God Is the Gospel Meditations on God's Love As the Gift of Himself

God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone inour hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of Godin the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6 This book is a cry from the heart of John Piper. He is pleadingthat God himself, as revealed in Christ's death and resurrection,is the ultimate and greatest gift of the gospel. None of Christ's gospel deeds and none of our gospel blessingsare good news except as means of seeing and savoring the glory ofChrist. Forgiveness is good news because it opens the way to theenjoyment of God himself. Justification is good news because itwins access to the presence and pleasures of God himself. Eternallife is good news because it becomes the everlasting enjoyment ofChrist. All God's gifts are loving only to the degree that they lead usto God himself. That is what God's love is: his commitment to doeverything necessary (most painfully the death of his only Son) toenthrall us with what is most deeply and durably satisfying-namely,himself. Saturated with Scripture, centered on the cross, and seriouslyjoyful, this book leads us to satisfaction for the deep hungers ofthe soul. It touches us at the root of life where practicaltransformation gets its daily power. It awakens our longing forChrist and opens our eyes to his beauty. Piper writes for the soul-thirsty who have turned away empty andin desperation from the mirage of methodology. He invites us toslow down and drink from a deeper spring. "This is eternal life,"Jesus said, "that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christwhom you have sent." This is what makes the gospel-and thisbook-good news.Piper, John is the author of 'God Is the Gospel Meditations on God's Love As the Gift of Himself', published 2005 under ISBN 9781581347517 and ISBN 1581347510.