They endured a hardship, some of them went to jail, some of them didn't, those who didn't,

minister to those who did, and it cost them their property. And they were

so in love with God's all satisfying treasure and reward that it says in

verse 34 chapter 10 they rejoiced at the plundering of their property as

they visited their friends in prison.

That's a mega love for God.

How does God respond to our love for Him as our all satisfying treasure?

In this episode of Light and Truth, John Piper opens Hebrew 6, 9 to 12, for a look at God's surprising justice.

The sermon was originally preached at Bethlehem Baptist Church on October 20th, 1996.

We've got to figure out this so that we can have two boulders under our feet, not just one, the boulder of justice and the boulder of mercy.

The problem is that I don't merit my salvation.

Justice seems to respond to merit.

Says, okay, you merit this, I give you this.

And oh, how easily some have taken these verses, this verse 10 right here, and said,

aha, see, you must merit your salvation.

It's as though, now this is a wrong interpretation, I'm going to articulate a wrong interpretation here.

Justice looks at these people's works and he says, they don't need mercy. Look, they're ministering. They love God. They don't need mercy. I see, rather, I, the justice of God, see them performing and meriting, and what they need now

is justice.

Sure, mercy got them started, mercy is like the jumpstart in the winter of sin.

And now they got to keep their battery charged.

And look, they're doing it. They're doing it.

And so we got to pay up. I'm God, they've earned salvation, so I'm going to pay up.

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