Tag: J.I. Packer

J.I. Packer

On By BrianIn Biography/History

Packer

Another Christian giant has fallen – or better – been taken to be with his Lord, passing away July 17, 2020.  He had an early impact on me through his book, Knowing God, which  I read as a teen.  Rediscovering Holiness and The Quest For Godliness helped to teach me that salvation was meant to change your life.  More recently, Grounded in the Gospel, which he co-authored with Gary Parrett, helped me better think through Christian education.  I thank the Lord for him.

Here is a short biography, a few other tributes, and a collection of quotes:

J. I. Packer (1926–2020) – Justin Taylor

J. I. Packer: A Personal Appreciation – Ray Ortlund

J. I. Packer’s Final Words to the Church – Ivan Mesa (TGC)

10 Things You Should Know about J. I. Packer – Leland Ryken (Crossway)

40 Quotes from J. I. Packer (1926–2020) – Matt Smethurst (TGC)

 

 

The Way of Sin

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes

TakingGodSeriouslyThe way of sin is to live, not for God, but for yourself; to love and serve and please yourself without regard for your Maker; to try to be independent of him, to hold him at arm’s length, to keep the reins of your own life firmly in your own hands; yet at the same time to try to manipulate him as a means to your own ends and to use him as a safety net when you are in trouble…. Sin is deviation from the God who wants our fellowship and worship, and sin embraces self-absorption in place of God-centeredness.

– J. I. Packer in Taking God Seriously

Our Approach to the Bible

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes

TakingGodSeriouslyThe Bible is to be approached with reverence, handled with care and prayer, and studied, not to satisfy curiosity in any of its forms, but to deepen responsive fellowship with God who made us, loves us, seeks us out, and offers us pardon, peace, and power for righteousness through Jesus Christ our Lord.

– J. I. Packer in Taking God Seriously

All Our Time Is A Gift

On By BrianIn 10C Quotes

GrowChristWe must honor God not only by our loyalty (first commandment) and thought-life (second commandment) and words (third commandment), but also by our use of time, in a rhythm of toil and rest; six days for work crowned by one day for worship. God’s claim on our Sabbaths reminds us that all our time is his gift, to be given back to him and used for him.

– J. I. Packer in Growing in Christ

Revival

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes

Revival is God touching minds and hearts in an arresting, devastating, exalting way, to draw them to himself through working from the inside out rather than from the outside in.  It is God accelerating, intensifying, and extending the work of grace that goes on in every Christian’s life….  It is the near presence of God giving new power to the gospel of sin and grace.  It is the Holy Spirit sensitizing souls to divine realities and so generating deep-level responses to God in the form of faith and repentance, praise and prayer, love and joy, works of benevolence and service and initiatives of outreach and sharing.
– J. I. Packer
in A God Entranced Vision of All Things

Web Weekly

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

I have decided to start a new weekly feature collecting some of the best things I’ve found on the web related in some way to living with a passion for God and compassion for people in response to Christ’s passion for us.  So here are a few links to check out:

Coram Deo reminds us to live for God’s glory, including a great quote from one of my favorite author’s – A.W. Tozer.

Tullian Tchividjian reminds us of the need to trade in our sinful individualism for gospel shaped Christian community.  This interview addresses a great need in the church today.  In two parts – Part 1 and Part 2.

Christianity Today has an excerpt of J. I. Packer and Gary Parrett’s new book: Grounded in the Gospel.  This book is high on my reading list, and the excerpt reminds us of the need for the church to be trained “in the gospel and its implications for doctrine, devotion, duty, and delight.”  Their answer is foreign to my growing up years, but has slowly become a conviction for me.  The church is filled with too many untrained Christians and here is at least part of the answer.

Finally, Collin Hansen at Christianity Today responds to John Piper’s recent announcement that he is taking an eight month sabbatical.  Hansen reminds us that we can become so focused on kingdom work that we ignore our families and our own spiritual health.  Too much Martha and not enough Mary.  I needed to read this, and you may too!

Trust that you will have a restful Easter glorifying God and reflecting on the truth of Christ’s resurrection with your church!