauty and character of God.
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It means that in Jesus, God is not just talked about or
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reasoned about, but tangibly seen and experienced.
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So Jesus is. Very person reveals God's glory
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in an unparalleled way. He is the.
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Ultimate living demonstration of God's nature, His attributes,
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and His supreme worth. All of God's attributes, His
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love, His Holiness, His justice, His mercy, are perfectly bodied
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and made visible in Jesus and this demonstration.
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Isn't just about who he is, but also what he did right.
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Absolutely. It extends not only to who Jesus
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is, but also to what he accomplished.
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Jesus himself, towards the end of his earthy life, prayed in
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John 17, his High Priestly. Prayer, yes.
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He prayed I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the
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work that you gave me to do so His work.
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Glorified the Father, his accomplishments.
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His life of perfect obedience, His teaching, his healings, his
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suffering, his death and his resurrection, and the manner of
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their completion all demonstrate God's majesty and greatness.
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So when we. Look at Jesus's commands.
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We need to remember this context exactly.
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We understand they're not just arbitrary rules or a random set
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of ethical guidelines. They are deeply rooted in who he
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is and what he has done, his commands.
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Flow from his very being and his finished redemptive work, it
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highlights. An inseparable connection.
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The intent is that what Jesus instructs followers to do should
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not be separated from who He is and what He has completed.
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You can't divorce. The commands from the commander
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well put. The author aims to consider the
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sense and reason for Jesus's commands, always in connection
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with his person and work, and what consistently arises.
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What's the? Pattern.
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Is it Jesus? Commands a way of living that
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displays the value of his person and the influence of his work.
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It's a constant echo. Live this way and you will show
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the world who I am and what I have achieved for you.
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Our lives become advertisements for Christ in a sense.
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In the best sense. Yes, when followers obey his
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commands, what the world observes is not just their good
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behavior, but a deeper reality, the outcome of Jesus's glorious
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work and the worth of his glorious person, which is.
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In essence, God's glory itself, precisely.
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This is why Jesus arrives in the 1st place, and it's why His
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mission continues through His followers today.
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Our obedience. Therefore becomes a living
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sermon, a visible. Demonstration of the reality of
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his reign and the beauty of his character to those around us.
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It's a profound link between our walk and his revelation.
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It truly. Is a comprehensive vision for
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Christian living now, When we consider Jesus's person, his
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titles offer further insight, Don't they?
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They do. Into his unique identity and
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authority, Jesus certainly acknowledged and affirmed titles
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like Messiah and Son of God. He didn't reject.
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Them no. For instance, he affirmed
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Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi that he was the Christ
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Messiah, the Son of the living God.
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And so, Peter? Didn't figure that out on his
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own, right stating. That this revelation came
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directly from the Father, and later during his trial before
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the high priest, he likewise acknowledged being the Christ,
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the Son of the Blessed. So he clearly.
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Accepted those high claims, yes. These titles clearly established
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his divine nature and His role as the Anointed 1, yet despite.
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Accepting these titles, the Gospel show, his favorite title
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for himself, was different yes, it.
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Was Son of Man, which sounds. Maybe humbler at one level.
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Yes, this title simply highlights Jesus's genuine
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humanity, his shared human experience with us.
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It stresses his connection to our ordinary lives.
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But there's more. To it than just humanity isn't
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there oh much more. This seemingly simple title also
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carries a very elevated claim of universal authority because it's
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particular used by the prophet Daniel.
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Daniel Chapter. 7 exactly. Daniel 7.1314 depicts one like a
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Son of Man, approaching the Ancient of Days and receiving
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dominion and glory in a Kingdom that all people's nations and
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languages should serve him an everlasting.
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Kingdom, his dominion. Is an everlasting dominion which
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shall not pass away, and his Kingdom one that shall not be
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destroyed. This vision paints a picture of
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a figure with cosmic eternal rule, far beyond any earthly
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king. So, Son.
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Of man is both human and highly exalted.
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Why did Jesus prefer this title? The reason?
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Jesus favored Son of Man is particularly insightful,
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especially when we consider the the historical and political
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landscape of his day expectations.
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People had exactly. The titles Messiah and Son of
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God, while accurately describing him, were often burdened with
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popular political expectations among the Jewish people.
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It wanted a political. Savior, right?
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Someone to overthrow Rome, largely.
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Yes, the envision of Messiah who would immediately conquer Roman
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rule and establish an earthly Kingdom of Israel, often through
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military might and crucially, without any suffering on his
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part. But that wasn't.
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Jesus's mission. At least not his first coming
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mission, no. Jesus needed to present himself
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as the true Messiah, the divine Son of God with universal
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authority, while also carefully correcting that popular idea of
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an immediate non suffering reign.
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So son of. Man helped him do that.
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It was extremely. Valuable in this regard, while
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it held elevated claims for those who understood its
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prophetic depths from Daniel signaling his universal and
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eternal dominion, it did not overtly express claims to
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immediate political might or call for armed insurrection.
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It was more. Subtle.
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Perhaps. Less likely to start a riot, you
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can say. That this strategic precision
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allowed Jesus to affirm the arrival of the Messianic Kingdom
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in his ministry without triggering those revolutionary
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expectations among the crowds. Expectations.
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That could have utterly derailed his primary mission, which was.
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As we'll see, a mission of suffering, sacrifice, and
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spiritual redemption rather than immediate earthly conquest.
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It allowed him to reveal his true identity without being
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forced into a role the people mistakenly expected.
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OK. Building on that understanding
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of Jesus's identity and his chosen mission, let's consider
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this concept of the Kingdom of God a central.
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Theme in Jesus's teaching the Jewish.
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People of Jesus time deeply yearned for the Messiah to usher
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in the Kingdom of God. Their anticipation was tangible.
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They had. Specific expectations, didn't
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they? Yes, they.
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Expected the defeat of adversaries, sins are raised,
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illnesses healed, the dead raised and righteousness, joy
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and peace prevailing, with the Messiah ruling on the throne in
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glory, often with a. Strong nationalistic and
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political element right? Often colored by a desire for
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political liberation from Rome. So then.
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Jesus arrives on the scene and he.
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Proclaims right at the start of Mark's gospel.
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The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand.
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Repent and believe in the Gospel at hand.
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Meaning near present, yes. His very own ministry marked the
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arrival of God's liberating, saving reign.
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He affirmed this when he said, If it is by the finger of God
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that I cast out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you
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His actions. Were signs of the kingdoms
22:12
presence visible? Proofs and he further stated,
22:15
The Kingdom of God is in the midst of you, or some
22:18
translations say within you signaling.
22:21
Its active personal reality in his presence and teaching this
22:25
meant. The long-awaited divine rule was
22:27
no longer just a future hope, but it actually broken into
22:30
history through him. Yes.
22:32
But, and this is a crucial but there was a secret of the
22:36
Kingdom of God, as Jesus himself called it in Mark 4A secret.
22:40
A mystery? Yes.
22:42
This was the profound mystery that the Kingdom had indeed
22:46
arrived in history, but before its final triumphant
22:49
manifestation. Ah, so it.
22:51
Wasn't the full picture yet exactly.
22:53
Fulfillment was present in Jesus ministry but complete
22:56
realization or consummation was not yet.
22:59
It was like perhaps the dawn breaking before the full
23:02
brightness of midday an already. But not yet kind of situation
23:06
that's a common way. Theologians describe it.
23:08
The source reveals that the Kingdom would arrive in two
23:10
distinct phases, something that puzzled many of Jesus's
23:13
contemporaries. 2 phases. What are they in the 1st?
23:15
Phase. The Messiah would arrive and
23:17
experience suffering, suffering. That seems the opposite of what
23:20
people expected from a king. It was a radical.
23:22
Departure from popular expectations of an immediate
23:25
conquering king, Jesus's primary work during his first coming was
23:30
precisely this, to suffer and die for the forgiveness of sins,
23:36
he said. He came to serve, not be served
23:39
explicitly stated. He came not to be served, but to
23:42
serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
23:46
Mark 10.45 a ransom. Paying a price, yes.
23:50
His blood, he declared, was poured out for the forgiveness
23:53
of sins, thereby establishing the new covenant we discussed
23:56
earlier. So the suffering was.
23:58
Necessary for the new covenant? Absolutely.
24:00
While His healings, miracles, and preachings certainly
24:03
demonstrated his Messiahship in the Kingdom's presence, his
24:06
central mission in his first arrival was indeed this
24:09
necessary suffering and sacrifice.
24:11
It was through the suffering that the groundwork for true
24:13
spiritual freedom was laid. OK.
24:15
That's the first. Phase suffering?
24:16
What's the second then? In the second phase, the Messiah
24:19
would arrive in glory. The return yes.
24:22
His glorious return. This is the future event that
24:26
fulfills all those popular expectations of reigning and
24:29
judgement, but only after the suffering first.
24:32
This contrasts sharply with a popular hope for an immediate
24:35
non suffering earthly ruler back then.
24:37
So. His redemptive mission in the
24:39
First Coming was crucial for everything else.
24:42
Utterly crucial. Jesus came to serve and give his
24:45
life as a ransom for many, truly highlighting his role in freeing
24:48
people through his sacrifice, He paid the.
24:51
Ultimate price. A ransom to liberate humanity
24:54
from the bondage of sin and its consequences.
24:56
Exactly. And through his shedding of
24:58
blood, Jesus secured those new covenant promises we've touched
25:01
upon, forgiveness of sins, God's instruction written on our
25:05
hearts, and a personal acquaintance with God and these
25:07
lessings. Aren't just abstract ideas.
25:09
No, they are. Vital practical provisions that
25:12
empower followers to obey Jesus's commands.
25:15
They provide the very basis for our capacity and desire to live
25:18
in God. Glorifying obedience without
25:20
this. Ransom without these new
25:21
covenant provisions our earlier. Discussion about the impossible
25:24
nature of obedience would remain true, and we would be left for
25:28
that hope or ability. What's also.
25:30
Central to this redemptive mission and the reality of the
25:33
Kingdom is the resurrection, right?
25:36
Absolutely. Central.
25:37
After completing his mission of suffering and death, Jesus rose
25:40
from the dead. The Cornerstone.
25:41
Of Christian faith indeed. This was not merely A
25:45
resuscitation, it was an act showing supreme authority over
25:48
death itself, demonstrating his victory over sin and mortality,
25:52
proof that his. Sacrifice was accepted and proof
25:54
of. His divine power He appeared to
25:57
his disciples, confirming his physical life.
26:00
He illuminated the scriptures for them, showing how his
26:02
suffering and resurrection were foretold all along, connecting
26:05
the. Dots for them, yes.
26:07
He commissioned them as witnesses of these incredible
26:09
realities and then ascended to heaven, instructing them to
26:12
await the Holy Spirit's empowering presence to carry on
26:15
His mission. The Source.
26:16
Also highlights another aspect of his mission.
26:19
Seeking the lost, Yes. Jesus came specifically to seek
26:24
and to save the lost. Luke 19.10.
26:28
This phrase captures the essence of his mission, actively
26:31
pursuing those who are alienated from God and bringing them into
26:35
his Kingdom. And there's a great.
26:36
Example of this in the Gospels The transformation.
26:39
Of zacchaeus, the tax collector serves as a powerful example a
26:42
man not. Well liked I imagine,
26:44
definitely. Not yeah.
26:45
Zacchaeus was a wealthy man known for exploiting others, but
26:49
he encountered Jesus. As a result, he was so changed
26:52
that he stood up and declared he would give half his possessions
26:55
to the poor and repay anyone he had defrauded fourfold.
26:58
That's a radical. Change.
26:59
Talk about impossible obedience made possible.
27:02
Exactly. This illustration shows how
27:04
Jesus saves individuals not only from spiritual lostness, but
27:07
also from self-destructive attachment to possessions.
27:10
Like the rich young ruler couldn't manage, he leads them.
27:13
To a life of what seems like impossible obedience, a life
27:17
that. Vividly showcases Jesus's
27:19
infinite value in the liberating reign of his Kingdom.
27:23
It's a compelling demonstration of the internal change producing
27:27
external actions that bring glory to God.
27:30
So this deep understanding of Jesus's person, his work, and
27:33
his kingdom's nature. This already but not yet reality
27:37
achieved through suffering it directly.
27:40
Shapes how his Kingdom against is in the world, doesn't it?
27:42
It Absolutely. Does Jesus issues his commands
27:45
based on his absolute authority? Remember, before his ascension,
27:48
he declared Matthew 20. 8 Again, it keeps coming up.
27:51
It's foundational. All authority in heaven and on
27:53
earth has been given to me, All authority.
27:55
That's a sweeping statement. It grants him.
27:57
The sovereign right to command the entire world, every nation
28:00
and every individual within it. His commands are not
28:03
suggestions. They are mandates from the one
28:05
who hold ultimate dominion over all creation.
28:08
That's the basis of. His right to command, but
28:10
there's a balance to it. Yes, this.
28:11
Immense universal authority is balanced by a wonderfully tender
28:15
promise he gives to his followers right after that.
28:17
That's the promise. Behold.
28:19
I am with you always to the end of the age.
28:22
His presence. Always this signifies.
28:24
That he will assist his followers in observing his
28:27
instructions by remaining with them, providing his constant
28:30
presence and aid. So his authority provides the
28:33
right to command and his. Abiding presence provides the
28:37
means, the grace, and the encouragement to live out those
28:40
commands, even when it's hard. It means.
28:43
We are never left to our own devices to achieve this.
28:45
God glorifying obedience we are not.
28:48
And is absolutely crucial for us to grasp the unique nature of
28:52
this kingdom's advance, especially in a world accustomed
28:55
to kingdoms expanding through well force military.
28:59
Might political power right? Jesus does not send his
29:02
followers to make disciples with a sword, nor does he instruct
29:05
them to compel belief through coercion, he told.
29:08
Pilate, His Kingdom wasn't of this world exactly He.
29:10
Explicitly stated that his Kingdom is not of this world.
29:13
If it were, His servants would fight.
29:15
His followers do not fight to expand his Kingdom in the way
29:18
earthly armies do. What do they do?
29:19
Instead instead. They are called to embrace
29:22
suffering, even death, as a path of loyal allegiance.
29:26
To him, that's a. Stark contrast to worldly
29:29
kingdoms built on conquest and earthly might it completely.
29:32
Redefines what true strength and influence mean in God's economy.
29:36
So if. Not by force.
29:37
How does the Kingdom advance? That's right.
29:40
The source states clearly that the Kingdom advances by truth
29:44
and love and sacrifice and the strength of God truth.
29:47
Love, sacrifice, and God's strength, not human strength.
29:52
This is a fundamental. Principle for understanding the
29:54
mission of jesus's followers. His universal authority
29:57
therefore leads not to a mission of conquest, but a mission of.
30:01
Teaching a mission of. Teaching not a mission of
30:03
terror, as the author puts, it's a mission of persuasion through
30:05
the articulation of divine truth and the love.
30:08
A mission of winsome love that draws others in.
30:10
A mission characterized by self sacrifice that mirrors Christ's
30:13
own. All empowered.
30:14
By God and all empowered. By the intrinsic strength of
30:17
God, not human muscle or military might.
30:20
It's a radically different approach approach to expansion,
30:22
one that values genuine conversion over forced
30:24
compliance and heart. Change over outward conformity.
30:28
Exactly. This mission.
30:30
Though it's not painted as easy, no.
30:32
Definitely not. It is a costly endeavor for
30:34
those who embrace it. Followers are called to deny
30:38
themselves to take up their cross daily Luke. 9.23 And they
30:42
may. Even face death for their
30:44
allegiance to Jesus if Jesus their master was persecuted his
30:48
followers. Can expect the same his
30:50
followers. Can fully expect to experience
30:52
persecution as well. This is part of the path he
30:55
walked, and into the path he calls his disciples to walk.
30:58
It's a sober. Reality following Christ often
31:01
means swimming against the current facing.
31:03
Opposition from worldly values, but despite.
31:05
These costs, despite the very real prospect of self denial and
31:09
persecution, the mission is fundamentally described as
31:12
joyful. Yes, joyful.
31:13
That's a point the sources bring out.
31:15
Clearly. It's joyful because the cause of
31:17
Jesus cannot ultimately fail. His Kingdom will prevail.
31:20
There's an ultimate. Certainty.
31:22
Exactly. Even when reviled and persecuted
31:24
for his name, followers are called to rejoice and be glad,
31:28
for their reward is great in heaven.
31:30
Matthew 5. The Beat.
31:32
Right. This perspective shifts the
31:34
focus from earthly hardship to eternal reward and the certainty
31:39
of God's ultimate victory. So there's.
31:41
God glorifying obedience even when it involves suffering, it
31:45
becomes. The visible outcome of his
31:47
redeeming work and the display of his personal glory to a
31:50
watching world, Jesus came. To create a people who honor his
31:54
gracious reign by bearing. The food of his Kingdom, even
31:58
when it means embracing hardship or facing scorn.
32:00
Now let's look. At the actual flow of this
32:03
obedience within an individual's life, the structure of Piper's
32:06
book itself is mentioned as reflecting a particular design.
32:09
Yes, it seems. Intentional drawing readers from
32:12
perhaps shorter, gentler commands toward those that are
32:15
more challenging to live out and what's.
32:17
Fascinating is that most of the early instructions in the book
32:20
apparently don't require immediate external action.
32:22
Is that right? That's what the.
32:24
Source indicates instead they pertain to the mind and heart,
32:27
the inner person, like laying the.
32:28
Foundation first. Exactly.
32:30
This is a deliberate design that mirrors how God works in US.
32:33
Change starts within, so the kind of.
32:35
Obedience. Jesus calls for.
32:37
It moves from the inside out indeed.
32:41
It consistently moves from the inside, where the value and
32:44
beauty of Jesus are truly favored and cherished, to the
32:47
outside, where the value of Jesus is then publicly shun and
32:50
manifested. It's an internal.
32:52
Alteration first a transformation.
32:54
Of desires and affections that then naturally manifests itself
32:57
externally in actions and attitudes which underlines.
33:00
Again, that true obedience is never just about outward
33:03
conformity. No, it's.
33:04
Springs from an inner wellspring of admiration and delight in
33:07
Christ. So what?
33:09
Are some of these initial commands, these foundational
33:11
internal directives? Well, the early.
33:13
Chapters in the book cover commands such as You Must be
33:16
Born Again, John 3. Foundational Repent.
33:20
Come to me, believe in me, love me, listen to me, and abide in
33:24
me. Those are all deeply.
33:26
Personal, internal realities, very much so.
33:29
They address our spiritual state, our intellectual ascent,
33:32
and our emotional disposition towards Jesus Himself.
33:35
They established the root system from which all other external
33:38
actions will grow. You can't really do.
33:39
Those without inner conviction, exactly.
33:42
Yeah, these are not actions you can perform without inner
33:45
conviction or spiritual regeneration and the source.
33:48
Suggests that when these internal commands are truly
33:50
embraced, something happens. Yes.
33:54
When a person is born again by God's Spirit, genuinely repents,
33:59
comes to Jesus and trust, believes in him, loves him as
34:02
their greatest treasure, listens to His voice and abides in His
34:06
presence, then what? They act.
34:08
To turn the absolute authority of Jesus into a reservoir of
34:12
holy joy. Authority.
34:14
Becomes joy. How does that work?
34:16
Well, think. About it when the most glorious
34:18
person in the universe, the one with all authority, settles all
34:21
your debts through his sacrifice, OK, and then calls
34:23
you to live with him and enter His joy, no instruction could be
34:27
more desirable or more attractive.
34:28
Could it? Viewed that.
34:30
Way no. It sounds like the best
34:31
invitation possible. It changes.
34:33
Obedience from a duty or a burden into a delight.
34:35
It's a gracious call, and that reminds.
34:37
Me of the Augustan quote again. Yes, it.
34:39
Fits perfectly. Command what you wish, but give
34:42
what you command. God provides what He requires,
34:45
not just externally, but by reshaping our internal landscape
34:49
so that obedience becomes ideally our greatest joy.
34:53
That joy. Is undeniably a powerful
34:56
motivator, transforming the very nature of obedience from burden
35:00
to. Blessing and these.
35:01
Commands, though, they start internally, they have a
35:03
universal scope, right? This isn't just for a few
35:05
people. Got it all.
35:07
Jesus's final instruction Back again to Matthew 28 specifies
35:10
teaching all nations, which means all ethnic groups on the
35:13
planet without exception, all ethne.
35:15
In the Greek every people group, Yes, this.
35:18
Isn't just for a select few, a particular tribe, or a specific
35:21
geographic region. This is a global call, an
35:24
invitation to everyone. That's a crucial.
35:26
Point Jesus isn't just one God among many?
35:29
Absolutely not. He's not a tribal deity limited
35:32
to one people or one land. All authority in the universe
35:35
belongs to him, and all creation owes him allegiance, so the.
35:39
Commands given to his disciples. They're really for everyone,
35:42
ultimately. Yes, they are intended for all
35:45
people everywhere as he calls everyone to become His disciple.
35:49
It's an inditation to all humanity to enter into this God
35:52
glorifying obedience to find their.
35:55
Greatest satisfaction and purpose in living out his
35:58
commands, which are ultimately. Designed for our good and His
36:00
glory, this universal call demonstrates the expansive
36:04
nature of His Kingdom and His rightful claim over every heart.
36:08
OK. So as we wrap up this deep dive,
36:10
we've really uncovered how this idea of God glorifying
36:14
obedience, which can seem so far beyond our human capacity, it's
36:17
actually made. Possible.
36:18
Yes. Made.
36:19
Truly possible through Jesus's completed work on the cross, His
36:22
abiding presence with us, through the Spirit, and the
36:25
strength God himself provides. It's a divine.
36:27
Enablement, we've seen that. Obedience isn't merely about
36:30
following a set of external rules, but about displaying the
36:33
radiance of God's character in and through the life of a
36:36
follower, all motivated. By who?
36:38
Jesus. Jesus is and what he has done
36:39
for us. And crucially.
36:41
The advance of God's Kingdom is not through force or coercion,
36:45
but through lives. Shaped by truth, sincere love
36:48
and willingness to embrace sacrifice.
36:50
Empowered by God, so. Perhaps a final thought for our
36:54
listeners to ponder, given that our.
36:55
Pursuit of obedience to Jesus is presented as both costly and
36:59
joyful. How does this understanding
37:01
reshape your perception of God's purpose for your life and the.
37:04
Methods through which his Kingdom actually comes, maybe?
37:07
Consider how an internal delight in Jesus, fostered by his Spirit
37:11
through his Word, can spark outward actions that truly
37:14
glorify God in a world that desperately needs to see his
37:17
beauty. Something to reflect.
37:18
On indeed. Thank you for joining us on this
37:21
deep dive.