Spectacular is not often a word that we use to describe sin. In fact, I would say we lean away from anything that sounds like it’s drawing undue attention to evil. Especially wording that we typically associate with something good. Something spectacular. But drawing attention to evil is exactly what John Piper does in Spectacular Sins and Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ. Originally published by Crossway in 2008, the book was reprinted in 2013 with a fresh redesign. When I first saw it, the cover drew my attention, as well as as the use of the word spectacular to describe sin.

It’s a unique book in that it’s purpose is to analyze some of the most heinous sins in all of history as recorded in Scripture. Piper takes the approach that all of these sins were not only orchestrated by God, but part of his plan from the very beginning.

This book is well worth the read at only 128 pages. It further cemented in my mind that God is the sovereign Lord of the universe and His plan has been in place since eternity past. Also highlighted in this book is the pattern that I’ve seen in Scripture and read about elsewhere—that God is glorified in salvation through judgment. Piper puts it this way…“God’s saving victory for his people often comes through sin and suffering.” (82)

This book doesn’t just address the problem of evil–it obliterates it. It reveals that evil serves the purposes of God just like everything else in the universe. Evil does not have free reign to do has it pleases. It has a purpose in God’s grand design. These are spectacular sins not just because they are particularly heinous, but also because they draw incredible attention to who God is and what he has done through Jesus in the story of the gospel.

Here are some of my favorite lines from the book…

At the all important pivot of human history, the worst sin ever committed served to show the greatest glory of Christ and obtain the sin-conquering gift of God’s grace. God did not just overcome evil at the cross. He made evil serve the overcoming of evil. He made evil commit suicide in doing its worst evil. Evil is anything and everything opposed to the fullest display of the glory of Christ. That’s the meaning of evil. In the death of Christ, the powers of darkness did their best to destroy the glory of the Son of God. This is the apex of evil. But instead they found themselves quoting the script of ancient prophecy and acting the part assigned by God. Precisely in putting Christ to death, they put his glory on display—the very glory that they aimed to destroy. The apex of evil achieved the apex of the glory of Christ. The glory of grace.

Page 12

Christianity is not a game; it’s not a therapy. All of its doctrines flow from who God is and what he has done in history. They correspond to hard facts. Christianity is more than facts, but not less. There is faith and hope and love. But these don’t float in the air. They grow like great cedar trees in the rock of God’s truth.

Page 57

Reflecting on Acts 4:27-28 and Isaiah 53:6, 10, Piper says this…

Why should this matter to you? It should matter because if God were not the main Actor in the death of Christ, then the death of Christ could not save us from our sins, and we would perish in hell forever (Matt. 25:46; 2 Thess. 1:9). The reason the death of Christ is the heart of the gospel—the heart of the good news—is that God was doing it. Romans 5:8: “ God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” If you separate God’s activity from the death of Jesus, you lose the gospel. This was God’s doing. It is the highest and deepest point of his love for sinners. His love for you.

Page 104

Spend some time and work through the weightiness of the truths in Spectacular Sins. It will do your heart good to rejoice in the sovereignty of God in the face of unspeakable evil. In the face of spectacular sins. You can find it at Amazon.