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Rediscovering Holiness
The highway is once more clearly marked out for us, pointing to true freedom and joy both now and in eternity.
276 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1992
123 people are currently reading
778 people want to read
About the author
J.I. Packer
446 books928 followersWhat do J. I. Packer, Billy Graham and Richard John Neuhaus have in common? Each was recently named by TIME magazine as among the 25 most influential evangelicals in America.
Dr. Packer, the Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology at Regent College, was hailed by TIME as “a doctrinal Solomon” among Protestants. “Mediating debates on everything from a particular Bible translation to the acceptability of free-flowing Pentecostal spirituality, Packer helps unify a community [evangelicalism] that could easily fall victim to its internal tensions.”
Knowing God, Dr. Packer’s seminal 1973 work, was lauded as a book which articulated shared beliefs for members of diverse denominations; the TIME profile quotes Michael Cromartie of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington as saying, “conservative Methodists and Presbyterians and Baptists could all look to [Knowing God] and say, ‘This sums it all up for us.’”
In a similar tribute to Dr. Packer almost ten years ago, American theologian Mark Noll wrote in Christianity Today that, “Packer’s ability to address immensely important subjects in crisp, succinct sentences is one of the reasons why, both as an author and speaker, he has played such an important role among American evangelicals for four decades.”
For over 25 years Regent College students have been privileged to study under Dr. Packer’s clear and lucid teaching, and our faculty, staff and students celebrate the international recognition he rightly receives as a leading Christian thinker and teacher.
(https://www.regent-college.edu/facult...)
Dr. Packer, the Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology at Regent College, was hailed by TIME as “a doctrinal Solomon” among Protestants. “Mediating debates on everything from a particular Bible translation to the acceptability of free-flowing Pentecostal spirituality, Packer helps unify a community [evangelicalism] that could easily fall victim to its internal tensions.”
Knowing God, Dr. Packer’s seminal 1973 work, was lauded as a book which articulated shared beliefs for members of diverse denominations; the TIME profile quotes Michael Cromartie of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington as saying, “conservative Methodists and Presbyterians and Baptists could all look to [Knowing God] and say, ‘This sums it all up for us.’”
In a similar tribute to Dr. Packer almost ten years ago, American theologian Mark Noll wrote in Christianity Today that, “Packer’s ability to address immensely important subjects in crisp, succinct sentences is one of the reasons why, both as an author and speaker, he has played such an important role among American evangelicals for four decades.”
For over 25 years Regent College students have been privileged to study under Dr. Packer’s clear and lucid teaching, and our faculty, staff and students celebrate the international recognition he rightly receives as a leading Christian thinker and teacher.
(https://www.regent-college.edu/facult...)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
August 4, 2022
As usual, I appreciate that I have access to good audiobooks, but I know I would have gotten more out of it if I had read it in print. Oh well. This is the season I am in.
June 9, 2017
This book examines the need for Christians to live a holy life in view of a God who is the Holy One. My attention was less than adequate for this nonfiction book since I listened to it as an audiobook, and it merits a more thorough reread of the printed version. I particularly appreciated the concept of DEP (doctrine, experience, and practice) and the need for a balance between these to walk in holiness better.
September 14, 2021
First sentence: Our grandfather clock, which tells us not only the hours, minutes and seconds but also the days of the week, the months of the year, and the phases of the moon, is something of a veteran. Scratched on one of its lead weights is the date 1789—the year of the French Revolution and George Washington’s first term as President. Our clock was going before the great Christian theologian John Wesley stopped going, if I may put it so.
Rediscovering Holiness was first published in 1992. It has gone through several editions; the most recent edition being published in July 2021 by Crossway. According to the preface, the book "grew" out of four conference talks from the year before--1991. You honestly can't tell this book grew out of four separate conference sermons! The book is cohesive and seamless in its treatment of holiness. The book doesn't focus in on one aspect of holiness, it touches on the many, many aspects of holiness.
The context for the book is a growing concern (and rightly so using hindsight) that the contemporary church is failing to emphasize holiness--either God's holiness OR our need to grow in holiness (sanctification)--and to rightly teach and preach holiness. Packer saw a void--a big one perhaps--and decided to write a book on holiness. The subject was too important, too significant, too fundamental, too essential to ignore. This generation--and every generation--needs to be grounded on the doctrine of holiness. He writes, "To listen to our sermons and to read the books we write for each other and then to watch the zany, worldly, quarrelsome way we behave as Christian people, you would never imagine that once the highway of holiness was clearly marked out for Bible believers, so that ministers and people knew what it was and could speak of it with authority and confidence."
Packer points out that he doesn't need to "discover" new insights on holiness, but rather go back to previous teachings and writings. To go back to that "old time religion" if you will to discover what centuries of believers--theologians--have believed and taught about holiness.
The book has plenty of Scripture AND plenty of quotes. Packer does love his Puritans. (Yes, I know that Packer is dead. It's just harder--for me--to write a book review and switch verb tenses back and forth.)
Throughout the book, Packer groups together prayer and holiness. The practical aspects of "learning" and "growing" both are connected. He writes, "Holiness, like prayer (which is indeed part of it), is something that, though Christians have an instinct for it through their new birth, as we shall see, they have to learn in and through experience. As Jesus “learned obedience from what he suffered” (Heb. 5:8)—learned what obedience requires, costs and involves through the experience of actually doing His Father’s will up to and in His passion—so Christians must, and do, learn prayer from their struggles to pray and holiness from their battles for purity of heart and righteousness of life...Prayer and holiness are learned in a similar way as commitments are made, habits are formed and battles are fought against a real opponent (Satan, in this case), who with great cunning plays constantly on our weak spots...The process of learning to be holy, like the process of learning to pray, may properly be thought of as a school—God’s own school, in which the curriculum, the teaching staff, the rules, the discipline, the occasional prizes and the fellow pupils with whom one studies, plays, debates and fraternizes, are all there under God’s sovereign providence."
The book definitely has practical implications, but it is theology first and foremost. The holiness (of God) and the call to be holy (sanctification) is a WEIGHTY subject. Packer is thorough and solid.
I found myself highlighting PAGES because so much material was worthy of a second look--a dozen looks to be fair.
What you might not be expecting--and what I treasure most about it perhaps--is the RICHNESS of the chapters on SALVATION. Packer truly and clearly presents the gospel, and the gospel is beautiful, amazing, compelling. Though chapters two and three--the ones on salvation--are especially rich and wonderful, the book as a whole is worthy of your time, energy, and effort. Definitely worth a reread at some point.
Quotes:
We are all invalids in God’s hospital. In moral and spiritual terms we are all sick and damaged, diseased and deformed, scarred and sore, lame and lopsided, to a far, far greater extent than we realize. Under God’s care we are getting better, but we are not yet well. The modern Christian likes to dwell on present blessings rather than future prospects. Modern Christians egg each other on to testify that where once we were blind, deaf, and indeed dead so far as God was concerned, now through Christ we have been brought to life, radically transformed, and blessed with spiritual health. Thank God, there is real truth in that. But spiritual health means being holy and whole. To the extent that we fall short of being holy and whole, we are not fully healthy either. Measured by the absolute standard of spiritual health that we see in Jesus Christ, we are all of us no more, just as we are no less, than invalids in the process of being cured. Our spiritual life is at best a fragile convalescence, easily disrupted. When there are tensions, strains, perversities, and disappointments in the Christian fellowship, it helps to remember that no Christian, and no church, ever has the clean bill of spiritual health that would match the total physical well-being for which today’s fitness seekers labor. To long for total spiritual well-being is right and natural, but to believe that one is anywhere near it is to be utterly self-deceived.
The Bible, heard and read, preached and taught, interpreted and applied, is both the channel and the content of His communication. It is as if Jesus hands us the canonical Scriptures directly, telling us that they are the authoritative and all-sufficient source from which we must learn both what we are to do in order to be His followers and also what He has done, is doing, and will do to save us from the fatal sickness of sin. Think of your Bible, then, as Jesus Christ’s gift to you; think of it as a letter to you from your Lord. Think of your name, written in the front of it, as if Jesus Himself had written it there. Think of Jesus each time you read your Bible. Think of Him asking you, page by page and chapter by chapter, what you have just learned about the need, nature, method, and effect of the grace that He brings, and about the path of loyal discipleship that He calls you to tread. That is the way to profit from the Bible. Only when your reading of the written Word feeds into your relationship with the living Word (Jesus) does the Bible operate as the channel of light and life that God means it to be.
Packer's advice on reading/studying the Bible:
A helpful scheme of applicatory meditation on each passage is to ask ourselves: • What does this passage tell me about God? How does it describe God’s nature and power; His plan and purpose; His likes and dislikes; His works, ways, and will for His human creatures? • What does this passage tell me about living? What does it say about right conduct, wrong conduct, wise conduct, foolish conduct; different situations and relationships in which people find themselves; the way of faith with all its difficulties and delights; various emotional states and temperamental traumas; virtues to cultivate, vices to avoid, and values to hold on to; pressures from the world, the flesh, and the devil, and what to do about them? In short, what does it tell me about all the realities of belonging to a lost humanity in a spoiled world now touched by the powers of redemption, and involved in the ongoing conflict between Christ the conqueror and the defeated powers of darkness that are so desperately fighting back? What does all this say to me about my own life today? What does it tell me about the tasks, problems, opportunities, pitfalls, and temptations to sin that confront me day by day? What warnings and encouragements does it give me, and what wisdom and resources does it show me?
Rediscovering Holiness was first published in 1992. It has gone through several editions; the most recent edition being published in July 2021 by Crossway. According to the preface, the book "grew" out of four conference talks from the year before--1991. You honestly can't tell this book grew out of four separate conference sermons! The book is cohesive and seamless in its treatment of holiness. The book doesn't focus in on one aspect of holiness, it touches on the many, many aspects of holiness.
The context for the book is a growing concern (and rightly so using hindsight) that the contemporary church is failing to emphasize holiness--either God's holiness OR our need to grow in holiness (sanctification)--and to rightly teach and preach holiness. Packer saw a void--a big one perhaps--and decided to write a book on holiness. The subject was too important, too significant, too fundamental, too essential to ignore. This generation--and every generation--needs to be grounded on the doctrine of holiness. He writes, "To listen to our sermons and to read the books we write for each other and then to watch the zany, worldly, quarrelsome way we behave as Christian people, you would never imagine that once the highway of holiness was clearly marked out for Bible believers, so that ministers and people knew what it was and could speak of it with authority and confidence."
Packer points out that he doesn't need to "discover" new insights on holiness, but rather go back to previous teachings and writings. To go back to that "old time religion" if you will to discover what centuries of believers--theologians--have believed and taught about holiness.
The book has plenty of Scripture AND plenty of quotes. Packer does love his Puritans. (Yes, I know that Packer is dead. It's just harder--for me--to write a book review and switch verb tenses back and forth.)
Throughout the book, Packer groups together prayer and holiness. The practical aspects of "learning" and "growing" both are connected. He writes, "Holiness, like prayer (which is indeed part of it), is something that, though Christians have an instinct for it through their new birth, as we shall see, they have to learn in and through experience. As Jesus “learned obedience from what he suffered” (Heb. 5:8)—learned what obedience requires, costs and involves through the experience of actually doing His Father’s will up to and in His passion—so Christians must, and do, learn prayer from their struggles to pray and holiness from their battles for purity of heart and righteousness of life...Prayer and holiness are learned in a similar way as commitments are made, habits are formed and battles are fought against a real opponent (Satan, in this case), who with great cunning plays constantly on our weak spots...The process of learning to be holy, like the process of learning to pray, may properly be thought of as a school—God’s own school, in which the curriculum, the teaching staff, the rules, the discipline, the occasional prizes and the fellow pupils with whom one studies, plays, debates and fraternizes, are all there under God’s sovereign providence."
The book definitely has practical implications, but it is theology first and foremost. The holiness (of God) and the call to be holy (sanctification) is a WEIGHTY subject. Packer is thorough and solid.
I found myself highlighting PAGES because so much material was worthy of a second look--a dozen looks to be fair.
What you might not be expecting--and what I treasure most about it perhaps--is the RICHNESS of the chapters on SALVATION. Packer truly and clearly presents the gospel, and the gospel is beautiful, amazing, compelling. Though chapters two and three--the ones on salvation--are especially rich and wonderful, the book as a whole is worthy of your time, energy, and effort. Definitely worth a reread at some point.
Quotes:
We are all invalids in God’s hospital. In moral and spiritual terms we are all sick and damaged, diseased and deformed, scarred and sore, lame and lopsided, to a far, far greater extent than we realize. Under God’s care we are getting better, but we are not yet well. The modern Christian likes to dwell on present blessings rather than future prospects. Modern Christians egg each other on to testify that where once we were blind, deaf, and indeed dead so far as God was concerned, now through Christ we have been brought to life, radically transformed, and blessed with spiritual health. Thank God, there is real truth in that. But spiritual health means being holy and whole. To the extent that we fall short of being holy and whole, we are not fully healthy either. Measured by the absolute standard of spiritual health that we see in Jesus Christ, we are all of us no more, just as we are no less, than invalids in the process of being cured. Our spiritual life is at best a fragile convalescence, easily disrupted. When there are tensions, strains, perversities, and disappointments in the Christian fellowship, it helps to remember that no Christian, and no church, ever has the clean bill of spiritual health that would match the total physical well-being for which today’s fitness seekers labor. To long for total spiritual well-being is right and natural, but to believe that one is anywhere near it is to be utterly self-deceived.
The Bible, heard and read, preached and taught, interpreted and applied, is both the channel and the content of His communication. It is as if Jesus hands us the canonical Scriptures directly, telling us that they are the authoritative and all-sufficient source from which we must learn both what we are to do in order to be His followers and also what He has done, is doing, and will do to save us from the fatal sickness of sin. Think of your Bible, then, as Jesus Christ’s gift to you; think of it as a letter to you from your Lord. Think of your name, written in the front of it, as if Jesus Himself had written it there. Think of Jesus each time you read your Bible. Think of Him asking you, page by page and chapter by chapter, what you have just learned about the need, nature, method, and effect of the grace that He brings, and about the path of loyal discipleship that He calls you to tread. That is the way to profit from the Bible. Only when your reading of the written Word feeds into your relationship with the living Word (Jesus) does the Bible operate as the channel of light and life that God means it to be.
Packer's advice on reading/studying the Bible:
A helpful scheme of applicatory meditation on each passage is to ask ourselves: • What does this passage tell me about God? How does it describe God’s nature and power; His plan and purpose; His likes and dislikes; His works, ways, and will for His human creatures? • What does this passage tell me about living? What does it say about right conduct, wrong conduct, wise conduct, foolish conduct; different situations and relationships in which people find themselves; the way of faith with all its difficulties and delights; various emotional states and temperamental traumas; virtues to cultivate, vices to avoid, and values to hold on to; pressures from the world, the flesh, and the devil, and what to do about them? In short, what does it tell me about all the realities of belonging to a lost humanity in a spoiled world now touched by the powers of redemption, and involved in the ongoing conflict between Christ the conqueror and the defeated powers of darkness that are so desperately fighting back? What does all this say to me about my own life today? What does it tell me about the tasks, problems, opportunities, pitfalls, and temptations to sin that confront me day by day? What warnings and encouragements does it give me, and what wisdom and resources does it show me?
October 31, 2025
A brilliant read, that took me an awful long time, partly due to being interrupted by my Study schedule and partly bc the contents of these pages are far too profound and deep to ever casually read them. This book holds a depth of work that caused me to stop and think at every second sentence. Divinely inspired- I cannot praise Packer enough for his wisdom, insights and fierce conviction that holiness starts from within. I found the chapters on suffering to be most encouraging of all! If you’re wanting a challenging and humbling read that will light up the mind, this one is for you.
Favourite quote: “The measure of all love, is its giving”
Favourite quote: “The measure of all love, is its giving”
March 8, 2019
A Redescoberta da Santidade de autoria de James Innell Packer (J. I. Packer) é um livro fantástico com verdades e abordagens sistematicamente fundamentadas na Bíblia. Atualmente nossa cultura tem sido assolada pela frivolidade do pessimismo que nos influencia a uma vida leviana, o relativismo secular, o materialismo consumista, a ridicularização das verdades bíblicas, o incentivo ao abandono da sabedoria do passado, a patrulha contra os padrões absolutos de certo e errado, o descaso, o desinteresse e a apatia. Esses e outros sentimentos de parte da comunidade cristã com relação ao tema da santidade pessoal motivou J. I. Packer a escrever essa obra.
Para Packer a Santidade precisa ser aprendida e experimentada dia-a-dia e se trata de um processo educacional planejado e desejado por Deus para que nós alcancemos a forma moral e espiritual observada em nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo, este que vive em nós e nos acompanha a partir da salvação até a eternidade. A santidade pode ser observada em um homem ou mulher que tenha uma só mente com Deus, que evite cada pecado conhecido e guarde cada mandamento revelado, que se esforce em ser como o Senhor Jesus Cristo, que exercite o fruto do Espírito Santo, que busque a temperança e autonegação, que pratique a misericórdia e bondade para com as pessoas a sua volta, que busque a pureza de coração, busque o temor a Deus (Medo, Respeito e Reverência), busque a humildade, busque a fidelidade em todos os seus deveres e relacionamentos e concentre sua mente inteiramente nas coisas espirituais que vem de Deus por meio da oração, leitura da Palavra e com a comunhão com o povo de Deus.
A santidade é uma Exigência por parte de Deus, é o Alvo do cristão justificado pela salvação em Jesus Cristo, a Expressão da nossa realidade espiritual, a verdadeira Saúde do cristão, a Couraça da Armadura da Fé para nos proteger e combatermos os ataques do inimigo, a Credibilidade de nosso testemunho de vida e a Substância Geradora da Verdadeira Alegria.
Packer traz o conceito da Graça Preveniente, uma graça na qual somos convencidos pelo Espírito Santo a enxergarmos nossa condição pecadora, essa graça se instala em nós com uma força reveladora da Salvação que nos constrange a aceitarmos a Jesus Cristo como nosso salvador e então somos unidos a Cristo (estamos nEle), morremos para o pecado (deixamos a velha vida) e ressuscitamos (começamos uma nova vida) juntos com o Senhor Jesus Cristo. Através da salvação somos Justificados (perdoados e aceitos), Adotados (feitos filhos e herdeiros de Deus) e Purificados (preparados para a comunhão com o santo Criador).
Packer também afirma que neste processo, após morrermos para o pecado morre também nossa natureza pecaminosa, e ao ressuscitarmos espiritualmente, nasce em nós existe um desejo natural por Deus e nossa própria natureza, antes pecadora, agora nos direciona para Deus. Tal verdade é avassaladora e nos preenche de alegria, pois de fato, temos a condição de abandonar a vida de escravidão ao pecado e construir um novo caráter, semelhante ao caráter de Jesus, cultivar novos hábitos e desfrutar de uma nova vida interior de amor a Deus e exterior de amor ao próximo. Uma nova vida cheia de esperança e expectativa em nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo. A estratégia formulada por Packer nas situações de dificuldades, nos espelhando em Cristo e experimentando o Viver de Cristo em nós, diz que devemos reagir: à malícia dos outros com o amor; às circunstâncias de depressão com alegria; aos problemas e ansiedades com a paz; tudo que é insensatez com paciência; aos insensíveis com benignidade; as pessoas e atitudes más com bondade; às mentiras e atitudes furiosas com fidelidade e mansidão e a tudo que nos leva a perder a compostura com domínio próprio.
A esperança da volta de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo e nossa completa santificação (purificação) nos move em direção a uma vida de santidade, mas não significa que não iremos pecar. Packer nos traz um olhar teológico e experiente a respeito dos Puritanos que viam o pecado como uma energia pervertida dentro das pessoas, que as escraviza, levando-as a desafiar a Deus, ter um comportamento de satisfação própria, e também como algo que, por meio da distração, engano e oposição direta, enfraquece e derruba os intentos de retidão. Muitas vezes não entendemos corretamente o funcionamento da nossa nova natureza, e então, cedemos a tentação, acreditamos em mentiras criadas por nós mesmos para cedermos às tentações, acreditamos nas mentiras que satanás e o mundo governado por ele nos contam, acreditamos que iremos sofrer se abandonarmos um ou outro pecado mais habitual e erroneamente considerado por nós como necessário para nossa felicidade. Ledo engano, a busca pela santidade gera prazer e satisfação ao cristão.
A santidade é uma Exigência de Deus, um Chamado de todo Cristão; a santidade é consequência de nosso Relacionamento com o Deus Trino, a santidade é Obra do Espírito Santo que coloca em nós tanto o querer com o realizar e supernaturaliza nossa vida natural (transforma nossa natureza pecaminosa nos direcionando a Deus); a santidade é o exercício da Espiritualidade Ética (oração, adoração e o uso dos meios da graça visando nos espelharmos no caráter de Cristo); a santidade é a busca pela Imitação do Senhor Jesus Cristo em suas virtudes de amor a Deus e à humanidade; a santidade é a Verdadeira Saúde e realização do ser humano na sua individualidade.
Ao nos colocarmos humildemente diante de Deus, reconhecendo que Jesus Cristo é o nosso Senhor, recebemos do Pai o perdão de nossos pecados e a influência do Espírito Santo nos capacitando a enxergar áreas em nossa vida que tem necessidade de transformação. O progresso da santificação pode ser visto na medida em que o cristão reconheça a grandeza de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo e a fragilidade de sua estatura diante de tão poderoso Deus. Packer em todo o tempo se preocupa em relacionar a Santidade com o processo de Santificação, a Humildade (desconfiança em si mesmo e a dependência consciente de Deus) com o Arrependimento.
Os cinco passos que que constituem o arrependimento são: O Reconhecimento real de que desobedecemos a Deus, o profundo Remorso pela desonra causada a Deus, o Pedido Reverente pelo perdão divino através da oração, a resoluta Renúncia dos pecados em questão e a Restituição necessária à qualquer pessoa que tenha sofrido perdas materiais em virtude de nossos erros cometidos. O Arrependimento é a drenagem rotineira na estrada da santidade, é o abandono de atitudes que afrontam a Deus ao se envolver com o que Ele odeia ou proíbe e não existe progresso sem o sincero arrependimento.
Deus deseja que todos os cristãos cresçam em santidade, como está escrito em Efésios 4:15 “Mas, seguindo a verdade em amor, cresçamos em tudo naquele que é a cabeça, Cristo”, esse crescimento na graça é o senso de pecado se tornando mais profundo, a fé mais forte, a esperança mais iluminada, o amor mais abrangente e a espiritualidade mais definida. Não devemos, segundo Packer, viver uma Rapsódia sem Realismo onde o cristão se concentra totalmente no exercício devocional focalizando a experiência emocional com Deus e esquece da Prática do Amor ao próximo e acaba não se dedicando a seus relacionamentos. Tampouco nos concentrar apenas na observância fiel dos preceitos e leis de Deus e ignorar o relacionamento com Deus e, ainda, novamente com o próximo.
O conhecimento de Deus por meio de Cristo nos capacita a todos, viver e agir de maneira diferente, algo que estava simplesmente além da nossa capacidade natural. Deus não só deseja, mas exige que cresçamos espiritualmente e o não cumprimento dessa ordem é desobediência de nossa parte. Packer nos encoraja a desenvolver nossa salvação (busque a santificação); permanecer em Cristo; vigiar e orar; aceitar que Deus é Soberano; evitar as loucuras (imoralidade e vida pecaminosa); assimilar o alimento (estudo da Palavra de Deus). É importante lembrar que os cristãos em crescimento desfrutam da Paz dada por Deus, mas crescem na graça também em compaixão às dores do próximo semelhantemente a Cristo, portanto, o cristão em crescimento espiritual cresce em amor a Deus e ao próximo. Devemos nos atentar que a Bíblia Sagrada vê o amor como algo cujo propósito é o de engrandecer a pessoa amada.
Packer ainda aborda o Poder transformador de Deus em nossas vidas nos alertando a compreender corretamente que não é possível comandarmos a vontade de Deus muito menos ordenar qualquer coisa ao nosso Senhor. A correta apreciação do Poder de Deus em nossas vidas vem de acordo com o aumento de nosso amor por Deus e pelas outras pessoas: amor que, com ou sem muita força de sentimento (nem sempre podemos comandar sentimentos fortes), honra a Deus de uma forma ativa por meio do louvor agradecido e de um serviço constante aos outros, manifestado em forma de uma ajuda útil. E a respeito do Espírito Santo aprendemos que Ele nos convence da verdade de Deus e nos leva a desejar a vontade de Deus, além de provocar em nós todo tipo de sentimento de acordo com o contexto e a realidade do evangelho em nossas vidas.
A conclusão deste livro toca a persistência, a esperança e o sofrimento. A persistência como dom sobrenatural de Deus, uma graça de caráter que é concedida aos que Ele está transformando na semelhança de Cristo. Packer nos alerta que devemos persistir sempre posicionando nossos olhos em nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo com Santa Persistência (humildade, pronta obediência e submissão resoluta ao Amoroso Senhor). Podemos então verificar que a persistência é mais visível quando nos ferimos e não fugimos, quando nos desorientamos e não caímos, quando reagimos e permanecemos firmes diante da dor e da pressão. A esperança como santa motivação a cumprirmos o que nos é exigido por Deus para alcançarmos o crescimento espiritual, agradarmos assim ao nosso Pai Todo-Poderoso e cumprirmos o propósito estabelecido por Deus enquanto estivermos nessa terra corrompida pelo pecado. E o sofrimento, compreendido como “estar recebendo o que não se deseja enquanto aguarda pelo que não se consegue”, porém, não se pode negar que o sofrimento produz caráter. Além disso, através do período de sofrimento Deus sequestra nossa atenção, nos ensina a dependermos e confiarmos nEle e nos liberta para experimentarmos um conforto e uma esperança maiores do que jamais havíamos sentido antes.
Concluo essa resenha com um sentimento intenso de deficiência particular, de início de caminhada no processo da santificação, de necessidade de reflexão contínua, mas também de satisfação por compreender o caminho a percorrer, de confiança na contribuição sobrenatural de Deus através do Espírito Santo, somente por ela será possível, de encorajamento por vislumbrar maneiras de qualificar minha caminhada cristã e por fim, de esperança em poder um dia me ver como um homem que agrada ao coração de Deus.
Para Packer a Santidade precisa ser aprendida e experimentada dia-a-dia e se trata de um processo educacional planejado e desejado por Deus para que nós alcancemos a forma moral e espiritual observada em nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo, este que vive em nós e nos acompanha a partir da salvação até a eternidade. A santidade pode ser observada em um homem ou mulher que tenha uma só mente com Deus, que evite cada pecado conhecido e guarde cada mandamento revelado, que se esforce em ser como o Senhor Jesus Cristo, que exercite o fruto do Espírito Santo, que busque a temperança e autonegação, que pratique a misericórdia e bondade para com as pessoas a sua volta, que busque a pureza de coração, busque o temor a Deus (Medo, Respeito e Reverência), busque a humildade, busque a fidelidade em todos os seus deveres e relacionamentos e concentre sua mente inteiramente nas coisas espirituais que vem de Deus por meio da oração, leitura da Palavra e com a comunhão com o povo de Deus.
A santidade é uma Exigência por parte de Deus, é o Alvo do cristão justificado pela salvação em Jesus Cristo, a Expressão da nossa realidade espiritual, a verdadeira Saúde do cristão, a Couraça da Armadura da Fé para nos proteger e combatermos os ataques do inimigo, a Credibilidade de nosso testemunho de vida e a Substância Geradora da Verdadeira Alegria.
Packer traz o conceito da Graça Preveniente, uma graça na qual somos convencidos pelo Espírito Santo a enxergarmos nossa condição pecadora, essa graça se instala em nós com uma força reveladora da Salvação que nos constrange a aceitarmos a Jesus Cristo como nosso salvador e então somos unidos a Cristo (estamos nEle), morremos para o pecado (deixamos a velha vida) e ressuscitamos (começamos uma nova vida) juntos com o Senhor Jesus Cristo. Através da salvação somos Justificados (perdoados e aceitos), Adotados (feitos filhos e herdeiros de Deus) e Purificados (preparados para a comunhão com o santo Criador).
Packer também afirma que neste processo, após morrermos para o pecado morre também nossa natureza pecaminosa, e ao ressuscitarmos espiritualmente, nasce em nós existe um desejo natural por Deus e nossa própria natureza, antes pecadora, agora nos direciona para Deus. Tal verdade é avassaladora e nos preenche de alegria, pois de fato, temos a condição de abandonar a vida de escravidão ao pecado e construir um novo caráter, semelhante ao caráter de Jesus, cultivar novos hábitos e desfrutar de uma nova vida interior de amor a Deus e exterior de amor ao próximo. Uma nova vida cheia de esperança e expectativa em nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo. A estratégia formulada por Packer nas situações de dificuldades, nos espelhando em Cristo e experimentando o Viver de Cristo em nós, diz que devemos reagir: à malícia dos outros com o amor; às circunstâncias de depressão com alegria; aos problemas e ansiedades com a paz; tudo que é insensatez com paciência; aos insensíveis com benignidade; as pessoas e atitudes más com bondade; às mentiras e atitudes furiosas com fidelidade e mansidão e a tudo que nos leva a perder a compostura com domínio próprio.
A esperança da volta de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo e nossa completa santificação (purificação) nos move em direção a uma vida de santidade, mas não significa que não iremos pecar. Packer nos traz um olhar teológico e experiente a respeito dos Puritanos que viam o pecado como uma energia pervertida dentro das pessoas, que as escraviza, levando-as a desafiar a Deus, ter um comportamento de satisfação própria, e também como algo que, por meio da distração, engano e oposição direta, enfraquece e derruba os intentos de retidão. Muitas vezes não entendemos corretamente o funcionamento da nossa nova natureza, e então, cedemos a tentação, acreditamos em mentiras criadas por nós mesmos para cedermos às tentações, acreditamos nas mentiras que satanás e o mundo governado por ele nos contam, acreditamos que iremos sofrer se abandonarmos um ou outro pecado mais habitual e erroneamente considerado por nós como necessário para nossa felicidade. Ledo engano, a busca pela santidade gera prazer e satisfação ao cristão.
A santidade é uma Exigência de Deus, um Chamado de todo Cristão; a santidade é consequência de nosso Relacionamento com o Deus Trino, a santidade é Obra do Espírito Santo que coloca em nós tanto o querer com o realizar e supernaturaliza nossa vida natural (transforma nossa natureza pecaminosa nos direcionando a Deus); a santidade é o exercício da Espiritualidade Ética (oração, adoração e o uso dos meios da graça visando nos espelharmos no caráter de Cristo); a santidade é a busca pela Imitação do Senhor Jesus Cristo em suas virtudes de amor a Deus e à humanidade; a santidade é a Verdadeira Saúde e realização do ser humano na sua individualidade.
Ao nos colocarmos humildemente diante de Deus, reconhecendo que Jesus Cristo é o nosso Senhor, recebemos do Pai o perdão de nossos pecados e a influência do Espírito Santo nos capacitando a enxergar áreas em nossa vida que tem necessidade de transformação. O progresso da santificação pode ser visto na medida em que o cristão reconheça a grandeza de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo e a fragilidade de sua estatura diante de tão poderoso Deus. Packer em todo o tempo se preocupa em relacionar a Santidade com o processo de Santificação, a Humildade (desconfiança em si mesmo e a dependência consciente de Deus) com o Arrependimento.
Os cinco passos que que constituem o arrependimento são: O Reconhecimento real de que desobedecemos a Deus, o profundo Remorso pela desonra causada a Deus, o Pedido Reverente pelo perdão divino através da oração, a resoluta Renúncia dos pecados em questão e a Restituição necessária à qualquer pessoa que tenha sofrido perdas materiais em virtude de nossos erros cometidos. O Arrependimento é a drenagem rotineira na estrada da santidade, é o abandono de atitudes que afrontam a Deus ao se envolver com o que Ele odeia ou proíbe e não existe progresso sem o sincero arrependimento.
Deus deseja que todos os cristãos cresçam em santidade, como está escrito em Efésios 4:15 “Mas, seguindo a verdade em amor, cresçamos em tudo naquele que é a cabeça, Cristo”, esse crescimento na graça é o senso de pecado se tornando mais profundo, a fé mais forte, a esperança mais iluminada, o amor mais abrangente e a espiritualidade mais definida. Não devemos, segundo Packer, viver uma Rapsódia sem Realismo onde o cristão se concentra totalmente no exercício devocional focalizando a experiência emocional com Deus e esquece da Prática do Amor ao próximo e acaba não se dedicando a seus relacionamentos. Tampouco nos concentrar apenas na observância fiel dos preceitos e leis de Deus e ignorar o relacionamento com Deus e, ainda, novamente com o próximo.
O conhecimento de Deus por meio de Cristo nos capacita a todos, viver e agir de maneira diferente, algo que estava simplesmente além da nossa capacidade natural. Deus não só deseja, mas exige que cresçamos espiritualmente e o não cumprimento dessa ordem é desobediência de nossa parte. Packer nos encoraja a desenvolver nossa salvação (busque a santificação); permanecer em Cristo; vigiar e orar; aceitar que Deus é Soberano; evitar as loucuras (imoralidade e vida pecaminosa); assimilar o alimento (estudo da Palavra de Deus). É importante lembrar que os cristãos em crescimento desfrutam da Paz dada por Deus, mas crescem na graça também em compaixão às dores do próximo semelhantemente a Cristo, portanto, o cristão em crescimento espiritual cresce em amor a Deus e ao próximo. Devemos nos atentar que a Bíblia Sagrada vê o amor como algo cujo propósito é o de engrandecer a pessoa amada.
Packer ainda aborda o Poder transformador de Deus em nossas vidas nos alertando a compreender corretamente que não é possível comandarmos a vontade de Deus muito menos ordenar qualquer coisa ao nosso Senhor. A correta apreciação do Poder de Deus em nossas vidas vem de acordo com o aumento de nosso amor por Deus e pelas outras pessoas: amor que, com ou sem muita força de sentimento (nem sempre podemos comandar sentimentos fortes), honra a Deus de uma forma ativa por meio do louvor agradecido e de um serviço constante aos outros, manifestado em forma de uma ajuda útil. E a respeito do Espírito Santo aprendemos que Ele nos convence da verdade de Deus e nos leva a desejar a vontade de Deus, além de provocar em nós todo tipo de sentimento de acordo com o contexto e a realidade do evangelho em nossas vidas.
A conclusão deste livro toca a persistência, a esperança e o sofrimento. A persistência como dom sobrenatural de Deus, uma graça de caráter que é concedida aos que Ele está transformando na semelhança de Cristo. Packer nos alerta que devemos persistir sempre posicionando nossos olhos em nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo com Santa Persistência (humildade, pronta obediência e submissão resoluta ao Amoroso Senhor). Podemos então verificar que a persistência é mais visível quando nos ferimos e não fugimos, quando nos desorientamos e não caímos, quando reagimos e permanecemos firmes diante da dor e da pressão. A esperança como santa motivação a cumprirmos o que nos é exigido por Deus para alcançarmos o crescimento espiritual, agradarmos assim ao nosso Pai Todo-Poderoso e cumprirmos o propósito estabelecido por Deus enquanto estivermos nessa terra corrompida pelo pecado. E o sofrimento, compreendido como “estar recebendo o que não se deseja enquanto aguarda pelo que não se consegue”, porém, não se pode negar que o sofrimento produz caráter. Além disso, através do período de sofrimento Deus sequestra nossa atenção, nos ensina a dependermos e confiarmos nEle e nos liberta para experimentarmos um conforto e uma esperança maiores do que jamais havíamos sentido antes.
Concluo essa resenha com um sentimento intenso de deficiência particular, de início de caminhada no processo da santificação, de necessidade de reflexão contínua, mas também de satisfação por compreender o caminho a percorrer, de confiança na contribuição sobrenatural de Deus através do Espírito Santo, somente por ela será possível, de encorajamento por vislumbrar maneiras de qualificar minha caminhada cristã e por fim, de esperança em poder um dia me ver como um homem que agrada ao coração de Deus.
January 20, 2021
Disclaimer: I listened to this one on Audible.
On the one hand, the content of this book was excellent. On the other, it was hard to follow how the content worked together and for what purpose. Packer as always said a vast amount of helpful and insightful things; however, uncharacteristically, it was hard to grasp what he was arguing for and against.
That said, the most impactful part of the book for me consisted in Packer taking up this ancient mantle of personal holiness and revealing how though such talk might be old fashion, it is commanded by Christ. To put this another way, if we think the idea of holiness seems outdated, maybe we are out of touch with our holy heavenly Father, our holy Savior, and the Holy Spirit who dwells in us? As 1 John 1 points out, the proper response to God’s holiness, is our own pursuit of holiness.
On the one hand, the content of this book was excellent. On the other, it was hard to follow how the content worked together and for what purpose. Packer as always said a vast amount of helpful and insightful things; however, uncharacteristically, it was hard to grasp what he was arguing for and against.
That said, the most impactful part of the book for me consisted in Packer taking up this ancient mantle of personal holiness and revealing how though such talk might be old fashion, it is commanded by Christ. To put this another way, if we think the idea of holiness seems outdated, maybe we are out of touch with our holy heavenly Father, our holy Savior, and the Holy Spirit who dwells in us? As 1 John 1 points out, the proper response to God’s holiness, is our own pursuit of holiness.
May 17, 2016
J. I. Packer presents a delightful overview of the nature of Christian holiness. With his well-known conversational style, precise language, and insightful textual and cultural analyses, Packer provides readers with a helpful framework for the doctrine of sanctification.
April 5, 2016
Great book. It is filled with great truths with the biblical back up. I picked this book up because it was on clearance and J.I. Packer is a trusted name, it has ended up being a life changer for me. Definitely more prayer is needed.
June 5, 2021
Christians know what they have been saved from, but I wonder how many really know what they have been saved for? In a word, holiness - consecration in love for our Heavenly Father who longs for us to enter into the deepest, most satisfying communion possible with him on this side of eternity. "... he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him."
- (Eph 1:4). There isn't a single area of Christian life that holiness doesn't touch - it gets at the heart of life with Christ. As Packer puts it, we are justified in order that we may be sanctified - made holy. Few are better qualified guides than Packer to walk the reader through the twists and turns of the perennial questions Christians have on growth in sanctification. He draws from deep springs of both Catholic and Protestant thinkers from centuries past, bringing multiple lifetimes worth of wisdom to bare on what it means to live with and for God. Not to mention, his writing is enjoyable throughout. Never felt like this book was dry or drawn out. Will definitely come back to it.
- (Eph 1:4). There isn't a single area of Christian life that holiness doesn't touch - it gets at the heart of life with Christ. As Packer puts it, we are justified in order that we may be sanctified - made holy. Few are better qualified guides than Packer to walk the reader through the twists and turns of the perennial questions Christians have on growth in sanctification. He draws from deep springs of both Catholic and Protestant thinkers from centuries past, bringing multiple lifetimes worth of wisdom to bare on what it means to live with and for God. Not to mention, his writing is enjoyable throughout. Never felt like this book was dry or drawn out. Will definitely come back to it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2020
This book is vintage Packer – it is great at explaining the basics of the faith. I think the discussion is important because the topic of personal holiness features less prominently than it has in the past. His aim in writing this book in the early 1990's was to insert holiness as a key category in the discussions that were becoming popular about Christian spirituality. I think he succeeds, but this book is less robust and direct than several other popular works from, say, Willard or Foster.
About halfway through the book, the chapters started to seem long and a bit repetitive.
Really interesting discussion about Mother Teresa at the end of this edition of the book – and a helpful appreciative survey of different orthodox Christian traditions on "the dark night of the soul."
About halfway through the book, the chapters started to seem long and a bit repetitive.
Really interesting discussion about Mother Teresa at the end of this edition of the book – and a helpful appreciative survey of different orthodox Christian traditions on "the dark night of the soul."
November 11, 2025
I’ve read this book across 3 years with one year break in between. It took a long time, but it was worth it!
Although it was a challenging read, I learned so much from J.I. Packer’s writing. I read a bit every day, highlighting, tabbing and writing notes as I went. This is the third J.I. Packer book I’ve read and each book had a difference significance in my life. Through life’s ups and downs, this book led me closer to God and helped me have a dedicated quiet devotional time each day. 80% of the way through, I found the matching audiobook and listened to it while reading for the remainder of chapter 7-8.
Words cannot describe how much impact this book had in my life. I thank God for guiding me through this book and leading me to His Word!
Although it was a challenging read, I learned so much from J.I. Packer’s writing. I read a bit every day, highlighting, tabbing and writing notes as I went. This is the third J.I. Packer book I’ve read and each book had a difference significance in my life. Through life’s ups and downs, this book led me closer to God and helped me have a dedicated quiet devotional time each day. 80% of the way through, I found the matching audiobook and listened to it while reading for the remainder of chapter 7-8.
Words cannot describe how much impact this book had in my life. I thank God for guiding me through this book and leading me to His Word!
December 8, 2021
J.I. Packer is the Johnny Cash of theologians: steady like a train, sharp like a razor. His works are always grounded in Scripture, deeply profound, without trying to reinvent the wheel. His works will be considered classic for years to come for this very reason, and this one in particular.
Holiness is not merely the purpose for the Christian, but it is the hope, the endurance, and the comfort for the Christian: that Christ’s holiness will be continually displayed in our lives as we seek to trust in Him. Thankful for Packer’s wisdom and faithfulness.
Holiness is not merely the purpose for the Christian, but it is the hope, the endurance, and the comfort for the Christian: that Christ’s holiness will be continually displayed in our lives as we seek to trust in Him. Thankful for Packer’s wisdom and faithfulness.
October 8, 2025
Packer was the first author, outside of the Bible that was put into my hands after coming to faith. So reading his writings is always like conversing with an old friend. These chapters on holiness are not earth-shattering, but are faithful, careful, and inspiring. I used his acronym DEP (Doctrine, Experience, and Practice) as a paradigm for Christian growth several times recently.
I love his writing style, and more so, the gospel saturated content. I just don't understand his love affair with the Puritans.
I love his writing style, and more so, the gospel saturated content. I just don't understand his love affair with the Puritans.
August 31, 2020
I'm someone who likes to get to the point a lot, and JI Packer is not someone who does that. But, despite my impatience with Packer's writing style, its well worth persisting. Instead of taking you (as you might expect) straight to the main issues, he takes you on the scenic route - a much longer walk through a range of subjects you weren't counting on. And that's where you find some wonderful truths that you weren't counting on. Love you JI.
September 8, 2023
Possibly the second most important book in the Christian life. I’ve read some great works that I’ve often said every Christian should have in their library, but this one tops them all. Packer distills the many writings on holiness from some of the faith’s greatest authors and creates a work of such clarity that you can’t help but be both challenged and encouraged to pursue the lost art of holiness.
January 25, 2021
Read on audible. Sound thoughts and arguments grounded in the Bible. However, this was not written in a super cohesive manner and so it was difficult to follow his train of argument. I enjoyed thinking on this topic though, because as the book stresses, this is an under emphasized topic in the church today
June 6, 2023
Excellent! The first half is solid and foundational, but I was really blessed by the latter half which gave really helpful insight into false sanctification, hidden sanctification, growing through weakness, and suffering, and the deeply important role of neighbor love and service as central to Christian maturity. My pride was graciously stabbed at numerous points, and I'm very thankful.
January 1, 2021
Packer's ability to present a very scholarly approach to any subject gives a wide and deep interpretation of what holiness means. His scholarship is excellent. It is a challenging and rewarding book to read.
January 21, 2024
Excellent. If R.C. Sproul’s book on the holiness of God focuses on the importance of recognizing that God is altogether holy, then this book focuses on the fact that we are to be holy just as God is.
April 4, 2024
An incredibly application rich exposition of biblical holiness that eschews both legalism and antinomianism for the sake of embracing the Gospel. The decade and a half, since it was written, has not dulled Packer's message, but instead, proved and amplified it perhaps louder and clearer than ever.
February 18, 2019
A good book about an important topic that has too little attention these days in the evangelical church.
March 3, 2019
Good teaching on a topic I think the modern church often ignores, personal holiness. Probably a little deep for me to grasp it all on audiobook since Packer really makes me think.
May 23, 2021
One of the most important and influential books of my Christian walk.
April 5, 2022
excellent book on an oft-avoided subject.
April 30, 2022
Packer's the name
September 8, 2022
Top Notch Book on Holiness
J. I. Packer has written a top notch book on holiness. Equally full of grace and convincing, this book will drive you to be holy as He is holy.
J. I. Packer has written a top notch book on holiness. Equally full of grace and convincing, this book will drive you to be holy as He is holy.
October 5, 2022
Challenges the low bar of mortification of sin in the evangelical Christian life and strives to use historical role models to affix the target higher.
March 11, 2024
It took me awhile to finish but it was deep and full of so much that I had to reread and highlight a bunch. I am
Definitely keeping this book and rereading in the years to come.
Definitely keeping this book and rereading in the years to come.
July 6, 2024
Solid stuff. Good encouragement to keep pressing on with the basics.
July 31, 2024
Great work on holiness in the life of a Christian, right up until the end where he sings the praises of Mother Teresa. Left me disappointed.
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