Capitulo 3 – Exaltando solo en la cruz, el centro ardiente de la gloria de Dios

After taking notes from group discussion, and gathering everyone's thoughts, I personalized the following...

This chapter is more focused and more practical, and it is a way to adapt the knowledge of the encouragement of Paul to our daily lives.

What does boasting means? There are two views, the secular one which refers to the self, like showing off. The Christian view of boasting is on the cross, meaning that we are dead to this world and that we should only boast on the amazing display of God’s grace on the cross through His son Jesus. As Piper notes, “boast” can be translated to “exult in” or “rejoice in”. And his encouragement is for us to live a single passion boasting and rejoicing on the cross.

Piper also talks about “tragedy in the making”, when people pursue the dreamed retiring life, having a house in the beach and collecting sea shells. At the same time, on Chapter 2, Piper states that to glorify God is to take delight and enjoy this life at the fullness. What is the difference between these two ways of living life?

Going deeper into this single passion (in Latin, it means “willing to suffer for”), what is it to practically live out this single passion? Can we purely have only one single passion in our lives? Because of our sinful nature, we cannot perfectly achieve to have only one passion, as every single individual has different struggles to overcome. But Romans 12 states to “offer ourselves as living sacrifices” and to be “transformed by the renewal of our minds” that indicates that this is indeed a continuing process. Through this, we can let God work in us so that we can solely focus on Him, and glorify Him in all we do. A practical way is to take Chapter 2, to delight in God in good times and even in bad times (God turned this into goodness). To live a lifestyle of rejoicing in God in every circumstance is what I have experienced to keep alive this single passion in my heart.

Where does this passion come from? It is already there? Or it needs to be built up? Well, I believe that it is from God, as “Christ’s love compels us” (2 Corinthians 14) to do all the things we do for Him. But at the same time, it requires our part to surrender to God in this continuing process so that through the power of Holy Spirit, this passion can grow stronger. Paul encourage us to “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians 2:12-13).

The main challenge is to die for Christ. What does it mean? Galatians 2:20 is very clear with the fact that our old self is dead on the cross, while the life we live now is by faith in Christ. The key is faith, as it is by faith and through the Spirit that we obtain righteousness that we hope (Galatians 5:5). This is the first step, to have faith and cling to this hope so that we can persevere in this continuing process of dying ourselves. It is a life process, as I continue to stab my pride and self-righteousness with a knife everyday, and as I continue to give up my rights to be angry, to complain, and to claim what I deserve. Indeed, a big challenge and sacrifice as Jesus said “to deny himself and take up the cross and follow him [Christ]”. This is a tough road to walk, but as we die ourselves, we are gaining the fullness of life in Christ, which is far surpassing better than anything else.

So yeah:

• Rejoice in all circumstances
• Treat life as a gift of God
• Pursue specific ways (or ask for a vision) that this single passion can be fully expressed