THE FUTURE of JUSTIFICATION

A Response to N. T. Wright

JOHN PIPER

CROSSWAY BOOKS

wheaton, illinois

The Future of Justification

Copyright © 2007 by Desiring God Foundation

Published by Crossway Books

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers

1300 Crescent Street

Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided by USA copyright law.

Italics in biblical quotations indicate emphasis added.

Cover design: Josh Dennis

Cover photo: Bridgeman Art Library

First printing, 2007

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version,® copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked nasb are from The New American Standard Bible.® Copyright © The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Piper, John, 1946–

The Future of Justification: a response to N.T. Wright / John Piper.

p. cm.

Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-58134-964-1 (tpb)

1. Justification (Christian theology)—History of doctrines—20th century.

2. Wright, N. T. (Nicholas Thomas) II. Title.

BT764.3.P57 2007

234'.7—dc22

2007029481

In memory of my father

William Solomon Hottle Piper

who preached the gospel of Jesus Christ for seventy years

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

On Controversy

chapter one

Caution: Not All Biblical-Theological Methods and Categories Are Illuminating

chapter two

The Relationship between Covenant and Law-Court Imagery for Justification

chapter three

The Law-Court Dynamics of Justification and the Meaning of God’s Righteousness

chapter four

The Law-Court Dynamics of Justification and the Necessity of Real Moral Righteousness

chapter five

Justification and the Gospel: When Is the Lordship of Jesus Good News?

chapter six

Justification and the Gospel: Does Justification Determine Our Standing with God?

chapter seven

The Place of Our Works in Justification

chapter eight

Does Wright Say with Different Words What the Reformed Tradition Means by “Imputed Righteousness”?

chapter nine

Paul’s Structural Continuity with Second-Temple Judaism?

chapter ten

The Implications for Justification of the Single Self-Righteous Root of “Ethnic Badges” and “Self-Help Moralism”

Chapter Eleven

“That in Him We Might Become the Righteousness of God”

conclusion

a note on the purpose of the appendices

appendix one

What Does It Mean That Israel Did Not “Attain the Law” Because She Pursued It “Not by Faith But as though It Were by Works”?

Thoughts on Romans 9:30–10:4

appendix two

Thoughts on Law and Faith in Galatians 3

appendix three

Thoughts on Galatians 5:6 and the Relationship between Faith and Love

appendix four

Using the ...