On September 25, 2017 Dr. John Piper published a blog at the DesiringGod.org website. It was entitled, “Does God Really Save Us by Faith Alone?” His answer was No!
In part Piper writes:
These works of faith, and this obedience of faith, these fruits of the Spirit that come by faith, are necessary for our final salvation [emphasis added]. No holiness, no heaven (Hebrews 12:14). So, we should not speak of getting to heaven by faith alone in the same way we are justified by faith alone [emphasis added].
Essential to the Christian life and necessary for final salvation is the killing of sin (Romans 8:13) and the pursuit of holiness (Hebrews 12:14). Mortification of sin, sanctification in holiness.
Did I mention that Piper is a Calvinist?
Of course, many Calvinists find fault with this language of Piper.
According to John 3:16-18, when is salvation final?
The answer is that salvation was final the very moment you believed in Jesus for everlasting life. There is no time of probation.
No works are necessary in order to get into heaven. At least no works which we have done. Jesus’ works, His sinless life and His finished work on the cross, are necessary, of course. But our works are not the issue. At all.
Before my senior year in college I was hoping to gain final salvation when I died. I thought I could lose salvation (if I even had it) by failing to persevere in holiness. If I’d read that quote by Piper, I’d have thought he was speaking God’s Word clearly.
Then I learned that salvation is final the very moment one believes in Jesus. The passage God used was Eph 2:8-9. I believed that day at the start of my senior year and I knew right then that I had been saved once and for all by grace through faith and that it was apart from works. I was saved that day once and for all. My search was finally over. Thank God.
Wow. What good news that is. I dedicated my life to telling others about this good news.
I know John Piper has good intentions. But he is wrong. Salvation is final the moment one believes in Jesus for it.
