Excludes Boasting

Chapter 4.  The Sovereignty of God.  John Piper. Doctrine Matters (Kindle Locations 1044-1052).

Our salvation was secured on Calvary under the sovereign hand of God. And, if you are a believer in Jesus, if you love him, you are a walking miracle. God granted you repentance (2 Timothy 2: 24f). God drew you to Christ (John 6: 44). God revealed the Son of God to you (Matthew 11: 27). God gave you the gift of faith. “By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2: 8– 9). The sovereignty of God in our salvation excludes boasting. There may have been a hundred horrible things in your life. But, if today, you are moved to treasure Christ as your Lord and Savior, you can write over every one of those horrors the words of Genesis 50: 20: Satan, “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” I conclude therefore with the words of Paul in Ephesians 1: 11, “God works all things according to the counsel of his will.” All things— from the roll of the dice, to the circuits of stars, to the rise of presidents, to the death of Jesus, to the gift of repentance and faith.