An Important Message by J. I. Packer
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Carefully and Prayerfully Consider this Important Message by J. I. Packer, author of
the classic book: 'Knowing God'
"There is no doubt that evangelicalism today is in a state of perplexity and unsettlement. In
such matters as the practice of evangelism, the teaching of holiness, the building up of local
church life, the pastor's dealing with souls and the exercise of discipline, there is evidence of
widespread dissatisfaction with things as they are and or equally widespread uncertainty as
to the road ahead. This is a complex phenomenon, to which many factors have contributed;
but, if we go to the root of the matter, we shall find that these perplexities are all ultimately
due to our having lost our grip on the biblical gospel…
…We would suggest that the reason lies in its own character and content. It fails to make
men God-centered in their thoughts and God-fearing in their hearts because this is not
primarily what it is trying to do. One way of stating the difference between it and the old
gospel is to say that it is too exclusively concerned to be 'helpful' to man - to bring peace,
comfort, happiness, satisfaction - and too little concerned to glorify God. The old gospel was
'helpful', too - more so, indeed, than is the new - but (so to speak) incidentally, for its first
concern was always to give glory to God.
Whereas the chief aim of the old was to teach people to worship God, the concern of the new
seems limited to making them feel better. The subject of the old gospel was God and his
ways with men; the subject of the new is man and the help God gives him. There is a world of
difference. The whole perspective and emphasis of gospel preaching has changed.
From this change of interest has sprung a change of content, for the new gospel has in
effect reformulated the biblical message in the supposed interests of 'helpfulness'.
Accordingly, the themes of man's natural inability to believe, of God's free election being the
ultimate cause of salvation, and of Christ dying specifically for his sheep are not preached.
These doctrines, it would be said, are not 'helpful'; they would drive sinners to despair, by
suggesting to them that it is not in their own power to be saved through Christ. (The
possibility that such despair might be salutary is not considered: it is taken for granted that it
cannot be, because it is so shattering to our self-esteem.)
However this may be...the result of these omissions is that part of the biblical gospel is now
preached as if it were the whole of that gospel; and a half-truth masquerading as the whole
truth becomes a complete untruth. Thus, we appeal to men as if they all had the ability to
receive Christ at any time; we speak of his redeeming work as if he had make it possible for
us to save ourselves by believing; we speak of God's love as if it were no more than a
general willingness to receive any who will turn and trust; and we depict the Father and the
Son, not as sovereignly active in drawing sinners to themselves, but as waiting in quiet
impotence 'at the door of our hearts' for us to let them in.
It is undeniable that this is how we preach; perhaps this is what we really believe. But it needs
to be said with emphasis that this set of twisted half-truths is something other than the biblical
gospel.
- J. I. Packer, Introductory Essay for John Owen’s Classic Book ‘Death of Death in
the Death of Christ’
the classic book: 'Knowing God'
"There is no doubt that evangelicalism today is in a state of perplexity and unsettlement. In
such matters as the practice of evangelism, the teaching of holiness, the building up of local
church life, the pastor's dealing with souls and the exercise of discipline, there is evidence of
widespread dissatisfaction with things as they are and or equally widespread uncertainty as
to the road ahead. This is a complex phenomenon, to which many factors have contributed;
but, if we go to the root of the matter, we shall find that these perplexities are all ultimately
due to our having lost our grip on the biblical gospel…
…We would suggest that the reason lies in its own character and content. It fails to make
men God-centered in their thoughts and God-fearing in their hearts because this is not
primarily what it is trying to do. One way of stating the difference between it and the old
gospel is to say that it is too exclusively concerned to be 'helpful' to man - to bring peace,
comfort, happiness, satisfaction - and too little concerned to glorify God. The old gospel was
'helpful', too - more so, indeed, than is the new - but (so to speak) incidentally, for its first
concern was always to give glory to God.
Whereas the chief aim of the old was to teach people to worship God, the concern of the new
seems limited to making them feel better. The subject of the old gospel was God and his
ways with men; the subject of the new is man and the help God gives him. There is a world of
difference. The whole perspective and emphasis of gospel preaching has changed.
From this change of interest has sprung a change of content, for the new gospel has in
effect reformulated the biblical message in the supposed interests of 'helpfulness'.
Accordingly, the themes of man's natural inability to believe, of God's free election being the
ultimate cause of salvation, and of Christ dying specifically for his sheep are not preached.
These doctrines, it would be said, are not 'helpful'; they would drive sinners to despair, by
suggesting to them that it is not in their own power to be saved through Christ. (The
possibility that such despair might be salutary is not considered: it is taken for granted that it
cannot be, because it is so shattering to our self-esteem.)
However this may be...the result of these omissions is that part of the biblical gospel is now
preached as if it were the whole of that gospel; and a half-truth masquerading as the whole
truth becomes a complete untruth. Thus, we appeal to men as if they all had the ability to
receive Christ at any time; we speak of his redeeming work as if he had make it possible for
us to save ourselves by believing; we speak of God's love as if it were no more than a
general willingness to receive any who will turn and trust; and we depict the Father and the
Son, not as sovereignly active in drawing sinners to themselves, but as waiting in quiet
impotence 'at the door of our hearts' for us to let them in.
It is undeniable that this is how we preach; perhaps this is what we really believe. But it needs
to be said with emphasis that this set of twisted half-truths is something other than the biblical
gospel.
- J. I. Packer, Introductory Essay for John Owen’s Classic Book ‘Death of Death in
the Death of Christ’
| [The Gospel as it has historically been preached] was always and essentially a proclamation of divine sovereignty in mercy and judgment, a summons to bow down and worship the mighty Lord on whom man depends for all good, both in nature and in grace. Its center of reference was unambiguously God. But in the new gospel the center of reference is man. This is just to say that the old gospel was religious in a way that the new gospel is not. |
| The Bible is against us when we preach in this way; and the fact that such preaching has become almost standard practice among us only shows how urgent it is that we should review this matter. To recover the old, authentic, biblical gospel, and to bring our preaching and practice back into line with it, is perhaps our most pressing present need." |