Faith Itself Is a Blood-Bought Benefit

From the very last chapter of From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective, “My Glory I Will Not Give to Another,” by John Piper:

[O]ne of the promises made in the new covenant is that the condition of faith itself will be given by God. This means that the new covenant people are created and preserved by God. “I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me” (Jer. 32:40). God puts the fear of God in us in the first place. And God keeps us from turning away. He creates his new people and keeps his new people. And he does this by the blood of the covenant, which Jesus said was his own blood (Luke 22:20).

The upshot of this understanding of the new covenant is that there is a definite atonement for the new covenant people. In the death of Christ, God secures a definite group of unworthy sinners as his own people by purchasing the conditions they must meet to be part of his people. The blood of the covenant—Christ’s blood—purchases and guarantees the new heart of faith and repentance. God did not do this for everyone. He did it for a “definite” or a “particular” group, owing to nothing in themselves. And since he did it through Jesus Christ,1 the Great Shepherd, who laid down his life for the sheep, we say, “to him be glory forever and ever.” This achievement is a significant part of the glory of the cross of Christ.

If saving faith is a blood-bought benefit of the new covenant (Piper argues from scripture that it is.), then the atonement must be definite. There’s really no way around it.

Previously posted quotes from this book:

• Someone for Some People
• Death Is the Penalty
• Election Is the Spring
• Election Circumscribes the Atonement
• The Circle of Salvation
• Still Bearing Wounds
• Three Features of Typology
• Providing Confidence for Mission

1See Hebrews 13:20-21 where it says God is “working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ… .”