In this gospel, there is manifested day in day out, week in, week out to be received

by faith, building faith.

There is a righteousness given to you that you cannot have on your own and you stand

on that and live by that.

It is really good news that there is a righteousness that guarantees our eternal joy.

John Piper rejoices over that righteousness in Romans 117 in this episode of light and

truth.

This sermon was originally preached at Bethlehem Baptist Church on August 23, 1998.

There are only two great concerns in the world.

One is the concern that God be properly displayed in the universe.

And the other is the concern that you and I find everlasting joy in Him.

These are the two great concerns of the universe.

The display of the glory of God and everlasting contentment in Him.

Now, what I saw in meditating a fresh this week on these verses is that verse 16 addresses

the second of those big concerns and verse 17 addresses the first of those big concerns.

Verse 16 says, I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation.

And that's what we want.

Salvation means escape from wrath and judgment and the arrival in our lives of everlasting

joy in the presence of Almighty God forever and ever and ever.

We want that.

That is one of the great concerns of the world.

Can I live forever in heaven and happiness instead of in hell and misery?

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