©2006, Crossway Books, 400 pages in hardback.

This book’s title will have little appeal to those in our culture who want a Savior but not a Savior with authority. John Piper shows the reader that there is only one Savior and He is Lord of all.  The author centers on fifty demands that Christ gave to His followers in his earthly ministry.  Thus, the four gospels are the focus of this book.

Piper begins with gospel demands for salvation: repentance, faith, and coming to Christ.  He follows this with an explanation of gospel commands that include all of life: bearing fruit, loving one’s enemies, loving unselfishly, and humbly focusing on heart issues in our lives, not just outward actions.  Piper develops and explains Christ’s demands.  Within this framework, obedient living shows love for our Savior and fulfills the way men were created to live before God and toward one another.  Grace is stressed throughout.  The author is well aware that man cannot work his way to heaven and that he needs the indwelling Spirit to strengthen him in the keeping of God’s commands.

For many, the most controversial chapters will be those on marriage and divorce.  Piper writes with an acute awareness of his controversial position.  He believes that there should be no remarriage after divorce, even by the innocent party.

This book is helpful for our day.  Due to weak preaching in many churches, Christ’s lordship is often unexplored by the laity.  Christianity is viewed as a private matter, making no real demands on one’s life during the week.  This volume provides a great corrective to this thinking.

Secondly, Piper is very careful to define his terms.  He does not automatically assume that the reader is able to define key words such as “faith” and “repentance”.  If you are unable to define basic words that Christ used, this should be a helpful book.

Thirdly, he writes with an awareness of the difficult spiritual battle we face.  He does not compromise Christ’s demands.  He points us constantly to the atoning work of Christ and the motivation that God’s grace and love provide.

Finally, he writes with great clarity and practicality.  Several chapters are devoted to how we can love our enemies and practice humility.

This book is a useful tool for new believers as well as for seasoned Christians who realize their continuing need to review Christ’s demands on their lives.  Piper does not simply center on the individual Christian’s spiritual development.  He opens with the commands involved in coming to Christ.  He closes the volume with an explanation of the Great Commission.  Evangelism is crucial in the Christian life.

Here is a book that can be read by an individual or studied by a family or group.  Although there are no study questions provided,  the thought-provoking chapters contain sufficient verses and application for profitable discussion and prayer.                  

Review ©2007 Byron Snapp, Hampton, Virginia