parables of a prodigal world

I guess we interupt this series on Wright's theological vision to bring you yet another fascinating installment on my take of Piper's The Future of Justification. OK, so I've gotten up to Chapter 5 in Piper's book. I think Piper felt that this was one of the main thrusts of his argument, judging from the number of foreshadowings to it earlier on. The main argument in the chapter is this: Wright says that, for Paul, "the gospel" is the proclamation that Jesus, the crucified and risen Messiah of Israel, is the one, true and only Lord of the world. Justification by faith, salvation, and all the rest, naturally and mysteriously results from hearing this gospel, but it is not "the gospel" itself. Piper's main problem with Wright's definition is this: "Why should a guilty sinner who has committed treason against Jesus consider it good news when he hears the announcement that this Jesus has been raised from the dead with absolute sovereign righ...