| Specification |
Value |
| Publisher |
Christian Focus / Desiring God |
| Page Count |
208 pages |
| Weight (ounces) |
~7.2 oz |
| Dimensions (inches) |
5.5 x 8.5 x 0.47 inches |
Finally Alive: What Happens When We Are Born Again – Detailed Description
In
Finally Alive, John Piper addresses a term that has become one of the most devalued and misunderstood in modern society: being
"born again". Piper argues that while many people use this label to describe a religious preference or a human decision, the New Testament defines it as a radical, supernatural act of God that results in a fundamentally transformed life.
Between Two Cultures
The book is structured into five distinct sections that provide a systematic biblical treatment of regeneration:
- Part 1: What Is the New Birth?
Piper defines regeneration not as a "moral tidying up," but as the Holy Spirit supernaturally imparting spiritual life to a dead soul. It is a miracle that connects an individual to Jesus Christ through faith, replacing a "heart of stone" with a living heart that treasures God above all else.
- Part 2: Why Must We Be Born Again?
The author explains that humanity's problem is not just external behavior but a deep-seated spiritual death. Apart from this new birth, we are described as "children of wrath," unable to see or enter the Kingdom of God.
- Part 3: How Does the New Birth Come About?
Piper emphasizes the magnitude of God’s grace and the mechanism of regeneration through the "washing and renewal by the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5). He clarifies that while faith is the immediate result, the act of new birth is a sovereign, unilateral work of God.
- Part 4: What Are the Effects of the New Birth?
True regeneration leads to visible changes: a love for others, an overcoming of the world, and a newfound freedom from the practice of sin. Piper uses the first epistle of John to highlight these marks of a genuine Christian.
- Part 5: How Can We Help Others Be Born Again?
The concluding section focuses on the practical imperative of sharing the Gospel. Piper argues that God uses the "gospel-telling" of His people—their words and lives—to open the eyes of the spiritually blind.
Finally Alive serves as both a "wake-up call" for the church and a guidebook for believers to verify the authenticity of their faith. It is written to be accessible yet doctrinally dense, offering a refreshing and challenging look at the glory of Christ and the necessity of His divine intervention in every heart.
