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Finalmente Vivos - O que acontece quando nascemos de novo?
Importa-vos nascer de novo. Essa afirmação de Jesus ou está enganada ou é devastadora para aqueles que se consideram donos de sua alma. Poucas realidades bíblicas são tão bem designadas por Deus, como essa, para revelar nossa impotência quanto ao pecado. Entretanto, hoje em dia, nem todos têm o zelo de estimar o novo nascimento como a maravilha que ele realmente é. A expressão nascer de novo é muito preciosa e importante na Bíblia. Saber o que Deus quer dizer quando a Bíblia usa essa linguagem deve ser a nossa maior preocupação, a fim de que, por meio de sua graça, experimentemos este nascimento e ajudemos outros a fazer o mesmo. É muito importante que saibamos o que nascer de novo significa verdadeiramente. Deus é o grande realizador do milagre da regeneração. Ele não manteve silêncio sobre esse assunto, pois Ele não deseja que sejamos ignorantes no tocante ao que Ele faz no novo nascimento. Quando Jesus disse: `Importa-vos nascer de novo`, Ele não estava compartilhando uma informação interessante, mas sem importância. Estava conduzindo-nos à vida eterna. Este livro fala o que Deus faz em nossas vidas para que possamos exclamar que somos `finalmente vivos`!
175 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
111 people are currently reading
2666 people want to read
About the author
John Piper
609 books4,586 followersJohn Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For 33 years, he served as senior pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.), and the University of Munich (D.theol.). For six years, he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem.
John is the author of more than 50 books and more than 30 years of his preaching and teaching is available free at desiringGod.org. John and his wife, Noel, have four sons, one daughter, and twelve grandchildren.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.), and the University of Munich (D.theol.). For six years, he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem.
John is the author of more than 50 books and more than 30 years of his preaching and teaching is available free at desiringGod.org. John and his wife, Noel, have four sons, one daughter, and twelve grandchildren.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
February 16, 2020
John Piper writes on the topic of regeneration in a very accessible and winsome way. One of the strengths of Piper is he writes as a pastor and not as a theologian only. I think it was Tom Schreiner who rightly called Piper a "pastor-theologian" because the theology he writes of warms the heart and invigorates the soul. This book does exactly that.
The book presents the doctrine of regeneration as a vital doctrine for the Christian today. It changes our view of ourselves in our total inability and God in His gracious work. That view has implications in how we evangelize, how we minister to each other as Christians, and how we preach the gospel.
What makes this book unique is Piper moves from the subject of soteriology to pneumatology and Christology effortlessly. He views theology, not as a foundation that builds upon another, but an interconnected web that if you cut one strand you impact the rest. In my mind, this is the best way to teach and explain theology because theology flows out of the one perfect mind of God. But Piper's theology is practical that has implications for us as Christians. Where do our affections come from? How is it that we once rejected and hated God and now have affections for God? Where does this life that the Spirit imparts to us come from? Or more specifically, whose life did we receive?
Read this book and rejoice.
The book presents the doctrine of regeneration as a vital doctrine for the Christian today. It changes our view of ourselves in our total inability and God in His gracious work. That view has implications in how we evangelize, how we minister to each other as Christians, and how we preach the gospel.
What makes this book unique is Piper moves from the subject of soteriology to pneumatology and Christology effortlessly. He views theology, not as a foundation that builds upon another, but an interconnected web that if you cut one strand you impact the rest. In my mind, this is the best way to teach and explain theology because theology flows out of the one perfect mind of God. But Piper's theology is practical that has implications for us as Christians. Where do our affections come from? How is it that we once rejected and hated God and now have affections for God? Where does this life that the Spirit imparts to us come from? Or more specifically, whose life did we receive?
Read this book and rejoice.
July 10, 2025
Man, I have been on a Piper kick lately and I strongly admire his awe and reverence for Scripture. I love the way he teaches and draws your heart to love God more. His section on evangelism was also very encouraging. Highly recommend to all believers. You will walk away with an awe of what happens at the new birth through Jesus!
March 25, 2009
We know that we have been born again, but what exactly happened? This book gives a thorough answer to that question. Also, there are so many people claiming to be Christians, but in all reality, they are not; they have not been born again. That is one reason why this book was written: to clearly examine the doctrine of regernation (being born again). This is a must read for the false doctrines that are circulating in our culture.
This is the first book where I have seen the expository side of Piper. He did a wonderful job of exposition on several texts dealing with regeneration. He also provides practical application for evangelism and how others can be born again.
This book draws you closer to the Lord because it gives you a greater appreciation for the fact that you are born again, and what God did to make you born again.
This is the first book where I have seen the expository side of Piper. He did a wonderful job of exposition on several texts dealing with regeneration. He also provides practical application for evangelism and how others can be born again.
This book draws you closer to the Lord because it gives you a greater appreciation for the fact that you are born again, and what God did to make you born again.
June 29, 2021
I was really encouraged by the tips for evangelism at the end. He said it’s fine that we don’t feel particularly good at evangelism because that shows the glory of God when he saves people through the treasure of the gospel that we deliver on a paper plate. We are not very impressive, but the Gospel is powerful. ❤️❤️❤️
May 31, 2020
I really enjoyed it.
November 28, 2023
This is a wonderfully detailed explanation of what it really means to be “born again”. At some level I already knew everything he writes but Piper has such a way of making it reach a heart level. Great book!
August 2, 2022
Absolutely LOVED. So good to get deeper into what it truly means to be born again as a believer. I liked the way he payed out this book going through the how, what, why etc of the new birth. Can’t speak highly enough of it!!
February 12, 2019
The book started out by talking about Augustine and C.S. Lewis conversions and how one was dramatic and the other was just a bus ride. It drew me in because I thought the book was going to talk about why and how God converts differently.
While the book certainly did talk about the differences in conversions, it carried so much more. The points that stick out to me the most were the difference in the new nature God gives us as opposed to sin nature.
And our responsibility in the gospel. I have repeated and memorize the verse to work out my salvation in fear and trembling, for God is working in you to will and act according to his good purpose. The verse led me to continually question what my job is and how I can work out my salvation in the right way.
The book painted the picture that God regenerates our hearts, that He creates the possibility to desire him and draws us near with his irresistible grace. My job was to believe in the truth and use the power he has given me through the Holy Spirit and the death of Jesus to follow the truth. The union with Christ and my relationship with God is all made possible by the faith God created in me.
I can love holiness and hate sin. I don’t find his commands burdensome, and I enjoy spending time with Him. I walk in the light and can see my sin. I won’t envy the righteous like Cain.
Christ is in control and we control our rebirth no more than an infant controls their birth. God ransomed us, he rescued us, His voice created faith in us when he spoke the gospel.
The next step for us is to preach the gospel and the word of God. It’s God’s word that creates faith and rebirth. The seed of God is what is needed to transform, not our elegant plans. God isn’t constrained by our will, especially when our will was only to sin.
If I’m upset by the fatalistic doctrine that God is in control, then prayer and submission is needed. My heart is evil and deceptive above all means, but is God not stronger?
The book ends with the righteous call to preach the gospel with a heart of humility. To know that God had blinded the light of unbelievers, but to still try to flip the switch in all your neighbors. Even if it’s a simple, “Praise Jesus” or giving generously the gifts God has given you. Let the word of God do its work.
While the book certainly did talk about the differences in conversions, it carried so much more. The points that stick out to me the most were the difference in the new nature God gives us as opposed to sin nature.
And our responsibility in the gospel. I have repeated and memorize the verse to work out my salvation in fear and trembling, for God is working in you to will and act according to his good purpose. The verse led me to continually question what my job is and how I can work out my salvation in the right way.
The book painted the picture that God regenerates our hearts, that He creates the possibility to desire him and draws us near with his irresistible grace. My job was to believe in the truth and use the power he has given me through the Holy Spirit and the death of Jesus to follow the truth. The union with Christ and my relationship with God is all made possible by the faith God created in me.
I can love holiness and hate sin. I don’t find his commands burdensome, and I enjoy spending time with Him. I walk in the light and can see my sin. I won’t envy the righteous like Cain.
Christ is in control and we control our rebirth no more than an infant controls their birth. God ransomed us, he rescued us, His voice created faith in us when he spoke the gospel.
The next step for us is to preach the gospel and the word of God. It’s God’s word that creates faith and rebirth. The seed of God is what is needed to transform, not our elegant plans. God isn’t constrained by our will, especially when our will was only to sin.
If I’m upset by the fatalistic doctrine that God is in control, then prayer and submission is needed. My heart is evil and deceptive above all means, but is God not stronger?
The book ends with the righteous call to preach the gospel with a heart of humility. To know that God had blinded the light of unbelievers, but to still try to flip the switch in all your neighbors. Even if it’s a simple, “Praise Jesus” or giving generously the gifts God has given you. Let the word of God do its work.
July 15, 2012
Excellent book dealing with the subject of what it really means to be a "Born Again" Christian. It also shows that while the "Barna Group" says that 45% of Americans say they have been religiously "Born Again," that in reality it is much lower than that. Why? Because "Born Again" has been so loosely thrown around that many who think they are "Born Again," are NOT based on what it Biblically means. Piper will take you through 100's of scripture references in this 200-page book, that will help you to see if you are a "Born Again Christian. If not, my prayer is that this book will be used to bring you to that place of becoming a "Born Again" Christian.
John 3:3,7 reads:
3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he CANNOT see the kingdom of God...7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You MUST be born again.'
John 3:3,7 reads:
3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he CANNOT see the kingdom of God...7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You MUST be born again.'
December 24, 2022
4.5 stars! A very comprehensive look at "being born again". Piper talked about everything from what it means, to how it happens, to how we can help others to be born again (and all supported by and based on what the Bible has to say about the new life). I genuinely enjoyed this book and it afforded a lot of opportunities for learning, thinking, and reflecting.
August 23, 2023
The book is good, but Paul Washer's book "The Gospel Call and the True Conversion" is better. But if you want something short about: Am I born again? How can I be born again? How does conversion happen? How can I help others be born again? - this could be useful.
December 26, 2024
Overall a difficult, pedantic read demonstrating the positive and negative aspects of mainstream Protestant theology. This is a Christian theology that has elevated the ideas of Paul and others above the ministry of Jesus, which is effectively ignored. Piper also includes a few awkward sentiments like admiration for Clarence Thomas’s biography and his concern over yoga.
June 27, 2022
sir john hitting us with the good stuff as usual
February 3, 2012
A gorgeous call to the Christian to finally and fully understand the blessed doctrine of regeneration--not only the swapping of hearts by God alone but the call to evangelize to proclaim what God has done in us.
The regeneration and faith issue (chicken-egg argument) is settled here. Piper wonderfully exegetes passages such as John 3, 1 John 5, 2 Peter 3 and Ephesians 2 to serve as the basis for the entire book. While the faith-first arguments have passages to ponder but not necessarily concrete "this is so" statement, the regeneration-first argument has absolute concrete "this is so" passages, to which, Piper highlights the clearest here:
1 John 5:1
"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him."
Catch the wording: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God--not, everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is now born of God.
Fortunately, the book is bigger than that age-old debate.
What made this a real joy to read was the wonderful surprise in the practical application: that is the call for evangelism. You love God? You love others? You love yourself? Then do what Christ has commissioned us all to do: Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:14-20; John 21:15-18; Acts 1:6-8.
This is an excellent little book for self-study and group study alike. Piper is master of reading deep rich theological books and concise, to-the-point books. This book leans to the latter.
I would highly recommend this book to any English-speaking saint.
The regeneration and faith issue (chicken-egg argument) is settled here. Piper wonderfully exegetes passages such as John 3, 1 John 5, 2 Peter 3 and Ephesians 2 to serve as the basis for the entire book. While the faith-first arguments have passages to ponder but not necessarily concrete "this is so" statement, the regeneration-first argument has absolute concrete "this is so" passages, to which, Piper highlights the clearest here:
1 John 5:1
"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him."
Catch the wording: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God--not, everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is now born of God.
Fortunately, the book is bigger than that age-old debate.
What made this a real joy to read was the wonderful surprise in the practical application: that is the call for evangelism. You love God? You love others? You love yourself? Then do what Christ has commissioned us all to do: Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:14-20; John 21:15-18; Acts 1:6-8.
This is an excellent little book for self-study and group study alike. Piper is master of reading deep rich theological books and concise, to-the-point books. This book leans to the latter.
I would highly recommend this book to any English-speaking saint.
September 12, 2014
A good book on understanding the new birth. He spends a lot of time in I John, which makes sense. He does a good job showing why regeneration in necessary, how it occurs, and what are the results of it. He also nicely balances God's work and the necessity of means. God does not believe for us nor does God magically change people's hearts apart from the Word of God. I especially enjoyed his last chapter on how to be more proactive in evangelism. A really good book on this topic and worthwhile read for anyone working through I John.
What did I not like? Piper is still too revivalistic for my tastes. Too many altar calls in the book. Second, he has a low view of the institutional church and the sacraments. Both of those are almost non-existent in this book. Finally, I do not think he adequately addresses the continued presence of sin in the believer. That was not the point of this book. However, with all the time he spends in I John he should have explained more clearly how a regenerate person can keep on sinning. His view of regeneration is so dramatic that a natural reading leads to perfectionism. But he does not believe Christians are perfect. I did not think this tension was adequately explained.
What did I not like? Piper is still too revivalistic for my tastes. Too many altar calls in the book. Second, he has a low view of the institutional church and the sacraments. Both of those are almost non-existent in this book. Finally, I do not think he adequately addresses the continued presence of sin in the believer. That was not the point of this book. However, with all the time he spends in I John he should have explained more clearly how a regenerate person can keep on sinning. His view of regeneration is so dramatic that a natural reading leads to perfectionism. But he does not believe Christians are perfect. I did not think this tension was adequately explained.
September 13, 2010
This is a wonderful book on the absolute necessity of the new birth. If it true that not every baptized Christian is saved, and it is true, then we need an explanation for the dividing line. What differentiates the saved from the unsaved? What is the difference? Does the Bible give us any direction on the subject? The answer is yes, and Piper does a great job in assembling the relevant biblical material, and explaining it clearly.
November 3, 2025
This book is excellent. Piper in his usual fashion explains very well from Scripture what it means to be made alive or regenerated. He brings to our minds the pervasive influence of God’s work it affects everything. Christ died to make us alive so that we might live for His glory in proclaiming His salvation and life to the world around us to the people who are placed in our sphere influence. I am thankful for this book. It has given great encouragement. This quote is one example of how wonderful it is to be alive in Christ:
God sees me in Christ. And I don't despair because of my failure. I am not paralyzed with hopelessness. I confess my failure to love (I John 1:9). I embrace the forgiveness he bought. I take my stand on the wrath-removing propitiation he provided (I John 2:2). And I reassure my heart (I John 3:19) that God sees me through my Advocate — my perfect Advocate.
So I end where I started. I wanted you to see for yourselves that our ability to love others imperfectly is based on the fact that in Christ we already love them perfectly. That is, his loving them perfectly counts as our loving them perfectly if we are in him by faith alone. He is the perfection that we need before God. And we have it not by loving others, but by trusting him. This very assurance is the key to loving others. And if we lose this key, we lose everything, including the power to love others.
Please read this book.
God sees me in Christ. And I don't despair because of my failure. I am not paralyzed with hopelessness. I confess my failure to love (I John 1:9). I embrace the forgiveness he bought. I take my stand on the wrath-removing propitiation he provided (I John 2:2). And I reassure my heart (I John 3:19) that God sees me through my Advocate — my perfect Advocate.
So I end where I started. I wanted you to see for yourselves that our ability to love others imperfectly is based on the fact that in Christ we already love them perfectly. That is, his loving them perfectly counts as our loving them perfectly if we are in him by faith alone. He is the perfection that we need before God. And we have it not by loving others, but by trusting him. This very assurance is the key to loving others. And if we lose this key, we lose everything, including the power to love others.
Please read this book.
October 6, 2017
"What is my problem?" That's the question I asked as I read through this book, wondering what took me so long to actually get through this book. Finally Alive has sat on my shelves for years and it even found its way to my home where I think I envisioned reading it at a slow pace while the family was out and about. Finally I made a commitment to read it and I am so glad I did. Though certainly not Piper's best book, it was such a joy to read it as Piper unpacked the concept of being "born again." It is a theological book, yet not one of those theological books that I believe would make the average follower of Christ feel overwhelmed and intimidated. Piper gave indepth explanation to what Scripture means when it says that one must be "born again". That was very insightful. Piper spent a large chunk of writing as he talked about the proofs in one's life of whether he/she is truly born again, looking at the pages of I John. I loved this section and thought it would provide a tremendous tool for helping people to evaluate where they truly stand with the Lord Jesus. Piper ends with a marvelous section about the implications of "being born again" and our role in leading others to this point in their life. Finally Alive is an excellent book and should be read by many who want to understand this precious precious truth.
February 15, 2024
4.5
It’s a book about how to be reborn in Christ. Honestly I picked it up when I realized this one quote was in it, and can say it did not disappoint.
“My feelings are not God. God is God. My feelings do not define truth. God’s word defines truth. My feelings are echoes and responses to what my mind perceives. And sometimes - many times - my feelings are out of sync with the truth. When that happens - and it happens every day in some measure - I try not to bend the truth to justify my imperfect feelings, but rather, I plead with God: Purify my perceptions of your truth and transform my feelings so that they are in sync with the truth.”
Here’s another quote.
My enemies are not my main problem. I am my main problem. Not my deeds, and not my circumstances, and not the people in my life, but my nature is my deepest personal problem. The new birth is the creation of spiritual life, not the imitation of life.
It’s a book about how to be reborn in Christ. Honestly I picked it up when I realized this one quote was in it, and can say it did not disappoint.
“My feelings are not God. God is God. My feelings do not define truth. God’s word defines truth. My feelings are echoes and responses to what my mind perceives. And sometimes - many times - my feelings are out of sync with the truth. When that happens - and it happens every day in some measure - I try not to bend the truth to justify my imperfect feelings, but rather, I plead with God: Purify my perceptions of your truth and transform my feelings so that they are in sync with the truth.”
Here’s another quote.
My enemies are not my main problem. I am my main problem. Not my deeds, and not my circumstances, and not the people in my life, but my nature is my deepest personal problem. The new birth is the creation of spiritual life, not the imitation of life.
October 30, 2019
Reading through some books I've had for a while that I haven't wanted to read. And overall, I didn't really like this book. Piper is great and his exposition of Scripture has some pierce your heart moments. I just wish he would incorporate stories to show the beauty of Scripture. At times, this read more like a commentary on different passages.
That being said, I was reminded why it's important to read widely and to read books that stretch you by this book. The last two chapters, the Spirit really spoke to me through Piper's exposition. The Word of God came alive as he wrote. I love that. Piper does understand that God speaks through the gospel and his Word. So he talks about it a lot in his books. So even though I wouldn't write in his style and prefer authors who incorporate more story, I'm still glad I read this book and that God graciously met me with refreshment through it!
That being said, I was reminded why it's important to read widely and to read books that stretch you by this book. The last two chapters, the Spirit really spoke to me through Piper's exposition. The Word of God came alive as he wrote. I love that. Piper does understand that God speaks through the gospel and his Word. So he talks about it a lot in his books. So even though I wouldn't write in his style and prefer authors who incorporate more story, I'm still glad I read this book and that God graciously met me with refreshment through it!
September 4, 2025
Amazing book. Biblical, logical, meaningful, relevant, insightful, encouraging, and practical. A necessary book to read today for everyone.
I am convinced the Church is blessed with teachers like John Piper. The way he explains the new birth is not a systematic theology. Not merely for that purpose, but to biblically expound some selected passages that obviously teach the doctrines of grace and is very digestible for any reader. I love the practicality it brings both in our own lives and how we relate to others based on being “Born again”.
I think it to be apt to end with a portion of the conclusion of the book:
God gives eternal life, and this life is in his Son (I John 5:11). Whoever has the Son has life (1 John 5:12). His word is reliable: "Come to me that you may have life" (John 5:40). If you come, you will be truly, invincibly, finally alive.
I am convinced the Church is blessed with teachers like John Piper. The way he explains the new birth is not a systematic theology. Not merely for that purpose, but to biblically expound some selected passages that obviously teach the doctrines of grace and is very digestible for any reader. I love the practicality it brings both in our own lives and how we relate to others based on being “Born again”.
I think it to be apt to end with a portion of the conclusion of the book:
God gives eternal life, and this life is in his Son (I John 5:11). Whoever has the Son has life (1 John 5:12). His word is reliable: "Come to me that you may have life" (John 5:40). If you come, you will be truly, invincibly, finally alive.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2023
The content is good, but as a book, it didn't strike me in a meaningful way.,
“My feelings are not God. God is God. My feelings do not define truth. God’s word defines truth. My feelings are echoes and responses to what my mind perceives. And sometimes - many times - my feelings are out of sync with the truth. When that happens - and it happens every day in some measure - I try not to bend the truth to justify my imperfect feelings, but rather, I plead with God: Purify my perceptions of your truth and transform my feelings so that they are in sync with the truth.”
“My feelings are not God. God is God. My feelings do not define truth. God’s word defines truth. My feelings are echoes and responses to what my mind perceives. And sometimes - many times - my feelings are out of sync with the truth. When that happens - and it happens every day in some measure - I try not to bend the truth to justify my imperfect feelings, but rather, I plead with God: Purify my perceptions of your truth and transform my feelings so that they are in sync with the truth.”
February 15, 2020
A book about the most experiential truth in the world should not be boring. I felt like it was just that and pretty scattered. I was telling myself, “Finally Alive is finally over”. He defined monergistic theology well but not the heart of it. There is some application ( scattered ) at the end and a tangent about yoga ( a tangent I agree with ) but it seemed like an unfinished product. To borrow his own illustration; light but no heat?
July 7, 2023
My review for practically every John Piper book I read: THE GOOD: This book says many pious things that aim to make for a grander vision of Jesus. No wonder Evangelicals are quick to eat it up. THE BAD: However, I've seen time and time again how it's fans use this for a hyper-simplistic worldview that ends up creating really bad methods for interpreting the Bible and living out the Christian life. CONLUSION: I can get some good things out of it, but I'm not passing it around.
September 16, 2023
This was really good. It was all of the gospel with an extra scoop. The new birth is the moment when someone can say they are finally alive, and without it they cannot. These are hard words, and Nicodemus was right to wrestle over it. We are right to dwell on it even after we experience it. Piper bowls almost a perfect game here in this book. The small qualms I had however are not nearly enough to outweigh all the good found in this book. It is worth your time.
February 19, 2018
A good book looking at rebirth and regeneration. Solid biblically and very practical. A good help for anyone studying the Gospel of John or the letters of John. A needed reminder for those in ministry who far too often rely on technique and human strategies. A return to the simple yet profound Gospel that turned the ancient world upside down and is still changing lives today.
Read
October 7, 2021Los cristianos sabemos que no hay nada más importante que poder decir que hemos pasado de muerte a vida (1 Jn. 3:14). Justamente eso es lo que hace que «¡Más vivo que nunca!», de John Piper, sea un libro de vasta seriedad y belleza.
Lee la reseña en Coalición por el Evangelio.
Lee la reseña en Coalición por el Evangelio.
December 12, 2021
I was hoping for a book that actually describes more of what *happens* in being born again, something a bit more focused on the supernatural miracle of what happens in the soul. This was not that book, and Piper never advertised it as such. However, I still benefited from reading it.
Piper is at pains to define "born again" biblically, apart from the popular definition used in surveys of "born again Christians." He is very focused on the order in which hearing, being born again, and faith must happen, using several passages to show the unity of Scripture on this point. He also focuses much on how one can know whether one is "born again," mainly drawing from 1 John, and because of this, I could almost recommend a large portion of this book as a GREAT commentary on some of the thornier passages in 1 John. (Piper is great at untangling John's meditative, circular style. I am not.)
I will say that the prose, especially in the first half of the book, was almost unreadably clunky for me. In many paragraphs I felt like all he was doing was saying, "Okay, in the last paragraphs we've been establishing this. And our answers to that question were this and this. Now in these next paragraphs we'll be looking at these two questions: this and this. And we will find that the answers to these two questions will be this and this." Essentially, it felt like TOO much transition, as if the transitions got in the WAY of the flow when they were meant to make the flow clearer.
I'm glad I stuck with it, especially for the encouraging and pastoral chapters on evangelism at the end of the book.
Piper is at pains to define "born again" biblically, apart from the popular definition used in surveys of "born again Christians." He is very focused on the order in which hearing, being born again, and faith must happen, using several passages to show the unity of Scripture on this point. He also focuses much on how one can know whether one is "born again," mainly drawing from 1 John, and because of this, I could almost recommend a large portion of this book as a GREAT commentary on some of the thornier passages in 1 John. (Piper is great at untangling John's meditative, circular style. I am not.)
I will say that the prose, especially in the first half of the book, was almost unreadably clunky for me. In many paragraphs I felt like all he was doing was saying, "Okay, in the last paragraphs we've been establishing this. And our answers to that question were this and this. Now in these next paragraphs we'll be looking at these two questions: this and this. And we will find that the answers to these two questions will be this and this." Essentially, it felt like TOO much transition, as if the transitions got in the WAY of the flow when they were meant to make the flow clearer.
I'm glad I stuck with it, especially for the encouraging and pastoral chapters on evangelism at the end of the book.
December 28, 2021
In his characteristically lucid way, Piper delves into scripture to reveal what the new birth is, how it happens, and why it is important. Everyone should grapple with the contents of this book and come to terms with its implications.
June 19, 2017
A great look at salvation.
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