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Theologians on the Christian Life
Packer on the Christian Life: Knowing God in Christ, Walking by the Spirit
J. I. Packer is widely recognized as a pillar of 20th-century evangelicalism and has had a profound impact on millions of Christians living today. Now in his late eighties, Packer still exerts an enormous influence on pastors and laypeople around the world through his many books, articles, and recorded lectures—works that overflow with spiritual wisdom related to the Christian life. In this soul-stirring book, well-known pastor Sam Storms explores Packer’s legacy and profound insights into prayer, Bible study, the sovereignty of God, the Christian’s fight against sin, and more, offering readers the chance to learn from a true evangelical titan.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2015
22 people are currently reading
330 people want to read
About the author
Sam Storms
79 books137 followers(Some early works written as C. Samuel Storms)
Sam has spent 39 years in ministry as a pastor, professor and author. He was visiting Associate Professor of Theology at Wheaton College from 2000-2004, and is currently Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision at Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City. He has authored 22 books and founded Enjoying God Ministries. He's a graduate of The University of Oklahoma (B.A.), Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M) and The University of Texas (Ph.D.). He and his wife Ann have been married for 40 years and are the parents of two grown daughters and have four grandchildren. On a more personal level, Sam loves baseball, books, movies, and anything to do with the Oklahoma Sooners.
Sam has spent 39 years in ministry as a pastor, professor and author. He was visiting Associate Professor of Theology at Wheaton College from 2000-2004, and is currently Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision at Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City. He has authored 22 books and founded Enjoying God Ministries. He's a graduate of The University of Oklahoma (B.A.), Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M) and The University of Texas (Ph.D.). He and his wife Ann have been married for 40 years and are the parents of two grown daughters and have four grandchildren. On a more personal level, Sam loves baseball, books, movies, and anything to do with the Oklahoma Sooners.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 1, 2025
Every time I read Packer, I wonder why I don't read more Packer. Same goes for books about Packer. I need to be Packermaxing.
August 14, 2024
This is a really helpful introduction to the major themes that dominated J.I. Packer’s thinking on the Christian life. If you haven’t read much Packer, this could be a great place to start. But if you haven’t read him at all, stop reading this review and go read Knowing God.
I will return to this book as a sort of bibliography to point me to the right works when I want to see what Packer said about certain topics.
“If there is, then, a single biblical passage that summarizes how Packer conceives Christianity and the life to which we are called, it is found in the doxological outburst of the apostle Paul at the close of Romans 11: ‘For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory. Amen’ (Rom. 11:36).”
I will return to this book as a sort of bibliography to point me to the right works when I want to see what Packer said about certain topics.
“If there is, then, a single biblical passage that summarizes how Packer conceives Christianity and the life to which we are called, it is found in the doxological outburst of the apostle Paul at the close of Romans 11: ‘For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory. Amen’ (Rom. 11:36).”
June 16, 2023
Sam does a great job summarising this great man's work. It's easy to read, fun and informative. The problem is I now am compelled to read the full catalogue of Packers' work.
December 16, 2015
Excellent review of Packer's teaching. Made me want to (re)read lots of Packer.
July 25, 2021
In my tradition, perhaps no twentieth century theologian made more impact than JI Packer. Sam Storms has done a great job at summarising his theological output. I appreciated the emphasis on Packer's 'unrelenting realism' - a take on following Jesus that eschews the super-spiritual or any 'easy fixes.' Storms also shows how Packer's commitments - to the sovereignty of God, the trustworthiness of the Scriptures, and the centrality of the atonement, for example - are self& reinforcing.
I've come to a different conclusion to Packer on a couple of issues. I don't believe Romans 7 is talking about the Christian believer, and I see a different place for miraculous spiritual gifts. But I am thankful for the life and ministry of Jim Packer, and those who went before me who stood in his wake.
I've come to a different conclusion to Packer on a couple of issues. I don't believe Romans 7 is talking about the Christian believer, and I see a different place for miraculous spiritual gifts. But I am thankful for the life and ministry of Jim Packer, and those who went before me who stood in his wake.
April 6, 2016
This is the fifth book I’ve read from this series and the first one which features a figure who is still living.
One can’t peruse a well stocked Reformed/Evangelical library for long without being confronted with the profound influence of the Anglican theologian J. I. Packer. Through his books, such as Knowing God, and his endorsements and forewords, Packer has left a mark on nineteenth century Christian publishing. His influence extends far beyond the publishing world.–evidenced in his role at Regent college, his work on the ESV, his involvement in the inerrancy controversy, his leadership in the Anglican church, and his membership in the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.
There is no question that Packer’s written corpus, massive as it is, provides rich fodder for gleaning a distinct view of the Christian life. And there is no escaping his massive influence and role in shaping where the church is at today. It is therefore fitting that this series would include J. I. Packer, even though unlike most of the other people, he is not a deceased luminary.
Storms does a fine job of conveying the main emphasis of Packer’s life work, straightforwardly acknowledging his debt to the “Puritan, Theological Exegete, and Later-Day Catechist.”. The book is loaded with substantial quotations from Packer’s pen (or typewriter?), establishing a careful presentation of how he interacted with the Scriptures and the ideas of his day. Packer’s piety (or spirituality) seeps through Storms’ work. There are brilliant sections on suffering, the role of the atonement, Romans 7, prayer, and theocentricity.
This is unlikely to be the “bestseller” in this series. Neither will it generate as much excitement as some of the other titles. Nevertheless, there is almost no aspect in which it is inferior to the others, and it exceeds most of the ones I’ve read so far. This is a solid resource and certainly one of the best ones in this series. It is well worth reading, and I hope many more do so!
One can’t peruse a well stocked Reformed/Evangelical library for long without being confronted with the profound influence of the Anglican theologian J. I. Packer. Through his books, such as Knowing God, and his endorsements and forewords, Packer has left a mark on nineteenth century Christian publishing. His influence extends far beyond the publishing world.–evidenced in his role at Regent college, his work on the ESV, his involvement in the inerrancy controversy, his leadership in the Anglican church, and his membership in the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.
There is no question that Packer’s written corpus, massive as it is, provides rich fodder for gleaning a distinct view of the Christian life. And there is no escaping his massive influence and role in shaping where the church is at today. It is therefore fitting that this series would include J. I. Packer, even though unlike most of the other people, he is not a deceased luminary.
Storms does a fine job of conveying the main emphasis of Packer’s life work, straightforwardly acknowledging his debt to the “Puritan, Theological Exegete, and Later-Day Catechist.”. The book is loaded with substantial quotations from Packer’s pen (or typewriter?), establishing a careful presentation of how he interacted with the Scriptures and the ideas of his day. Packer’s piety (or spirituality) seeps through Storms’ work. There are brilliant sections on suffering, the role of the atonement, Romans 7, prayer, and theocentricity.
This is unlikely to be the “bestseller” in this series. Neither will it generate as much excitement as some of the other titles. Nevertheless, there is almost no aspect in which it is inferior to the others, and it exceeds most of the ones I’ve read so far. This is a solid resource and certainly one of the best ones in this series. It is well worth reading, and I hope many more do so!
April 19, 2018
At first, I was surprised that entry on Packer had been written for this series. I thought to myself, why not just read Knowing God? Has Packer really written enough other stuff to justify a whole book discussing what he has written? Boy was I wrong. The man is prodigious, having written on nearly every aspect of the Christian walk, from prayer and evangelism to Scripture reading and suffering. He is very accessible and ought to be read in the original (so I've found out), but Storms does an able job marshaling the various works and laying out their major themes.
I especially appreciated the chapters on prayer and on living in light of the sovereignty of God (these two are not unrelated!). Packer is a master at writing about God's providence in a way that is clear, comforting, God-honoring, and thoroughly Augustinian (that is, Biblical). Storms rehearses the writing well.
It was interesting to read the chapter on spiritual gifts. Packer is a cessationist, Storms is not, so it felt a bit like nibbling around the edges. But both would agree that our goal should not be staidness, which is a helpful reminder to me.
I especially appreciated the chapters on prayer and on living in light of the sovereignty of God (these two are not unrelated!). Packer is a master at writing about God's providence in a way that is clear, comforting, God-honoring, and thoroughly Augustinian (that is, Biblical). Storms rehearses the writing well.
It was interesting to read the chapter on spiritual gifts. Packer is a cessationist, Storms is not, so it felt a bit like nibbling around the edges. But both would agree that our goal should not be staidness, which is a helpful reminder to me.
November 10, 2019
One of the endorsement states that this is a brief version of the systematic theology that Packer had promised the world. Really? No. That's a grandiose claim, but the book is a good introduction. (It only highlights some of Packer's thoughts disclosed in all his publications.) Just as John the Prez, I mean, John the Baptizer pointed to Christ, the author points to JI Packer himself for thicker cuts of spiritual meat. Rightly so. One is more likely to gain from perusing Knowing God than this one (this is sort if a mix btwn a semi-biography and a survey of some doctrines on the Christian life).
A few observations:
It is bit repetitive. Thank the triune Lord that the main content is contained in <200 pages. It could have been cut down to <150 and still contain the same content (Hey editors..).
The author, who is a Reformed Charismatic, is quite fair to represent JI Packer's view on the Holy Spirit and His work, relegating some of his disagreements to footnotes.
Maybe I will add more if I feel like it later.
A few observations:
It is bit repetitive. Thank the triune Lord that the main content is contained in <200 pages. It could have been cut down to <150 and still contain the same content (Hey editors..).
The author, who is a Reformed Charismatic, is quite fair to represent JI Packer's view on the Holy Spirit and His work, relegating some of his disagreements to footnotes.
Maybe I will add more if I feel like it later.
September 2, 2015
J.I. Packer: Strategies for Living
Knowing God by J.I. Packer was the first book of theology that I bought and read simply because I wanted to. It had not been assigned by any professor, and it was not related to anything that I was teaching at the time. I wanted to read it because it sounded like an invitation to me. Sam Storms has verified this impression in Packer on the Christian Life, for in Packer’s theology, knowing God is central to loving, enjoying, and obeying Him.
Coming to faith in his mid-teens, James Innell Packer was influenced by the writings of C.S. Lewis and the Puritan pastor and theologian John Owen, and he was a contemporary of Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones and John R.W. Stott. Following his education at Oxford and his ordination in the Church of England, Dr. Packer ministered in educational contexts, ultimately moving to Regent College in Vancouver, B.C. where he continues to teach and write to this day at eighty-eight years young. However, Sam Storms’s focus is not Packer’s biography, but rather his theology, particularly as it relates to spirituality in the outworking of a lively faith. He presents J.I. Packer’s theological framework in terms of “the study of godliness in its root and in its fruit,” and I have chosen ten truths that serve as pillars to Packer’s thinking and living:
1.The atonement is central and foundational for the Christian life in relationship to God, to others, and to personal holiness. (Galatians 1:4; 2:19-20; 5:24; 6:14). [Scripture references throughout are linked to Bible Gateway for ease of study.] The wrath of God has been abated by the substitutionary death of Christ, putting on display both God’s love and His justice, and serving as both empowerment and incentive for godly living.
2.The revealed propositional truth of Scripture is the basis for all assertions about the Christian life. As a “transcript of divine speech,” it is the “instrument by which God exerts His rule over our lives.”
3.Holiness is the calling of every Christian — there is no Stage 2 Christianity in which a requirement for holiness suddenly kicks in as an advanced requirement. Rather, it is a “sign and expression of the reality of one’s faith and repentance,” (Ephesians 2:10). It is an expression of Psalm 73:25 in both action and motive.
4.Sanctification of the believer is God’s work of character change in disposition, desire, and inclination. It is about “God working in us to make us will and act for His good pleasure,” (Philippians 2:13).
5.Paul’s honest self-assessment in Romans 7:14-25 testifies to the reality of indwelling sin in the life of the believer. However, assurance of salvation is confirmed by a “conscious and purposeful” obedience to God.
6.The Christian life is empowered by the Holy Spirit in gospel communication (Romans 1:16) and in the comprehension of divine revelation (Ephesians 1:17-19).
7.“Diligence in prayer is the secret of eminent holiness.” Chapter 8 on Packer’s theology of prayer is both a pinnacle of motivation for prayer and a plumb line for a right understanding of the role of prayer in the believer’s life. All is grounded in a high view of God and a commitment to the authority of Scripture along with an understanding of God’s heart of generosity toward His children, (Ephesians 3:20-21).
8.The believer’s adoption into the family of God and the sovereignty of God are twin foundations for a right understanding of God’s guidance. Emotional paralysis need not accompany the decision-making process. Let’s not reserve our queries to God for the big-ticket items, but instead, we should “constantly ask God to judge, correct, and direct our thinking.”
9.As realism has pervaded every aspect of Dr. Packer’s theology to this point in the summary, he is unrelenting in his realism about the inevitability of suffering, to which he refers as “the Christian’s road home.” Contrary to western thought, God’s goal is to utilize the countless troubles we experience on this fallen planet as a means of furthering and realizing the glorious destiny that is [ours],” (II Corinthians 3:18; 4:7-11).
10.As the title of his beloved book implies, the goal and the focal point of all Dr. Packer’s theology is the knowledge of God as He is revealed in Scripture and the glory of God as it is revealed in all areas of life and thought. The earth shattering and yet simple truth is that Christianity is a matter of continual relationship in which we express to its Founder our faith in Him, our love for Him, and our hope in Him, (Romans 11:36).
As J.I. Packer lives his way into “finishing his course with joy,” I am thankful for Sam Storms’ monumental tribute and analysis of a lifetime of writing and thinking. Because Sam has ransacked all of Dr. Packer’s major (and minor) works, the outcome is a series of teasers that draw me into further study. Treasures abound, far beyond what this ten-point summary can display, including rich truth on the ordinances of baptism and communion, correction for misguided notions about sanctification, and help for the journey through grief.
Coming to this book out of a season of crushing disappointments, I do not find a disclaimer for God or a condemnation of my own lack of faith, but rather, theology at its finest where truth about God meets the reality of life; where theology is not an “explanation” of God, but instead, a glorious system of beams and buttresses for a lively faith — strategies for living.
This book was provided by Crossway in exchange for my review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Knowing God by J.I. Packer was the first book of theology that I bought and read simply because I wanted to. It had not been assigned by any professor, and it was not related to anything that I was teaching at the time. I wanted to read it because it sounded like an invitation to me. Sam Storms has verified this impression in Packer on the Christian Life, for in Packer’s theology, knowing God is central to loving, enjoying, and obeying Him.
Coming to faith in his mid-teens, James Innell Packer was influenced by the writings of C.S. Lewis and the Puritan pastor and theologian John Owen, and he was a contemporary of Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones and John R.W. Stott. Following his education at Oxford and his ordination in the Church of England, Dr. Packer ministered in educational contexts, ultimately moving to Regent College in Vancouver, B.C. where he continues to teach and write to this day at eighty-eight years young. However, Sam Storms’s focus is not Packer’s biography, but rather his theology, particularly as it relates to spirituality in the outworking of a lively faith. He presents J.I. Packer’s theological framework in terms of “the study of godliness in its root and in its fruit,” and I have chosen ten truths that serve as pillars to Packer’s thinking and living:
1.The atonement is central and foundational for the Christian life in relationship to God, to others, and to personal holiness. (Galatians 1:4; 2:19-20; 5:24; 6:14). [Scripture references throughout are linked to Bible Gateway for ease of study.] The wrath of God has been abated by the substitutionary death of Christ, putting on display both God’s love and His justice, and serving as both empowerment and incentive for godly living.
2.The revealed propositional truth of Scripture is the basis for all assertions about the Christian life. As a “transcript of divine speech,” it is the “instrument by which God exerts His rule over our lives.”
3.Holiness is the calling of every Christian — there is no Stage 2 Christianity in which a requirement for holiness suddenly kicks in as an advanced requirement. Rather, it is a “sign and expression of the reality of one’s faith and repentance,” (Ephesians 2:10). It is an expression of Psalm 73:25 in both action and motive.
4.Sanctification of the believer is God’s work of character change in disposition, desire, and inclination. It is about “God working in us to make us will and act for His good pleasure,” (Philippians 2:13).
5.Paul’s honest self-assessment in Romans 7:14-25 testifies to the reality of indwelling sin in the life of the believer. However, assurance of salvation is confirmed by a “conscious and purposeful” obedience to God.
6.The Christian life is empowered by the Holy Spirit in gospel communication (Romans 1:16) and in the comprehension of divine revelation (Ephesians 1:17-19).
7.“Diligence in prayer is the secret of eminent holiness.” Chapter 8 on Packer’s theology of prayer is both a pinnacle of motivation for prayer and a plumb line for a right understanding of the role of prayer in the believer’s life. All is grounded in a high view of God and a commitment to the authority of Scripture along with an understanding of God’s heart of generosity toward His children, (Ephesians 3:20-21).
8.The believer’s adoption into the family of God and the sovereignty of God are twin foundations for a right understanding of God’s guidance. Emotional paralysis need not accompany the decision-making process. Let’s not reserve our queries to God for the big-ticket items, but instead, we should “constantly ask God to judge, correct, and direct our thinking.”
9.As realism has pervaded every aspect of Dr. Packer’s theology to this point in the summary, he is unrelenting in his realism about the inevitability of suffering, to which he refers as “the Christian’s road home.” Contrary to western thought, God’s goal is to utilize the countless troubles we experience on this fallen planet as a means of furthering and realizing the glorious destiny that is [ours],” (II Corinthians 3:18; 4:7-11).
10.As the title of his beloved book implies, the goal and the focal point of all Dr. Packer’s theology is the knowledge of God as He is revealed in Scripture and the glory of God as it is revealed in all areas of life and thought. The earth shattering and yet simple truth is that Christianity is a matter of continual relationship in which we express to its Founder our faith in Him, our love for Him, and our hope in Him, (Romans 11:36).
As J.I. Packer lives his way into “finishing his course with joy,” I am thankful for Sam Storms’ monumental tribute and analysis of a lifetime of writing and thinking. Because Sam has ransacked all of Dr. Packer’s major (and minor) works, the outcome is a series of teasers that draw me into further study. Treasures abound, far beyond what this ten-point summary can display, including rich truth on the ordinances of baptism and communion, correction for misguided notions about sanctification, and help for the journey through grief.
Coming to this book out of a season of crushing disappointments, I do not find a disclaimer for God or a condemnation of my own lack of faith, but rather, theology at its finest where truth about God meets the reality of life; where theology is not an “explanation” of God, but instead, a glorious system of beams and buttresses for a lively faith — strategies for living.
This book was provided by Crossway in exchange for my review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
August 12, 2017
The Theologians on the Christian Life series produced by Crossway gives a select and exclusive list of theologians a truly high honor in being recognized for their everlasting impact on the Church. It’s certainly hard to pick only a dozen or so men who are worthy of such a treatment, given the vast expanse of two thousand years of Church history we’ve had and the thousands of men who’ve been vital to Christianity as a whole. Given these circumstances, you can start to get a glimpse into how exponentially higher of an honor it is for a theologian who is still living to be elected to this prestigious class.
Apart from C.S. Lewis, J.I. Packer is widely regarded today as the most influential writer of the twentieth century. That in and of itself speaks volumes about the life and ministry of this English Anglican. His writings and ministry have served as a bridge of sorts, linking a deep, scholarly, and high-reaching knowledge of God to laypeople of all backgrounds through practical language, examples, and practices. There has perhaps been no other figure this side of 1900 that has so expertly blended Biblical interpretation with Biblical application than J.I. Packer. To not “hang his jerseys in the rafters” with his inclusion in this series would have been a serious misstep; a bigger one would be for the Christian to miss out on what Packer’s writing has to offer us.
Make no mistake; Packer’s writing not to glorify Packer, considering that he is too busy glorifying God at the expense of drawing attention to himself. Early on in my understanding and study of Reformed theology, I knew J.I. Packer was a voice to listen to, but didn’t know much about him (a.k.a. I didn’t see him writing a lot of blog posts, he’s not on Twitter, and didn’t have many flashy quotes I was familiar with). This is intentional on Packer’s part. To me, Packer’s perceived existence out of the public eye is not a matter of being a rookie with technology and media, but to him, the Christian life has been centered on one idea: piety (32). Faithfully serving in his sphere, oftentimes behind his typewriter, is Packer’s way of faithfully committing himself to a holiness that keeps Christ at the front.
With an author like J.I. Packer who’s written on nearly every subject out there, what does this kind of book really have to offer us? What I love about Packer on the Christian Life is that Sam Storms has brilliantly given us a much deeper look into some of the key themes that have been anchor points for Packer throughout his ministry. Instead of requiring us to build understanding of Packer’s teaching of, for example, sanctification, over a collection of a dozen books, Storms does the gold-mining for us in a sense, leaving us rich with understanding when we’re done and yet leaving us longing for more. Some biographies/author-focused books try to tell the whole story, to cover every inch of their history and thought. Others focus so much on their lives that we have no better idea of what they thought than before! But in Packer, Sam Storms has made sure to focus on the majors, hint at the minors, and make much of Jesus through Packer’s words. This is really helpful for all of us no matter our familiarity with J.I.’s works.
One of the best chapters in the entire book is the second one, “The Central Reference Point for Christian Living: Atonement.” In it, Storms positions the atonement as the most critical hinge-point of the gospel — Packer "demands it — not by direct assertion but in the way he conceives of Christ’s atoning sacrifice as the foundation and source of everything in one’s Christian experience. As far as Packer is concerned, there is but one explanation for why there is such a thing as Christian living. It is found in this singular truth: Jesus Christ died for sinners!" (34)
There are other key highlights in this treatment of Packer’s theology. Storms gives us a great account of the doctrine of indwelling sin according to Romans 7:14–25, devoting a whole chapter to it. He also helps us in seeing Packer’s labor to make our prayer lives centered on and around our knowledge of God. Ironically enough, one of my favorite chapters of the book was to watch Storms, a continuationist himself, start to draw out and sometimes even affirm the “careful cessationism” of J.I. Packer in chapter 7.
What I walked away with in reading this book is a much larger appreciation of Packer’s far-reaching and deep-running theology. His book Knowing God is a prime example to me of the a miraculous balance of narrow and high theology for wide and vast audiences. Yet his whole ministry has fit in this mold. Packer is the theologian every man can learn from, whether he be new to the faith or a tenured senior pastor.
A particularly touching chapter from the book was the final one, in which Packer, through Storms, teaches us how to end well. We would love to see our eighty-eight year old brother and friend live decades longer. But I think we’re all even more excited to know he is fringes away from being with the glory he’s so strived to point us towards. Thank you Sam Storms for handling Packer’s teachings with precision and care. Thank you Crossway for such a Christ-centered series. Thank you J.I. Packer for teaching us all how to start well, run well, and end well.
Stars: 5.0/5.0
Note: I was provided this book via Crossway in exchange for my review.
Apart from C.S. Lewis, J.I. Packer is widely regarded today as the most influential writer of the twentieth century. That in and of itself speaks volumes about the life and ministry of this English Anglican. His writings and ministry have served as a bridge of sorts, linking a deep, scholarly, and high-reaching knowledge of God to laypeople of all backgrounds through practical language, examples, and practices. There has perhaps been no other figure this side of 1900 that has so expertly blended Biblical interpretation with Biblical application than J.I. Packer. To not “hang his jerseys in the rafters” with his inclusion in this series would have been a serious misstep; a bigger one would be for the Christian to miss out on what Packer’s writing has to offer us.
Make no mistake; Packer’s writing not to glorify Packer, considering that he is too busy glorifying God at the expense of drawing attention to himself. Early on in my understanding and study of Reformed theology, I knew J.I. Packer was a voice to listen to, but didn’t know much about him (a.k.a. I didn’t see him writing a lot of blog posts, he’s not on Twitter, and didn’t have many flashy quotes I was familiar with). This is intentional on Packer’s part. To me, Packer’s perceived existence out of the public eye is not a matter of being a rookie with technology and media, but to him, the Christian life has been centered on one idea: piety (32). Faithfully serving in his sphere, oftentimes behind his typewriter, is Packer’s way of faithfully committing himself to a holiness that keeps Christ at the front.
With an author like J.I. Packer who’s written on nearly every subject out there, what does this kind of book really have to offer us? What I love about Packer on the Christian Life is that Sam Storms has brilliantly given us a much deeper look into some of the key themes that have been anchor points for Packer throughout his ministry. Instead of requiring us to build understanding of Packer’s teaching of, for example, sanctification, over a collection of a dozen books, Storms does the gold-mining for us in a sense, leaving us rich with understanding when we’re done and yet leaving us longing for more. Some biographies/author-focused books try to tell the whole story, to cover every inch of their history and thought. Others focus so much on their lives that we have no better idea of what they thought than before! But in Packer, Sam Storms has made sure to focus on the majors, hint at the minors, and make much of Jesus through Packer’s words. This is really helpful for all of us no matter our familiarity with J.I.’s works.
One of the best chapters in the entire book is the second one, “The Central Reference Point for Christian Living: Atonement.” In it, Storms positions the atonement as the most critical hinge-point of the gospel — Packer "demands it — not by direct assertion but in the way he conceives of Christ’s atoning sacrifice as the foundation and source of everything in one’s Christian experience. As far as Packer is concerned, there is but one explanation for why there is such a thing as Christian living. It is found in this singular truth: Jesus Christ died for sinners!" (34)
There are other key highlights in this treatment of Packer’s theology. Storms gives us a great account of the doctrine of indwelling sin according to Romans 7:14–25, devoting a whole chapter to it. He also helps us in seeing Packer’s labor to make our prayer lives centered on and around our knowledge of God. Ironically enough, one of my favorite chapters of the book was to watch Storms, a continuationist himself, start to draw out and sometimes even affirm the “careful cessationism” of J.I. Packer in chapter 7.
What I walked away with in reading this book is a much larger appreciation of Packer’s far-reaching and deep-running theology. His book Knowing God is a prime example to me of the a miraculous balance of narrow and high theology for wide and vast audiences. Yet his whole ministry has fit in this mold. Packer is the theologian every man can learn from, whether he be new to the faith or a tenured senior pastor.
A particularly touching chapter from the book was the final one, in which Packer, through Storms, teaches us how to end well. We would love to see our eighty-eight year old brother and friend live decades longer. But I think we’re all even more excited to know he is fringes away from being with the glory he’s so strived to point us towards. Thank you Sam Storms for handling Packer’s teachings with precision and care. Thank you Crossway for such a Christ-centered series. Thank you J.I. Packer for teaching us all how to start well, run well, and end well.
Stars: 5.0/5.0
Note: I was provided this book via Crossway in exchange for my review.
April 2, 2018
I just finished reading Sam Storm's "Packer on the Christian Life: Knowing God in Christ, Walking by the Spirit." In my 20's and 30's I read some of J.I. Packer's books, and understood some of what I read! But he expanded my mind, strengthened my faith, helped me understand and love God more. In this book, Sam Storm has distilled Packer's large body of writings into a very readable and helpful book. I highly recommend it.
June 21, 2022
A thorough and most helpful overview of the theology of J. I. Packer. Useful in highlighting points of agreement as well as issues where this reader's experience and beliefs differ. Not that I consider myself superior to this faithful servant of God, however, just that my understanding differs in some areas.
I would recommend this book as a companion piece to some of Packer's writings - particularly "Knowing God."
I would recommend this book as a companion piece to some of Packer's writings - particularly "Knowing God."
April 4, 2018
An excellent book about Packer's thought on the Christian Life. It's essentially compiling much of his great work into bite sized chapters. Each are very encouraging for one's faith and life.
May 21, 2022
Really enjoyable read—the highlights of Packer’s life and thought distilled into a book. It’s well written and seamlessly flows back and forth from the author to Packer on a wide range of topics.
January 10, 2024
A wonderful overview of key elements within the amazingly rich compendium of all that Packer wrote, taught, and lived. Soli Del Gloria!
January 26, 2025
Great book that brings together all the major theological themes and their significance for Christian living explored by J. I. Packer in his books.
March 14, 2021
Prompted by a sense of wanting to honour and learn more about the life of Dr J.I. Packer on the occasion of his passing into glory, I began reading this volume by Sam Storms on 19 July 2020, just two days after Dr Packer’s death. I had heard about Packer from a distance over the years – including in Iain Murray’s single volume biography of Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones – and I seem to recall subsequently hearing from the man himself in interviews, but at the time I began reading this book I had not read a full book of Dr Packer’s. This quickly changed as I devoured Weakness is the Way: Life with Christ our Strength shortly after starting Packer on the Christian Life, and I very much appreciated Dr Packer’s wisdom in dealing with the topic of the appropriate stature for us to take as believers – walking faithfully and humbly through this life with Christ as our strength, understanding that when we are weak, He is strong and His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). While it was wonderful to finally have some entry into reading Packer himself, Packer on the Christian Life helped me to get to know the man and the theologian that was Dr J.I. Packer, and for that I am very grateful.
As Christians, we sometimes talk about giants of the faith – leaders, pastors, evangelists, missionaries, apologists or even everyday Christians – whose lives have had a hugely significant impact for the Kingdom and have greatly blessed the church. Dr Packer is certainly one such giant of the faith, but he was not bombastic, larger than life or overtly charismatic (I do not mean in the Pentecostal sense, but rather in the interpersonal sense, though he wasn’t in the Pentecostal sense either). He was a relatively quiet man (at least in his elderly years), he spoke rather slowly and with a demure British accent, and came across as very winsome. However, this book does well to point out that Dr Packer was an intellectual, theological and pastoral force to be reckoned with.
He was committed to the authority and inerrancy of Scripture, he loved and was distinctly shaped by the deep theological heritage of the Puritans, particularly John Owen for whose work he had a special affinity after it changed his life early on in his faith journey, he was willing to make hard calls and take stands on controversial issues when needed, and from what I can tell he always did so with grace and according to his conscience, always wanting his life, his theology, his work and his teaching to be grounded in and guided by God’s Word.
Admittedly, there were a few chapters in the middle portion of this book that got into some quite specific issues in which my reading pace was slowed and I actually took a break, but when I came back to the book towards the end of 2020 I found that this look at the way Packer lived the Christian life caused me to be deeply thankful for his life and ministry, and to be inspired by his faithful service to God and to God’s people – the church.
This book has been in my library for some time. It is the first book in Crossway’s ‘Theologians on the Christian life’ series that I came to own, but I have since built up almost the entire collection. Having enjoyed exploring the life of Dr J.I. Packer – and being inspired to read the other works of his in my library – especially the classic Knowing God as well as his book Concise Theology – I now look forward to reading more of the volumes in the ‘Theologians on the Christian Life’ series.
As Christians, we sometimes talk about giants of the faith – leaders, pastors, evangelists, missionaries, apologists or even everyday Christians – whose lives have had a hugely significant impact for the Kingdom and have greatly blessed the church. Dr Packer is certainly one such giant of the faith, but he was not bombastic, larger than life or overtly charismatic (I do not mean in the Pentecostal sense, but rather in the interpersonal sense, though he wasn’t in the Pentecostal sense either). He was a relatively quiet man (at least in his elderly years), he spoke rather slowly and with a demure British accent, and came across as very winsome. However, this book does well to point out that Dr Packer was an intellectual, theological and pastoral force to be reckoned with.
He was committed to the authority and inerrancy of Scripture, he loved and was distinctly shaped by the deep theological heritage of the Puritans, particularly John Owen for whose work he had a special affinity after it changed his life early on in his faith journey, he was willing to make hard calls and take stands on controversial issues when needed, and from what I can tell he always did so with grace and according to his conscience, always wanting his life, his theology, his work and his teaching to be grounded in and guided by God’s Word.
Admittedly, there were a few chapters in the middle portion of this book that got into some quite specific issues in which my reading pace was slowed and I actually took a break, but when I came back to the book towards the end of 2020 I found that this look at the way Packer lived the Christian life caused me to be deeply thankful for his life and ministry, and to be inspired by his faithful service to God and to God’s people – the church.
This book has been in my library for some time. It is the first book in Crossway’s ‘Theologians on the Christian life’ series that I came to own, but I have since built up almost the entire collection. Having enjoyed exploring the life of Dr J.I. Packer – and being inspired to read the other works of his in my library – especially the classic Knowing God as well as his book Concise Theology – I now look forward to reading more of the volumes in the ‘Theologians on the Christian Life’ series.
July 2, 2015
Packer on the Christian Life is one of the books in Crossway's Theologians on the Christian Life series. It is the first in the series that focuses on a living theologian.
The first chapter serves as a biography and general introduction to J.I. Packer. Storms considers events in Packer's life that had the greatest impact on his life and led to him being one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth century. (Did you know that he was run over by a bread truck when he was seven? The head injury led him to wearing an aluminum plate over the injury, kept him out of sports--and a more social life--and most likely encouraged him to keep to himself and read, read, read. Instead of the bicycle he wanted, he got a typewriter.) The chapter also focuses on his conversion and Christian influences. (For example, Packer's discovery of the Puritans which would have a huge impact on him and his own work.) The chapter concludes with the briefest of overviews of Packer's own writings.
The remaining chapters--chapters two through twelve--focus on various aspects of Packer's theology.
The Central Reference Point for Christian Living: Atonement
Authority for Christian Living: The Role of the Bible
The Shape of Christian Living: What Is Holiness?
The Process of Christian Living: The Meaning and Means of Sanctification
The Struggle of Christian Living: The Battle with Indwelling Sin
The Catalyst for Christian Living: The Person of the Holy Spirit
Power for Christian Living: The Necessity of Prayer
Guidance in Christian Living: Discerning the Will of God
The Cauldron of Christian Living: The Inevitability of Suffering
The Hub of Christian Living: Theocentricity
The Conclusion of Christian Living: How To End Well
As you can see, the topics are all excellent, all essential, all relevant. These are topics that every one of us could benefit from reading and applying. The more we understand these foundational aspects of the Christian life, the greater our response to God. In other words, growing in understanding can lead us to being more thankful, more in awe, loving and glorying more and more in God.
If you've never read any of J.I. Packer's books, Storms book is an excellent introduction. He covers these topics well. He's able to clearly summarize Packer's theology, and his work is enriched with plenty of Packer's own words. He quotes from most of Packer's best-known books.
If you have read J.I. Packer, you're still in for a treat. Storms does a good job illustrating just why Packer's books are so great, so worth-reading, so timeless and influential. He will make you want to pick up Packer again. To reread those books you've already read. To seek out those you still haven't gotten to yet.
I loved this one. I did. It is easy to recommend this one.
Favorite quote:
The first chapter serves as a biography and general introduction to J.I. Packer. Storms considers events in Packer's life that had the greatest impact on his life and led to him being one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth century. (Did you know that he was run over by a bread truck when he was seven? The head injury led him to wearing an aluminum plate over the injury, kept him out of sports--and a more social life--and most likely encouraged him to keep to himself and read, read, read. Instead of the bicycle he wanted, he got a typewriter.) The chapter also focuses on his conversion and Christian influences. (For example, Packer's discovery of the Puritans which would have a huge impact on him and his own work.) The chapter concludes with the briefest of overviews of Packer's own writings.
The remaining chapters--chapters two through twelve--focus on various aspects of Packer's theology.
The Central Reference Point for Christian Living: Atonement
Authority for Christian Living: The Role of the Bible
The Shape of Christian Living: What Is Holiness?
The Process of Christian Living: The Meaning and Means of Sanctification
The Struggle of Christian Living: The Battle with Indwelling Sin
The Catalyst for Christian Living: The Person of the Holy Spirit
Power for Christian Living: The Necessity of Prayer
Guidance in Christian Living: Discerning the Will of God
The Cauldron of Christian Living: The Inevitability of Suffering
The Hub of Christian Living: Theocentricity
The Conclusion of Christian Living: How To End Well
As you can see, the topics are all excellent, all essential, all relevant. These are topics that every one of us could benefit from reading and applying. The more we understand these foundational aspects of the Christian life, the greater our response to God. In other words, growing in understanding can lead us to being more thankful, more in awe, loving and glorying more and more in God.
If you've never read any of J.I. Packer's books, Storms book is an excellent introduction. He covers these topics well. He's able to clearly summarize Packer's theology, and his work is enriched with plenty of Packer's own words. He quotes from most of Packer's best-known books.
If you have read J.I. Packer, you're still in for a treat. Storms does a good job illustrating just why Packer's books are so great, so worth-reading, so timeless and influential. He will make you want to pick up Packer again. To reread those books you've already read. To seek out those you still haven't gotten to yet.
I loved this one. I did. It is easy to recommend this one.
Favorite quote:
Reading Packer is a wake-up call to anyone who may erroneously conclude that Christianity is little more than a worldview or religious philosophy or a commitment to embrace the ethics of Jesus in daily life. The essence of Christianity is neither a set of beliefs nor a pattern of behavior. It is “the communion here and now with Christianity’s living founder, the Mediator, Jesus Christ.”
November 14, 2015
If you hang around at the reformed circles long enough, I’m pretty sure you would have either heard of J. I. Packer or even read his book Knowing God. But if we limit out knowledge of Packer only to Knowing God, then we are surely short-changing ourselves.
This book gives readers a full-orbed view of what Packer wants christians to know about Christian living. As with every book in this series. This book is good for the head (knowledge) and for the daily living. Sam Storms gives readers a good one volume introduction to the thoughts of Packer, highlighting especially his teachings for christian living.
Before reading this book, I have not read any of Packer’s book, though I certainty have heard of him many times within the evangelical and reformed circles. But having read this book, I’m certain Packer will be one of the authors I’ll be spending substantial time reading up on.
Storms first introduces the subject of the book to the readers giving a brief summary of the life and contribution of Packer and reveals interesting facts on Packer’s life, like how he still writes every one of his books using the typewriter! After a quick introduction, Storms moves to the most crucial doctrine of the Christian life for Christians - the atonement. I agree with Storms that this is the most fundamental doctrine for any christian to understand, that we are made right with God, because of the sacrifice and death of Christ. Without it, we have not reference to God either than Him as our Creator and our Judge.
Next Storms moves to very relevant topics for christians like the bible and holiness. I have found the chapters on holiness, sanctification and indwelling sin most helpful for me personally. They help me not only understand my own christian life but also what Packer has to say about them. I have benefited from the summary of the teachings of Packer by Storms. It has pushed me to read Packer’s book on holiness too.
I especially like how Storm ends the book on how we can end well in our Christian lives. This, I thought was a well apt ending for the book and for Packer’s writing. Thus far, the last book written by Packer talks about how we as christian always live and serve in weakness. I like how Storms highlights Packer’s insights on 2 Corinthians for christians to serve and end well, and this is also another book I hope to read in the future.
All in all, this has been a great introduction and summary of J. I. Packer, I’ve benefited much from Storms’ summary and has gone away with a much deeper appreciation of Packer. Perhaps now the next thing I’ll be waiting for would be the systematic theology book that Packer will, God willing, finish in the future.
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Disclaimer: I was given this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
This book gives readers a full-orbed view of what Packer wants christians to know about Christian living. As with every book in this series. This book is good for the head (knowledge) and for the daily living. Sam Storms gives readers a good one volume introduction to the thoughts of Packer, highlighting especially his teachings for christian living.
Before reading this book, I have not read any of Packer’s book, though I certainty have heard of him many times within the evangelical and reformed circles. But having read this book, I’m certain Packer will be one of the authors I’ll be spending substantial time reading up on.
Storms first introduces the subject of the book to the readers giving a brief summary of the life and contribution of Packer and reveals interesting facts on Packer’s life, like how he still writes every one of his books using the typewriter! After a quick introduction, Storms moves to the most crucial doctrine of the Christian life for Christians - the atonement. I agree with Storms that this is the most fundamental doctrine for any christian to understand, that we are made right with God, because of the sacrifice and death of Christ. Without it, we have not reference to God either than Him as our Creator and our Judge.
Next Storms moves to very relevant topics for christians like the bible and holiness. I have found the chapters on holiness, sanctification and indwelling sin most helpful for me personally. They help me not only understand my own christian life but also what Packer has to say about them. I have benefited from the summary of the teachings of Packer by Storms. It has pushed me to read Packer’s book on holiness too.
I especially like how Storm ends the book on how we can end well in our Christian lives. This, I thought was a well apt ending for the book and for Packer’s writing. Thus far, the last book written by Packer talks about how we as christian always live and serve in weakness. I like how Storms highlights Packer’s insights on 2 Corinthians for christians to serve and end well, and this is also another book I hope to read in the future.
All in all, this has been a great introduction and summary of J. I. Packer, I’ve benefited much from Storms’ summary and has gone away with a much deeper appreciation of Packer. Perhaps now the next thing I’ll be waiting for would be the systematic theology book that Packer will, God willing, finish in the future.
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Disclaimer: I was given this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
November 14, 2015
In Packer on the Christian Life: Knowing God in Christ, Walking by the Spirit Sam Storms provides a systematic look at Packer’s work. While I am still hopeful that Packer’s systematic theology will someday be published, this has helped wet my appetite for the time being.
Sam Storms begins with a biographical sketch of Packer, which makes one thankful for God’s providence as clearly evident in Packer’s life. In addressing Packer’s view on the Christian life, unsurprisingly, he begins with Packer’s view of the atonement. Storms make the case clearly from Packer’s own work that this is the central doctrine for the Christian life. Storms proceeds address areas of Christian living which have been expounded upon by Packer. He addresses Packer’s view of the authority of Scripture, sanctification, holiness, indwelling sin, the work of the Spirit, prayer, discernment, suffering, finally pointing to the God-centeredness of all Christian life. The final chapter addresses ending our pilgrimage well, a theme reflected upon in Packer’s later writings.
The bibliography at the end of the book makes this a great benefit in where to read further work by and about Packer.
One cannot fail to see Packer as a modern day heir to the Puritans in the best possible way. Packer’s balance of commitment to the truth and his irenic temperament are on full display through this work. This book serves as a great overview and introduction into Packer’s thought.
Disclosure: I received this book free from Crossway through their Beyond the Page program for providing this review. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa....
Sam Storms begins with a biographical sketch of Packer, which makes one thankful for God’s providence as clearly evident in Packer’s life. In addressing Packer’s view on the Christian life, unsurprisingly, he begins with Packer’s view of the atonement. Storms make the case clearly from Packer’s own work that this is the central doctrine for the Christian life. Storms proceeds address areas of Christian living which have been expounded upon by Packer. He addresses Packer’s view of the authority of Scripture, sanctification, holiness, indwelling sin, the work of the Spirit, prayer, discernment, suffering, finally pointing to the God-centeredness of all Christian life. The final chapter addresses ending our pilgrimage well, a theme reflected upon in Packer’s later writings.
The bibliography at the end of the book makes this a great benefit in where to read further work by and about Packer.
One cannot fail to see Packer as a modern day heir to the Puritans in the best possible way. Packer’s balance of commitment to the truth and his irenic temperament are on full display through this work. This book serves as a great overview and introduction into Packer’s thought.
Disclosure: I received this book free from Crossway through their Beyond the Page program for providing this review. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa....
December 2, 2015
Sam Storms' Packer on the Christian Life: Knowing God in Christ, Walking by the Spirit is another excellent addition to Crossway's Theologians on the Christian Life series. Storms walks the reader through Packer major works and essays developing Packer's thought on God's sovereignty, holiness, Biblical authority, Holy Spirit, salvation, evangelism, etc. Intentional or unintentional, Storms has created the systematic theology that Packer never wrote. I would encourage young believers to start their Packer reading with Storms' work. The book is an excellent introduction to Packer's wisdom and a good review for Packer aficionados. My only concern is that Packer is overly harsh toward the Keswick movement with whom Packer had a bad experience as a college student and not as gracious toward Charismatics with whom Packer has more in common theologically than he realizes. However, Packer's admonition about seeking God's guidance through impressions is a much-needed corrective to believers who live by their feelings instead of God's Word. Overall, Storms' effort is an excellent contribution to Packer studies.
June 3, 2025
This is an excellent summary of J.I. Packer's thought and writing, particularly as it relates to Christian living. The impression you are left with is of a God centred, robust and realistic approach to life that is really inspiring and refreshing. The constant theme that all of theology is spirituality is immensely practical and helpful, and the chapters on holiness, sanctification and indwelling sin were especially good. A great read to understand both the main themes in Packer's thinking and how they relate to everyday Christian life.
May 5, 2016
Super helpful in forming a balanced doctrine of sanctification. Brilliant.
March 31, 2017
Solid addition to the series, "unpacking" (couldn't resist) Packer's greatest thoughts on what it means to be a follower of Christ. It did make me want to read more of Packer's work, so well-done Dr. Storms! Packer's humility and well-balanced approach to theology (heat of experiencing Him + light of His Word) is really attractive and draws me to want greater discipleship and deeper worship for my own life. Though this one was not as good as Reinke on Newton, it is still a noteworthy work. I read it along with my devotions and I'm glad I did.
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