Future Grace, Revised Edition: The Purifying Power of the Promises of God Paperback – September 18, 2012

My relationship with God was mostly still trying to prove myself to Him and to gain acceptance. This was neither Biblical or in line with what Jesus Christ provided for me through faith in His death and resurrection. But I did not understand where my wrong thinking came from or how to change. Future Grace was providential. A friend suggested the book and we discussed it. It transformed my understanding of what faith in Jesus looked like and how the same Savior who saved me through grace as a gift now would continue to pour out grace moment by moment for me to obey and enjoy Him. Here is a quote from page 28 in the Introduction: 'Faith realizes the future (though experienced in the present). It has, so to speak, a foretaste of it - as when we are so excited about something and so expectant of it, we say, "I can already taste it."' There is no joy in living trying to please God but there is life altering joy in realizing that once we are "in" Christ, we are pleasing to Him. Then we can obey and trust Him to moment by moment provide the grace and fellowship that we desire and rest in. Life! Joy! It is all there in the Bible but this book helped provide a key for me to unlock the understanding in my mind and heart. Thank you!

John Piper gives us biblical truth that makes me think. This is a good book to read 1 chapter each day for a month.

The depths of how faith, obedience and works come together throughout the OT & NT are explored and exalted in Christ, then so helpfully displayed in action with a practical chapter interspersed throughout the book. The OT scriptures especially have come more alive through Future Grace, specifically how can the OT saints love the law so much when it could never bring life? And how could God require obedience in the OT (and NT!) yet at the same time, give undeserved kindness & mercy? How does this knowledge help me fight anxiety & despondency & bitterness & lust?It's a slightly tough read, but SO SO worth it. Pray that God would open the depths of His truth through this book! Knowing God deeper and seeing God for who He really is - it's worth the work!

as a Christian of 28 years, I find it hard to find Bible studies that don't tell me what I already know. I'm not saying I'm a wellspring of wisdom...I'm just saying that I think there's a lack of depth out there in the world of Bible study books.Future Grace opened up whole new realms of realization to me. Grace for example. we've all heard the definition of grace, right? Its 'unmerited favor'. This book teaches grace to be so much more than that. read it and find out!also it clears up some theological conundrums that have had me chasing my tail for years. (eternal security being the main one).Piper has a gift. He really knows how to explain things you've always wanted to grasp but haven't quite been able to. And its theologically sound as far as I am qualified to say it is. the Holy Spirit didn't cause me to wanna slam it shut at any point (which he does often with other books)so! go for it! its a great book.

John Piper is an excellent scholar and author. Future Grace is a book you contemplate and integrate into your life as a Christian. It is life changing truth based completely on scripture. I highly recommend “Future Grace” by John Piper.

Outstanding book. I recommend it for any Christian, or Bible student, looking to improve their understanding of Grace, God, and our relationship to Him. Old School religion used to use "guilt trip" type techniques for better obedience to God, it's not about that....that isn't who He is. He is Love, and obedience comes from Love toward God, since He loved us first. You can't force yourself to be obedient and still think you have freedom in GRACE (GOD's RIGHTEOUSNESS AT CHRIST's EXPENSE) when it starts to come back and bite you, and you want to "blame" God or yourself for not being able to comply. It comes with time, practice, and love. When it is "right" it becomes effortless, natural, trust in God's grace. And loving obedience becomes natural, like a child. see Luke 18:17

First and foremost, I entirely agree with Piper’s thesis that God is calling us not to solely look at bygone (past) grace, but to look forward to future grace. This is Biblical truth. However, my main contention with the book is his way of explaining it. I just finished Knowing God by JI Packer so the deepness of the subject matter did not bother me, but there were three issues I had:1. It is written like he is defending a PhD thesis. The drudgery of reading his point-by-point defense of future grace is wearying. Also, he uses the term “future grace” so often that it becomes highly distracting.2. The logic and prose were confusing. I read medical journals regularly so I am no stranger to high-level reading, but I would find myself reading the same section over and over. Sentences did not flow smoothly and weren’t always clear. I presume the audience was intended to be Christians hoping to strengthen their faith and not scholars, but the lexicon and flow seemed to favor the latter.3. It was overly long. He went through great pains to prove points which is admirable and strengthens his main point, but does not make for an enjoyable read.So why did I rate it 4 stars? Partially because I couldn’t do a 3.5. But mostly because the nuggets of practical truth I pulled out are life-changing. Ideas like justifying faith is the same as sanctifying faith were put forth and — notwithstanding my above criticism — clearly proven. His poem about eternity and heaven have changed how I view the afterlife. This book is clearly God-ordained and anointed. I would recommend it but with the above caveats.