What Makes the Lord's Prayer a Christian Prayer？
John Piper emphasizes that the Lord's Prayer is distinctly Christian because it is rooted in the cross of Christ, highlighting that forgiveness comes through Jesus' sacrificial death, not merely from God's fatherhood.
This sermon emphasizes the significance of Jesus' sacrifice in the Lord's Prayer, highlighting that forgiveness of sins comes through the death of God's son. It underscores the importance of honoring Jesus in prayer, recognizing that without his finished work on the cross, there would be no forgiveness. The message contrasts true Christianity, centered on the cross, with a shallow understanding that focuses solely on love and neighborly relations.
Full Transcript
Right here, before I go on to the last petition, right here in the Lord's Prayer, we know something that Jesus knew but not everybody listening knew. We know that Jesus would say a little while later these words, this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. The forgiveness of sins does not make its way to you straight from the fatherhood of God.
It makes its way to you from the fatherhood of God through the death of his son. So let Jesus be honored in the Lord's Prayer, not just speaking it but founding it, holding it up. There would be no forgiveness in answer to this prayer had he not finished his course.
So be honored, the Lord Jesus. We're not just treating you as a teacher here. Oh, when I was in seminary, I was taught about the old liberalism, and I'm glad I was so that I didn't go there.
The old liberalism took the sermon on the Mount and said, fatherhood of God, brotherhood of man, love of neighbor is Christianity. It's not. The cross is Christianity.
There is no Christianity if Christ had not gone beyond this prayer to die under it and hold it up so that when we pray it, forgive me. We're not just saying, I hope you're nice. I hope you're pitying.
I hope you're father-like. We're saying, thank you for showing me what you were willing to do.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Foundation of the Lord's Prayer
- Jesus as the founder and sustainer of the prayer
- The prayer rooted in God's fatherhood
- The necessity of Christ's work for the prayer's efficacy
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II. The Centrality of the Cross
- Forgiveness flows through Jesus' sacrificial death
- The cross as the defining mark of Christianity
- Rejecting liberal views that minimize the cross
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III. Honoring Jesus in Prayer
- Not merely treating Jesus as a teacher
- Recognizing Jesus' finished work on the cross
- Praying with gratitude for Christ's sacrifice
Key Quotes
“The forgiveness of sins does not make its way to you straight from the fatherhood of God. It makes its way to you from the fatherhood of God through the death of his son.” — John Piper
“There is no Christianity if Christ had not gone beyond this prayer to die under it and hold it up so that when we pray it, forgive me, we're not just saying, I hope you're nice.” — John Piper
“Be honored, the Lord Jesus. We're not just treating you as a teacher here.” — John Piper
Application Points
- Pray the Lord's Prayer with a deep awareness of Christ's sacrificial death.
- Reject superficial or liberal views of Christianity that minimize the cross.
- Honor Jesus in your prayers by recognizing His role as Savior, not just a teacher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Lord's Prayer considered a Christian prayer?
Because it is founded on the work of Jesus Christ, especially His sacrificial death, which makes forgiveness possible.
What role does the cross play in the Lord's Prayer?
The cross is central as it is through Jesus' death that forgiveness and reconciliation with God are made available.
How does John Piper view liberal interpretations of the Lord's Prayer?
He rejects them, emphasizing that Christianity is not just about God's fatherhood and brotherhood of man but fundamentally about the cross.
What does it mean to honor Jesus in the Lord's Prayer?
It means recognizing and thanking Jesus for His sacrificial death rather than merely seeing Him as a moral teacher.