J. I. Packer: 5 Lessons From His Life & Work

J. I. Packer went to be with the Lord on 17th July 2020 after decades of life as a Christian theologian, author, and speaker. He was widely recognized as one of the most influential theological popularizers of the twentieth century. Reflecting on his own life, Packer said,

“I should like to be remembered as one who pointed to the pasturelands.”

He was born James Innell Packer on July 22, 1926, in the village of Twyning in the north of Gloucestershire, England.

READ ALSO: 20 Unforgettable Quotes By J. I. Packer

Below are 5 lessons I have learnt from his life and works.

#1. God Chooses Who To Use Irrespective Of Their Background
J. I. Packer did not come from a strong Christian home but God chose him to use him to be a blessing to the rest of us. It is said that, “The Packers were a lower–middle-class family with a nominal Anglican faith, faithfully attending nearby St. Catharine’s Church but never talking about the things of God or even praying before meals.” Furthermore,

“Packer was confirmed at St. Catherine’s at the age of fourteen having never heard about conversion or saving faith.”

We must always have it in mind that we are nothing without God. We must know that He calls us and qualifies us to do His will. In the words of Apostle Paul, God chooses the least things of the world to do great things so that no one will boast. Indeed, God chooses who He wants to use for His work.

#2. Everyone Has A Second Birth
The second lesson is that J. I. Packer was not born a Christian. No one is! At the age of 18 years when he entered Oxford University on scholarship to study classics, he attended a Sunday evening service at St. Aldate’s church, where through the sermon of an elderly Anglican preacher, Packer came to saving faith.

Packer was born a sinner just like any human being born of a woman. At the right time when he heard the gospel of Christ, he was saved and dedicated his life to serving his Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Each one of us desperately needs a second birth – to be born of water and the Spirit in order to see the kingdom of heaven (John 3:1-6). Hearing the gospel preached and responding by repenting from dead works (Hebrews 6:1) is crucial to being saved from this perverse generation (Acts 2:40). We must be born again.

#3. Everyone Has Major Influencers In Their Lives
J. I. Packer had major influential people in his early life who shaped who he became in life. Through reading, he was significantly influenced by the Puritans. When he discovered the works of Puritan writer John Owen, he devoured the contents. He later wrote:

“I owe more, I think, to John Owen than to any other theologian, ancient or modern, and I am sure I owe more to his little book on mortification than to anything else he wrote.”

He also encountered Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones through his preaching. He said about Dr. Lloyd-Jones that,

“He was the greatest man I have ever known…and I am sure that there is more of him under my skin than there is of any other of my human teachers.”

We all have moments in our lives when we come across the resources of people, dead or alive, who make indelible marks in our life and shape the way we see life. We must take such moments and people dear to our heart and honour them continually. The writer of the gospel of Luke and Acts for instance was significantly influenced by the Apostle Paul. We must be humble to learn from our teachers.

#4. Everyone Will Have The Opportunity To Go To The Highest Level Of Their Field
J. I. Packer started his life in academia with studies in classics but he did not end there. After obtaining his BA degree from Corpus Christi in Oxford (1948), he took up his first teaching post at Oak Hill Theological College in London as a tutor in Greek and Latin (along with some philosophy). Whilst studying for his ordination, he was pursuing doctoral research as well. From 1952 to 1954, he served as an associate pastor at St. John’s in Harborne, a suburb of Birmingham, while finishing his 400-page doctoral dissertation on the Puritan Richard Baxter at Oxford University. He was awarded the MA and DPhil in 1954.

Everyone will have the chance to start small but we must not remain where we started. He started in classics and ended in theology to the highest level. We must not settle in our comfort zone. By this, I am not saying we necessarily have to obtain a PhD, if possible yes, but importantly, we must be educated to the highest level. God will use you but if you are educated, you will bless more people.

#5. Everyone Can Make A Mark In Their Career
J. I. Packer did not start out as a theologian. He started very small and unknown but he is well recognised for his work in the kingdom of God. In 1961, the Packers moved back to Oxford, where for the next nine years he served as librarian and then warden at Latimer House—an evangelical research center begun by Packer and John Stott to theologically strengthen the Church of England. In the 1960s, he was invited to write a series of articles for the small bimonthly Evangelical Magazine offering a guide to basic Christianity. Packer wrote nearly two dozen pieces every other month for five years. Later on this series of articles were published into the landmark book Knowing God. He was rejected by Inter-Varsity Press but accepted by Hodder & Stoughton.

The lesson is that we will all start small and unknown but if we work hard, we can make a mark on the footprints of time. What if Packer had given up when he was rejected by Inter-Varsity Press? I am sure Knowing God would have died with him. Never give up when you are rejected by men.

The great men of this life have gone through phases of their life but with faith and determination, they reach where God is taking them.

Do you have any lessons from the life of J. I. Packer? Share below.

Reference: J. I. Packer (1926–2020)