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Does God Desire All to Be Saved? by John Piper (Wheaton: Crossway, 2013), 62 pp.

This book is almost too short to qualify as a book, but don’t let that keep you from reading it. What Piper addresses in these few pages is one of the more important theological issues facing all Christians. In fact, I would argue that his thoroughly biblical distinction between God’s will of decree and God’s will of precept is a truth without which it is impossible to fully understand God’s saving grace and his intentions toward this fallen human race. Keep reading...

john_piper_smallDoes God Desire All to Be Saved? by John Piper (Wheaton: Crossway, 2013), 62 pp.

This book is almost too short to qualify as a book, but don’t let that keep you from reading it. What Piper addresses in these few pages is one of the more important theological issues facing all Christians. In fact, I would argue that his thoroughly biblical distinction between God’s will of decree and God’s will of precept is a truth without which it is impossible to fully understand God’s saving grace and his intentions toward this fallen human race.

Perhaps the best thing to do is to let Piper himself describe his aim in this book:

“My aim in this short book is to show from Scripture that the simultaneous existence of God’s will for all people to be saved and his will to choose some people for salvation unconditionally before creation is not a sign of divine schizophrenia or exegetical confusion. A corresponding aim is to show that unconditional election therefore does not contradict biblical expressions of God’s compassion for all people and does not rule out sincere offers of salvation to all who are lost among the peoples of the world” (13).

The bulk of this book, therefore, is devoted to demonstrating the biblical cogency of differentiating two ways in which God may be said to “will” something to be. “Affirming the will of God to save all, while also affirming the unconditional election of some, implies that there are at least ‘two wills’ in God, or two ways of willing. It implies that God decrees one state of affairs while also willing and teaching that a different state of affairs should come to pass” (16).

Note well: Piper’s aim is not to make the case for a distinction in the way God wills because that is what logic or theological deduction or common sense require. He makes this distinction because Scripture does. And I would add my own endorsement of this view by saying that I do not believe you will ever joyfully appreciate Scripture, God’s ways in the world, the nature of salvation or saving grace, as well as the urgency and message of evangelism and the nature and necessity of prayer until such time as you recognize and embrace the truth of this distinction. As bold a claim as that may seem, I firmly believe it to be true.

Although this book is number three on my list (although it could easily have come in at number one), it may well be the most important one you read this year. In fact, of the volumes that made my list of the Top Ten Books of 2013, I strongly urge you to read this one first. If you have the time for only one of the ten, make it this one. You can read it in a mere two hours, but it will likely change your life forever.

1 Comment

Understanding this distinction certainly was the "game changer" in my Christian life. For me it was the works of Jonathan Edwards, and I think Piper has been very much influenced by him as well. Deut 29:29 always sticks in my mind as a pivotal text.

Scripture also seems to distinguish between the 'experiential' nature of God's will and the 'teleological.' Ultimately -- from a teleological perspective -- God is approving of every event in the universe because each is designed for His glory (Rom 11:36,37). And yet, there are texts that indicate His 'distaste' from the process of the event itself -- "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD." Ezek 18:23

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