No hell, no judgment, no regrets, joy, never ending, ever increasing in the presence

of an all-holy, wrathful God, who is smiling upon me and loving me forever.

Yes, indeed, the salvation that the gospel secures for us is one of never-ending joy.

John Piper marvels over the greatness of our future salvation by unpacking Romans 116 in this episode of Light and Truth.

This sermon was originally preached at Bethlehem Baptist Church on June 21, 1998.

We want to talk about the words for it is the power of God unto salvation or for salvation to everyone who believes.

And I have one question I want to ask, try to keep myself under control here.

Just one question, I want to ask this verse today, what is this salvation?

And in the process of answering the question, what is this salvation?

We will also answer the question, how does believing connect you to it and relate to it?

Now, here's the question that I'm asking this morning.

Is the salvation being spoken of in this verse conversion, becoming a believer, being justified at that moment?

Or is it what happens to us in the future as hell and judgment and sin are finally taken away entirely and we are forever with the Lord in joy and safety?

Is this verse talking about the power of the gospel to make converts or to keep converts?

Now, I want to argue that it is the latter, that what Paul has in mind here is the power of the gospel to save saints who are believing.

Now, really clarify, I believe the gospel is also the power to make converts.

The reason I believe that's true, for example, is Romans 10, 17.

Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ.

If anybody in this room is a believer, you became a believer because of the power of the gospel to break into your unbelieving heart and open and give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ so that he was compellingly attractive to you and you embraced him as your Savior and Lord.

That's how you got saved. The Word broke in on your life.

Or another reason I believe it is because of 1 Peter 1, 23.

You have been born again, not of seed which is perishable but imperishable through the living and abiding word of God.

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