This morning we learnt of the death of Dr J I Packer, whose work is known to many of you and whose influence reaches many more. Having benefited greatly under the ministry of Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones he along with John Stott were key instruments used of God to bring about a resurgence of biblical and evangelical ministry in the Church of England in the latter half of the 20th century. Packer’s knowledge and love of the Puritans also brought their works and commitment to the Reformed faith into the wider Christian scene. Who can forget ‘Knowing God,’ ‘Fundamentalism and the Word of God’ or ‘Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God’? These remain outstanding classics, and there were so many more books and articles of abiding value.
My first awareness and appreciation of J I Packer began with his powerful ‘Introductory Essay’ in the Puritan John Owen’s volume ‘The Death of Death in the Death of Christ’ published by the Banner of Truth in 1959. There in his own mastery of the simplicity he encapsulated what the Death of Jesus, what the Gospel was all about and yet consistently with the whole counsel of God which the Reformed faith or Calvinism historically tries to be. He wrote:
“The very act of setting out Calvinistic soteriology [the doctrine of salvation] in the form of five distinct points (a number due, as we saw, merely to the fact that there were five Arminian points for the Synod of Dort to answer) tends to obscure the organic character of Calvinistic thought on this subject. For the five points, though separately stated, are inseparable. They hang together; you cannot reject one without rejecting them all, at least in the sense in which the Synod meant them. For to Calvinism there is really only one point to be made in the field of soteriology: the point that God saves sinners.
God – the Triune Jehovah, Father, Son and Spirit; three Persons working together in sovereign wisdom, power and love to achieve the salvation of a chosen people, the Father electing, the Son fulfilling the Father’s will by redeeming, the Spirit executing the purpose of Father and Son by renewing.
Saves – does everything, first to last, that is involved in bringing man from death in sin to life in glory: plans, achieves and communicates redemption, calls and keeps, justifies, sanctifies, glorifies.
Sinners – men as God finds them, guilty, vile, helpless, powerless, unable to lift a finger to do God’s will or better their spiritual lot. God saves sinners – and the force of this confession may not be weakened by disrupting the unity of the work of the Trinity, or by dividing the achievement of salvation between God and man and making the decisive part man’s own, or by soft-pedalling the sinner’s inability so as to allow him to share the praise of his salvation with his Saviour. This is the one point of Calvinistic soteriology which the “five points” are concerned to establish and Arminianism in all its forms to deny: namely, that sinners do not save themselves in any sense at all, but that salvation, first and last, whole and entire, past, present and future, is of the Lord, to whom be glory for ever; amen.”
God Saves Sinners – captures and says it all, doesn’t it.
Let me also, as a second taster of his heart for God, share his helpful comments drawing us into understanding of and a practical benefit from Psalm 107 – which I think is an extremely helpful and heart-searching reminder for the present times – he wrote:
‘On September 8, 1860, The Lady Elgin sank in Lake Michigan. A young ministerial student named Edward Spencer dove repeatedly into the icy waters and rescued seventeen people. The prolonged exposure permanently damaged his health, however, and he was unable to complete his studies. Some years later at his funeral it was noted that not one of the seventeen people he saved ever returned to thank him.
Thankfulness is basic to godliness. This psalm shows us how much it means to say that God is good, and calls us to thank him for his goodness to us in the past and the present. Note the repeated refrain in verses 8, 15, 21, 31.’
On which Packer then asks:
‘The psalmist describes four different incidents. How is God’s unfailing love demonstrated in each account?
Each scene begins by describing a calamity and a cry for help. Why do we often hit bottom before we cry out to God?
What kind of help do you need form the Lord at this time?
Each scene concludes by describing God’s salvation and by calling us to give thanks for His unfailing love. Why do we often forget to thank God for answered prayers?
What prayers has God answered recently for which you are thankful?
Spend a few minutes thanking the Lord for his goodness to you and others.’
Is that not only heart-searching but helpful as we gather before the Lord in worship tomorrow? Note verses 22 and 32. We have much to be thankful for – even in a difficult and at times dark providence. He never leaves us alone nor without testimony of His redeeming and unfailing love.
Together in Christ’s love and service,
John
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