It is a massive problem for the universe that God forgives sins. It is a massive problem. The biggest problem in the universe is that God passes over

sin.

Until you feel that, until that weighs on you,

you'll never glory in the cross.

Why is it a massive problem that God forgives sin?

That's the provocative question John Piper answers by turning to Romans 3 21 to 26 in this episode of Light and Truth.

This sermon was originally preached at Bethlehem Baptist Church on March 15, 1992.

One of the reasons it's so hard to make biblical truth

intelligible for the secular mindset

is that the secular mindset and the biblical mindset begin from

such radically different starting points. If you start with man and man's rights and man's wants, you will interpret very

differently the teaching of the Bible on election and predestination and the vindication of God's righteousness

then if you start with the Creator rights of God. What do you think is the basic riddle of the universe? Is the

basic riddle of the universe, how can in a world like this man maintain his rights, like the

right of self-determination, and his freedom from suffering, is that the basic

riddle in the universe? How can man be free and maintain his rights and get his

privileges in a world like this? Or is the basic riddle of the universe, how can an all-glorious, all-holy, infinitely worthy

God display the full range of his perfections so as to win reverence and worship and

awe in such emotional proportions that they accord with the true depth of the worth of who

God is. Is that the riddle of the universe? Is the riddle of the universe how God can be God? How God can release all of his

godness for the worship of his creatures in all of his fullness from his mercy to his wrath and everything in between

so that people can tremble before him, bow in worship, and enjoy his fellowship forever.

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