I could speak forever on the book I mentioned yesterday, Knowing God by J. I. Packer. Yesterday’s post, however, sparked a couple thoughts I wanted to mention here.
First, once I read a prominent exponent of a theological point of view known as ‘dispensationalism’ trying to defend his conviction that the Sermon on the Mount was not written for the church. In his defense of his position he claimed that grace was nowhere to be found in the sermon. I’m struck with how seeing God’s revelation as the father of his adopted children spills the color of grace all over the sermon. How could anyone be blind to that.
Secondly, I had a very ineffective training in Christian counseling in seminary. The professor was often late for class and had little to say for those who would be pastors. It has made life in ministry a bit difficult. The one thing I do remember him saying is that he would often give to those he counseled the assignment of reading Packer’s chapter on adoption. He felt, rightly, that the foundation stones of mental health are found in this doctrine.
Thirdly, regarding the book as a whole, were you to ask me what was the most significant book that I have ever read, I would answer Knowing God. Just in case you should ask….
Gail and Keith
At your suggestion I have just read Chapter 19 “Sons of God” in Packer’s book Knowing God. Fantastic stuff: “….I am a child of God. God is my Father; heaven is my home; every day is one day nearer. My Savior is my brother; every Christian is my brother too.” Jesus is the Standard by which we live our lives. He alone kept the law, He lived the Sermon on the Mount. On another note, for many, many years I sat under ‘dispensational’ teaching. I do not recall hearing that Jesus Sermon on the Mount did not apply to the church. (Not to say it isn’t taught; I just never heard that) Indeed, as a grade schooler attending Daily Vacation Bible School, the basis for one summer’s teaching was the Beatitudes which we memorized. Each day’s lesson was based on one of them. G
Randy Greenwald
Thanks, Gail, especially for your clarification regarding dispensationalism and the sermon on the mount. Most dispensationalists do extract principles from the sermon on the mount, and so it is not completely rejected. I was simply referring to a comment made by Charles C. Ryrie in his classic defense of dispensationalism Dispensationalism Today in which he says, “It is usually charged that dispensationalists teach that the Sermon is all law and no gospel. To those who object to this claim, we merely ask, ‘Where can one find a statement of the gospel in the Sermon?'” So, I did misquote. He does not say ‘grace’; he says ‘gospel’. But I think the impact is the same.Glad you find Packer encouraging. I certainly have.
Gail and Keith
Ah, yes, Dr. Charles Ryrie. Chuckle.I’ve heard him speak on a few occasions. He was one of the conference speakers when I worked at Word of Life Inn in N.Y. and a frequent speaker at an independent Baptist Church here in town. The Ryrie Study Bible is a dispensationalist’s gold mine. 🙂 G