What Jesus Demands from the World

I started looking through John Piper’s What Jesus Demands from the World for the first time a few moments ago. The bulk of the book puts forth fifty demands of Jesus Christ, or to put it another way, fifty commandments from the Eternal God.

It is no small secret that a great deal of American Christians believe it is the righteous thing to do to have the Ten Commandments displayed in as many places as possible, especially within government buildings. Yet the vast majority of these same Christians fail to live out the commands of their namesake (and in so doing they would fulfill the Ten Commandments as well).

I want to list for you the 50 demands of Jesus Christ, which are the chapter headings for Piper’s work. As you read the list, bear in mind that they are Jesus’ demands — not Piper’s and certainly not mine. Allow yourself to imagine what America — nay, the world! — would be like if these demands were taken absolutely seriously by the majority of those who call themselves Christian.

And in sharing this list, may I hold myself more to His demands as well.

  • You must be born again.
  • Repent.
  • Come to Me.
  • Believe in Me.
  • Love Me.
  • Listen to Me.
  • Abide in Me.
  • Take up your cross and follow Me.
  • Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
  • Rejoice and leap for joy.
  • Fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in Hell.
  • Worship God in spirit and truth.
  • Always pray and do not lose heart.
  • Do not be anxious about the necessities of daily life.
  • Do not be anxious about the threats of men.
  • Humble yourself by making war on pride.
  • Humble yourself in childlikeness, servanthood, and brokenhearted boldness.
  • Do not be angry–trust God’s providence.
  • Do not be angry–embrace mercy and forgiveness.
  • Do the will of My Father who is in Heaven–be justified by trusting Jesus.
  • Do the will of My Father who is in Heaven–be transformed by trusting Jesus.
  • Strive to enter through the narrow door, for all of life is war.
  • Strive to enter through the narrow door, for Jesus fulfills the New Covenant.
  • Strive to enter through the narrow door, for you are already in the Kingdom’s power.
  • Your righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees, for it was hypocritical and ugly.
  • Your righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees–clean the inside of the cup.
  • Your righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees, for every healthy tree bears good fruit.
  • Love your enemies–lead them to the Truth.
  • Love your enemies–pray for those who abuse you.
  • Love your enemies–do good to those who hate you, give to the one who asks.
  • Love your enemies to show that you are children of God.
  • Love your neighbor as yourself, for this is the Law and the prophets.
  • Love your neighbor with the same commitment you have to your own well-being.
  • Love your neighbor as yourself and as Jesus loved us.
  • Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven by giving sacrificially and generously.
  • Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven and increase your joy in Jesus.
  • Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven–“It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.”
  • Do not take an oath–cherish the truth and speak it simply.
  • Do not take an oath–let what you say be simply “Yes” and “No.”
  • What God has joined together let no man separate, for marriage mirrors God’s covenant with us.
  • What God has joined together let no man separate, for whoever divorces and marries another commits adultery.
  • What God has joined together let no man separate–one man, one woman, by grace, till death.
  • Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.
  • Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s as an act of rendering to God what is God’s.
  • Do this in remembrance of Me, for I will build My church.
  • Do this in remembrance of Me–baptize disciples and eat the Lord’s supper.
  • Let your light shine before others that they may glorify your Father who is in Heaven.
  • Let your light shine before others–the joyful sacrifice of love in suffering.
  • Make disciples of all nations, for all authority belongs to Jesus.
  • Make disciples of all nations, for the mission cannot fail.

If you are curious about any of these demands, you are invited to leave a comment and we can talk about it.

1 thought on “What Jesus Demands from the World”

  1. Ricky, first of all God bless ya man.

    I’m a US military retired Special Forces combat veteran, and now Christian Missionary (Yes a genuine Machine Gun Preacher, c’est moi baby LOL)
    completing my PhD in EDU Admin at LBU before I head overseas again.

    I just read your ‘Is God a Tyrant?’ and The above ‘Jesus demands.’

    a) On the above list thank you for posting so wonderful of the Lord Jesus’ Do’s that I do personally gldaly because I love Him since I was a child. So I swiped’em and reposted on my FB. Thanks Bro, I gave you creadit :)

    https://www.facebook.com/roy.choueri?sk=notes#!/notes/roy-choueri/the-dos-of-jesus-posted-by-an-atheist-on-the-internet-rick-beckman/10150911375773983

    b)

    b) God is a tyrant? Absolutely LOL.

    Here read this and enjoy – Be well! God loves you Be Blessed!

    http://www.rickbeckman.org/what-jesus-demands-from-the-world/#comment-38901

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