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Growing in Christ

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As always, I find Packer clear, concise, compelling, convincing and spiritually challenging. I think he's on the right track here in approaching Christian Growth via the three great formula of the faith: The Apostle's Creed, The Lord's Prayer, and the 10 Commandment, as well as Baptism. He goes through these important topics in a soul searching and devotion inspiring manner. I have not completed the whole book yet, but so far his section on The Apostle's Creed is great in all these ways, and I eagerly look forward to the rest. I also greatly appreciate the passages for further study that Packer provides. I have been doing those and they greatly enrich and solidify the study. These and the questions for discussion also make the book great to work through with a new believer to help them get grounded in Jesus. If you don't have Packer's Knowing God, order that as well and read this as a companion piece to it, as Packer intended. Knowing God will help ground you in Packer's approach to the Three Formula. And in all things, "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." (1 Peter 3:18)

J. I. Packer's book, Growing in Christ is based on the historic Anglican catechism (instruction) on the Christian faith using four items that best sum up and teach a biblical faith. They are the Nicene Creed (about God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), entering into God's chosen in Christ through Baptism and Conversion, Praying using the Lord's Prayer to teach us, and God's design for our lives using the Ten Commandments. It is, I believe to be, a thought provoking book that delves deeply into what each means for the Christian today based on solid biblical scholarship and theology. Yet while it challenges it is not beyond anyone. I would recommend for those who really want to understand their faith. It is in short chapters that one can be done in the day, including meditating on his questions and reading through additional suggested scriptural readings. We use it for our instruction, adult, and new Christian training. I highly recommend it for those deepening their faith, just learning, or checking out Christianity. Growing in Christ

I was particularly looking for a book which handled the Ten Commandments when I came across this title by Dr. Packer.
Originally published as I WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN. Covers The Apostles' Creed, Baptism and Conversion, The Lord's Prayer, and The Ten Commandments, by breaking each down into concise studies. Very useful for individual or group.

J.I. Packer's "Growing in Christ" is a wonderful introduction to the Christian life. For centuries, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments have been at the heart of catechesis and Christian formation. And these are precisely the topics Packer masterfully presents in "Growing in Christ." I teach the confirmation class at my Anglican parish, and "Growing in Christ" has been an excellent resource for teaching the fundamentals of the Christian life. Packer also devotes ¼ of his book to baptism and conversion.

"Growing in Christ" is an excellent book largely because Packer writes in a very simple yet deep way that will be a benefit to just about any Christian, young or old, young in the faith or a pastor, teacher, or parent. One of the things Packer does best is to break down the structure of the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments and show how the parts relate. And then he explains each phrase in a way that gives you something to think about. Packer is also good at providing some mnemonics for remembering key points. For example, Packer presents "provision, pardon, and protection" as 3 ideas that are central to the Lord's Prayer.

Another great mnemonic teaching Packer presents is this triad of 3 C's:
The Creed deals with "Christian Convictions"
The Lord's Prayer deals with "Communion with God"
The Ten Commandments deal with "Code of Conduct"

Packer conveys a lot of rich meaning in a book this size. I highly recommend it for new Christians, Sunday school teachers, confirmation teachers, or even more mature Christians who want a deeper grounding in their faith. "Growing in Christ" is bound to give you a structure to think and meditate about your Christian life, as well as much profound teaching on how to live as a Christian.

The structure of "Growing in Christ" is as follows:

Part One - Affirming the Essentials: The Apostles' Creed
Part Two - Entering In: Baptism and Conversion
Part Three - Learning to Pray: The Lord's Prayer
Part Four - Design for Life: The Ten Commandments

There is a saying within Christianity: eat the watermelon, spit out the seeds. Overall the author does a good job in bringing out the riches we find in Christ. But I personally have one problem with his section on the commandments. The prophet Isaiah (not me) states plainly that if it is not according to the law or the prophets, there is no light in them. You can be the judge on that.

My problem with the book is that like most Christians today Packer accepts many of his beliefs on tradition rather than the Bible. Packer who was general editor of the English Standard Version of the Bible - fails to miss what the new covenant is all about. Paul tells us explicitly what the new covenant is in Hebrews 8:7-13 which for space reasons will quote only verse 10 "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." Notice that God said He would write His Law on our hearts. What Law? The Moral Law which God spoke and wrote with his own finger.

So how does Packer, an evangelist whose faith is suppose to be based on the Bible and the Bible alone, support Sunday worship rather than the true Biblical Sabbath? Does he quote scripture? No - in this he is a man of integrity knowing there is no such scripture. So how then does he support it? By quoting Thomas Aquinas and the Westminster Confession. Hummmm... Must have missed that part of the Bible. Worst, thousands have read this book and never give it a second thought. Sad.

The fourth commandment regarding the Sabbath (not the festival sabbaths Paul spoke of in Colossians, read Lev. chapter 23, particularly about the day of atonement) is the one commandment that Satan hates. It reminds Satan that: 1. he cannot create for he himself was a created being. 2. Being Creator God has exclusive rights to being worshipped. Since who we worship is at the heart of all scripture - worship God the Creator and Redeemer, or worship Satan. We have only two choices. If Satan came out and said do not keep any Sabbath, no one would be fooled. So what does Satan do? Where the Bible says THE seventh day, Satan says ANY seventh day. Twists the word of God ever so subtly Just like he did with Eve. The dragon who deceives the whole world, and the world does not know it has been deceived.

The Jews failed to keep the Sabbath prior to the exile, which is one of the reasons they were given over to Babylon (read Jeremiah chapter 17). They were also worshippers of Baal - a sun god. By the time of Christ, the Jews perverted the Sabbath with their own traditions, the mishnah which include such rules as do not take two pieces of thread and make yarn on the Sabbath or do not write more than two letters. Silly is not. Absolutely! The issue of the Sabbath between Jesus and the Jews was not the day but how it should be observed. The Sabbath is intended to be a day of rest , a joy and a delight, not a burden with the rules of men.

You do not have to be a Bible scholar or Bible 'theologian' (i.e.: theologian = theory not fact). Simply ask yourself three questions: 1. Is your faith based on the Bible and Bible alone? 2. Do you believe anyone but God has the right to establish the moral law through which all righteousness will be judged? 3. Where then is it written that GOD said the Sabbath was done away with or moved to another day.

There is a reason why Jesus said "For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." John brings it out clearly in John 1:1-3. Working through Jesus God created the world and you and me. Let Us (God the Father and God the Son) make man in Our image.

Jesus said if you love Me, keep My commandments. Packer misses the same point most professed Bible scholars miss. When Jesus said "Before Abraham was, I AM" - the Jews wanted to stone Him. Why? Because Jesus just said "I was the One speaking to Moses in the burning bush. I was that Angel of the Lord. I was and is and will forever be the Great I AM". And if Jesus was in the burning bush, who then was the author of the Ten Commandments?

Good book - eat the watermelon, spit out the seeds.