Finally Alive - John Piper

In this book John Piper explores Jesus' peculiar command, "You must be born again."

When Jesus told Nicodemus, he had to be born again, this devout religious leader was unsure what Jesus meant. It seems nothing has changed. Today “born again Christians” fill churches that are ineffectual at best and sometimes even nonchristian.

The term “born again” has lost its meaning for many. Those claiming to be “born again” live lives that are indistinguishable from those who don't; they sin the same, embrace injustice the same, do almost everything the same.

Being “born again” shouldn’t be defined by what people say they believe. It should be defined by Jesus.

"When Jesus said to Nicodemus, "You must be born again" (John 3:7), he was not sharing interesting and unimportant information. He was leading him to eternal life.

If he does that for you (or if he already has), then you are (or you will be) truly,

invincibly, finally alive." John Piper

 

“Regeneration, or new birth, meaning simply the new you through, with, in, and under Christ, is a largely neglected theme today, but this fine set of sermons, criss-crossing the New Testament data with great precision, goes far to fill the gap. Highly recommended.”

- J .I. Packer, Professor of Theology, Regent College, Vancouver, Canada

“I cannot too strongly celebrate the publication of this book. Owing in part to several decades of dispute over justification and how a person is set right with God, we have tended to neglect another component of conversion no less important. Conversion under the terms of the new covenant is more than a matter of position and status in Christ, though never less: it includes miraculous Spirit-given transformation, something immeasurably beyond mere human resolution. It is new birth; it makes us new creatures; it demonstrates that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. All the creedal orthodoxy in the world cannot replace it. The reason why “You must be born again” is so important is that you must be born again."

- D. A. Carson, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School