Oct
24
2009
A Test for How Well You Understand Christianity
J. I. Packer:
You sum up the whole of New Testament teaching in a single phrase, if you speak of it as a revelation of the Fatherhood of the holy Creator.
In the same way, you sum up the whole of New Testament religion if you describe it as the knowledge of God as one’s holy Father.
If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father.
If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all.
For everything that Christ taught, everything that makes the New Testament new, and better than the Old, everything that is distinctively Christian as opposed to merely Jewish, is summed up I the knowledge of the Fatherhood of God.
Evangelical Magazine 7, pp. 19-20, cited in Knowing God, p. 201. Packer says on p. 202:
Our understanding of Christianity cannot be better than our grasp of adoption.
9 Comments
How beautiful and gorgeous does the summit of the Bible lays it out:
Romans 8:14-17 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cried, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ provided we suffer with Him in order that we may be also glorified with Him.
Oh too much to unpack in this passage. From the true beauty and weight of adoption to heirs with the King of kings and Lord of lords. From the calling to justifying to sanctification to the glorification.
Heck, we all, brothers and sisters in Christ are giving inheritance as sons. This might be weird in the very politically correct Western world but to those living in cultures were women are very much second class citizen are very much first class citizens and beloved of God in His kingdom.
I hate to be the contrarian here, but to say, “You sum up the whole of New Testament teaching in a single phrase, if you speak of it as a revelation of the Fatherhood of the holy Creator” certainly seems to leave a couple of key things. Namely, the Cross of Christ and the Kingdom of God.
Bryan –
I think you don’t understand the theology of adoption very well.
“Merely Jewish.”
Isaiah 63:16:
“Yet You are our Father, even though Abraham does not know us and Israel doesn’t recognize us. You, LORD, are our Father; from ancient times, Your name is our Redeemer.”
Romans 9:6:
“I speak the truth in Christ – I am not lying; my conscience is testifying to me with the Holy Spirit that I have intense sorrow and continual anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from the Messiah for the benefit of my brothers, my countrymen by physical descent. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service, and the promises. The forefathers are theirs, and from them, by physical descent, came the Messiah, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.”
Yes, of course the New is greater than the Old, but to call the Old “merely Jewish” implies a disjunction between Old and New, rather than a continuation, as here with the Fatherhood of God and adoption.
I admire J.I. Packer, but I think he is unwittingly giving encouragement to believers who do not read the Old Testament to continue to not read it.
Sorry. That should be Romans 9:1-5.
I have to agree with Bryan. Yes Jesus makes adoption possible through the cross, but to simply focus on the result (i.e. adoption) without focusing on the ground, reason, and location for all our spiritual blessings misses the most important part. Isn’t Paul always trying to show us it’s all about Jesus? Colossians 1:18 sums it up nicely, “that in everything he might be preeminent.”
If we make the “sum of NT teaching” simply about our benefits received in Christ and not Christ Himself we are in grave danger.
Oh…oh…oh! Can I add something?
You don’t understand the gospel very well if you unite with Roman Catholics under your understanding of it.
How was that?
P.S.
Bryan, excellent comment.
Frank seems to be more interested in being witty than helpful.
Or, Greg, you could demonstrate that you do understand the theology of adoption and explain why Packer’s quote is inadequate.
Or maybe you couldn’t…
Or, Daryl, you can point out where I said Packer’s quote was inadequate?
No, it’s not there.
That’s why I find it difficult to answer your question.
I love you too, brother.