Over the weekend, I was reminded of the purpose of salvation while reading 1 Chronicles 16. Many may feel that this is widely known and does not need to be discussed; however, many conversations I have had and have overheard prove otherwise.
In his book, Don't Waste Your Life, John Piper asks the question, "Why do we cherish being forgiven by God?" According to Piper, "There are answers to this question that would dishonor him, because there are benefits from forgiveness that a person may love without loving God. We might say, 'I cherish being forgiven by God because I hate the misery of a guilty conscience.' Or '...because I want to go to heaven to see my loved ones and have a new body with no sickness.'" If God is not a person’s main reason for wanting to be forgiven, then one can conclude that he or she has the wrong intentions for seeking forgiveness.
In 1 Chronicles 16, David is returning the Ark of the Covenant to the tent that he has pitched for the Lord. The Ark was the most sacred object of the Israelites in the Old Testament, especially during Israel's wandering through the wilderness. It reminded God's people of his presence and promises that he had made with his people and had been faithful to keep. After returning the Ark, David sings a song of salvation and exhorts others to join him in praising God. The lyrics to this song inform the hearer that the ultimate purpose of salvation is to bring glory to God. David asserts, "O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. And say ye, ‘Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise.' Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for ever and ever" (1 Chronicles 16:34-36).
Forgiveness is not an end, but a means to an end. Believers have been forgiven so that they will worship God. This will not happen until they understand that the greatest reward of forgiveness is being brought back into a right relationship with God. Piper affirms, "God is the goal of forgiveness. He is also the ground and the means of forgiveness. It comes from him; it was accomplished through his Son; and it leads people back to him with their sins cast into the deepest sea...At great cost to himself God gave us what we needed above all things: himself for our enjoyment forever. God's forgiveness is important for one reason. It gives us God!"
In his book, Don't Waste Your Life, John Piper asks the question, "Why do we cherish being forgiven by God?" According to Piper, "There are answers to this question that would dishonor him, because there are benefits from forgiveness that a person may love without loving God. We might say, 'I cherish being forgiven by God because I hate the misery of a guilty conscience.' Or '...because I want to go to heaven to see my loved ones and have a new body with no sickness.'" If God is not a person’s main reason for wanting to be forgiven, then one can conclude that he or she has the wrong intentions for seeking forgiveness.
In 1 Chronicles 16, David is returning the Ark of the Covenant to the tent that he has pitched for the Lord. The Ark was the most sacred object of the Israelites in the Old Testament, especially during Israel's wandering through the wilderness. It reminded God's people of his presence and promises that he had made with his people and had been faithful to keep. After returning the Ark, David sings a song of salvation and exhorts others to join him in praising God. The lyrics to this song inform the hearer that the ultimate purpose of salvation is to bring glory to God. David asserts, "O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. And say ye, ‘Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise.' Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for ever and ever" (1 Chronicles 16:34-36).
Forgiveness is not an end, but a means to an end. Believers have been forgiven so that they will worship God. This will not happen until they understand that the greatest reward of forgiveness is being brought back into a right relationship with God. Piper affirms, "God is the goal of forgiveness. He is also the ground and the means of forgiveness. It comes from him; it was accomplished through his Son; and it leads people back to him with their sins cast into the deepest sea...At great cost to himself God gave us what we needed above all things: himself for our enjoyment forever. God's forgiveness is important for one reason. It gives us God!"
Piper, John. Don't Waste Your Life. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 100-101.
