Light + Truth The Tragedy of Perishing
Dec 18, 2025
John Piper, a renowned theologian and pastor, dives deep into the heavy themes of John 3:16. He explains the importance of understanding perishing, encompassing God’s wrath, torment, separation, and eternality. Delving into the role of fear in repentance, Piper shares powerful testimonies illustrating how fear of God's judgment can lead to grace. He emphasizes that sin against an infinite God results in infinite consequences, urging listeners to embrace the urgency of faith in Christ for eternal life.
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Spiritual Taste Buds Are Needed
- Revival awakens spiritual "taste buds" so souls can perceive the sweetness of gospel truths.
- Without that awakening, hearing John 3:16 lands on people and means nothing to their souls.
Perishing As Divine Judgment
- Perishing means being under the active judgment and wrath of God, not merely biological death.
- John Piper emphasizes perishing as a judicial sentence where God says, "guilty, go to jail."
Perishing Includes Fiery Torment
- The Bible teaches perishing includes future fiery torment and conscious suffering, not annihilation.
- Piper warns that popular claims of "going out of existence" contradict scriptural depictions of torment.
