The danger of Drifiting from the gospel - John Piper

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One mark of Christian authenticity is discontentment with anything less than “all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19). Coasting is not discipleship. Drifting in self-contentment is not like basking in the pool of security, but like floating, fast asleep, toward the falls. “We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away” (Hebrews 2:1).
There is a holy discontentment. It is not a nail-biting uncertainty about our standing with God. It is the increased appetite of those who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good (1 Peter 2:2–3). It is the pursuit of those who have been pursued and captured by the strong arms of love. “Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12).
Therefore, the biblical passages that follow are a way of waking our drowsy souls to feel a pure and holy dissatisfaction and stirring us up to pursue “all the fullness of God.”
  1. “Grow in grace.” “But he gives more grace.” (2 Peter 3:18; James 4:6)
  2. “We have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding . . . bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Colossians 1:9–10; 2 Peter 3:18)
  3. “Increase our faith!” “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly.” (Luke 17:5; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 10:15)
  4. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13)
  5. “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all.” (1 Thessalonians3:12; See also 1 Thessalonians 4:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; Philippians 1:9)
  6. “We ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1)
  7. “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
  8. “Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)
  9. “[God] “will increase the harvest of your righteousness.” “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (2 Corinthians 9:10; Matthew5:20)
  10. “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 9:8)
  11. “Be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18)
  12. “The word of God increased and multiplied.” (Acts 12:24; 6:7)
  13. “The number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem.” “I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.” (Acts 6:7; 1 Corinthians 9:19; Acts 16:5)
  14. “Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.” (1 Corinthians 14:12)
  15. “As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him . . . abounding in thanksgiving.” “Give thanksalways and for everything.” (Colossians 2:6–7; Ephesians 5:20; 2 Corinthians 4:15)
  16. “Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him, who is the head, into Christ.” (Ephesians 4:15)
  17. “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48; Philippians 3:12)
Father, we fear our deadly fondness for floating toward the falls when we ought to be swimming against the current. Oh, God, have mercy to waken us again and again to the perils of drifting in the Christian life. Help us heed Hebrews 2:1, “We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” Woe to the drifters in a world where all the current is toward destruction! Grant us to see and to feel that not only life, but also joy, is in the “good fight” that does not end until the final rest. Author: John Piper

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