[Gospelchristianity] "To Deliver us From the Present Evil Age"

[asuecleaver at aol.com]

Group,

I couldn't help emailing this, especially after I was reminded of the conversation this Sunday.

>From our Friday night bible study, the topic is "What does it mean when Galatians 1:4 says "He gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father."  Specifically referring to "What is the present evil age?"

I was reading this excerpt tonight from John Piper's "Passion of the Christ" and it popped up as a Chapter title, so I had to share!  I thought his take on it was quite elegant, penetrating, and heartfelt.

I ask for apologies ahead of time for my obsessive-compulsive behavior, but I couldn't help myself!

(See below) 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Until we die, or until Christ returns to establish his kingdom, we live in “the present evil age.” Therefore, when the Bible
says that Christ gave himself “to deliver us from the present evil age,” it does not mean that he will take us out of the world, but

that he will deliver us from the power of the evil in it. Jesus prayed for us like this: “I do not ask that you take them out of the world,

but that you keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15).  The reason Jesus prays for deliverance from “the evil one” is that “this present evil age” is the age when Satan is given freedom to deceive and destroy. The Bible says, 9
CThe whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). This “evil one” is called “the god of this world,” and his main aim is to blind people to truth. “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Until we waken to our darkened spiritual condition, we live in sync with “the present evil age” and the ruler of it. “You once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). Without knowing it, we were lackeys of the devil.  What felt like freedom was bondage. The Bible speaks straight to twenty-first-century fads, fun, and addictions when it says, “They promise them freedom, but they themselves
are slaves of corruption.  For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved” (2 Peter 2:19).  The resounding cry of freedom in the Bible is, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2). In other words, be free! Don’t be duped by the gurus of the age. They are here today and gone tomorrow.  One enslaving fad follows another. Thirty years from now today’s tattoos will not be marks of freedom, but indelible reminders of conformity.  The wisdom of this age is folly in view of 
eternity. “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God” (1 Corinthians 3:18-19). “The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing” (1 Corinthians 1:18). What then is the wisdom of God in this age? It is the great liberating death of Jesus Christ. The early followers of Jesus said, “We preach Christ crucified . . . the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24).  When Christ went to the cross, he set millions of captives free.  He unmasked the devil’s fraud and broke his power. That’s what he meant on the eve of his crucifixion when he said, “Now will the ruler of this world be cast out” (John 12:31). 

Don’t follow a defeated foe. 

Follow Christ. 

It is costly. 

You will be an exile in this age. But you will be free.

(I added the highlights)

-Aaron-


ntil we die, or until Christ returns to establish his kingdom, we live in “the present evil age.” Therefore, when the Bible
says that Christ gave himself “to deliver us from the present evil age,” it does not mean that he will take us out of the world, but

that he will deliver us from the power of the evil in it. Jesus prayed for us like this: “I do not ask that you take them out of the world,

but that you keep them from the 
evil one” (John 17:15).  The reason Jesus prays for deliverance from “the evil one” is that “this present evil age” is the age when Satan is given freedom to deceive and destroy. The Bible says, “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). This “evil one” is called “the god of this world,” and his main aim is to blind people to truth. “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Until we waken to our darkened spiritual condition, we live in sync with “the present evil age” and the ruler of it. “You once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). Without knowing it, we were lackeys of the devil.  What felt like freedom was bondage. The Bible speaks straight to twenty-first-century fads, fun, and addictions when it says, “They promise them freedom, but they themselves
are slaves of corruption.  For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved” (2 Peter 2:19).  The resounding cry of freedom in the Bible is, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2). In other words, be free! Don’t be duped by the gurus of the age. They 
are here today and gone tomorrow.  One enslaving fad follows another. Thirty years from now today’s tattoos will not be marks of freedom, but indelible reminders of conformity.  The wisdom of this age is folly in view of eternity. “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God” (1 Corinthians 3:18-19). “The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing” (1 Corinthians 1:18). What then is the wisdom of God in this age? It is the great liberating death of Jesus Christ. The early followers of Jesus said, “We preach Christ crucified . . . the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24).  When Christ went to the cross, he set millions of captives free.  He unmasked the devil’s fraud and broke his power. That’s what he meant on the eve of his crucifixion when he said, “Now will the ruler of this world be cast out” (John 12:31). 

Don’t follow a defeated foe. 

Follow Christ. 

It is costly. 

You will be an exile in this age. But you will be free.

(I added the highlights)

-Aaron-

of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). Without knowing it, we were lackeys of the devil.  What felt like freedom was bondage. The Bible speaks straight to twenty-first-century fads, fun, and addictions when it says, “They promise them freedom, bu
t they themselves
are slaves of corruption.  For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved” (2 Peter 2:19).  The resounding cry of freedom in the Bible is, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2). In other words, be free! Don’t be duped by the gurus of the age. They are here today and gone tomorrow.  One enslaving fad follows another. Thirty years from now today’s tattoos will not be marks of freedom, but indelible reminders of conformity.  The wisdom of this age is folly in view of eternity. “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God” (1 Corinthians 3:18-19). “The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing” (1 Corinthians 1:18). What then is the wisdom of God in this age? It is the great liberating death of Jesus Christ. The early followers of Jesus said, “We preach Christ crucified . . . the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24).  When Christ went to the cross, he set millions of captives free.  He unmasked the devil’s fraud and broke his power. That’s what he meant on the eve of his crucifixion when he said, “Now will the ruler of this world be cast out” (John 12:31). 

Don’t follow a defeated foe. 

Follow Christ.=2
0

It is costly. 

You will be an exile in this age. But you will be free.

(I added the highlights)

-Aaron-
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