Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die

...is the current Piper book I'm reading.  Just want to pass along this nugget from chapter 12 - To Take Away Our Condemnation.

The world will bring its condemnation.  They may even put their sword behind it.  But we know that the highest court has already ruled in our favor.  "If God is for us, who can be against us?"  (Romans 8:31)  No one successfully.  If they reject us, He accepts us.  If they hate us, He loves us.  If they imprison us, He sets our spirits free.  If they afflict us, He refines us by fire.  If they kill us, He makes it a passage to paradise.  They cannot defeat us.  Christ  has died.  Christ has risen.  We are alive in Him.  And in Him there is no condemnation.  We are forgiven, and we are righteous.  "And the  righteous are bold as a lion" (Proverbs 28:1)

If they afflict us, He refines us by fire.  I love that.  To the one who does not have spiritual eyes, it may look like we are being defeated but to those with spiritual eyes God is absolutely on the throne and in control, working out our sanctification...  

No one can be against us, successfully.

Having a great visit with my family.  Lots of fun pictures to share when Tim and I get home...