Reply To: Knowing God, Chapters 19 & 20

[Lynne Mazza-Hilway]

We’ve heard much recently encouraging us in our identity as children of God and Packer emphasizes how crucial it is that we really embrace the knowledge of God as our holy Father. This supernatural gift of grace through receiving Jesus; the blessing of foreordained adoption where, because of His great, supreme love, we’re born again, from death to life, given authority, right and privilege to share in the same glory given to God’s Son. The Son brought us Sonship! Now as part of a royal family, we are charged to show our family likeness, conformed and “chiseled into Christ’s image, being true to type.” I love how Packer highlights the Sermon on the Mount, giving us the royal family code to live by. “As royal children we need to undergo extra training in order to be fit for our high destiny.” I also love how Packer gives a list of identity guidelines, test indicators of assurance.

We fear we may miss God’s guidance, anxious because we aren’t certain of our receptiveness He offers; “there’s a twisting of our thoughts about God. ‘Let your minds be remade and your whole nature thus transformed. Then you will be able to discern the will of God.’ The Spirit leads within the limits which the Word sets. We can have confidence in the God, Who for His own glory, will not let us ruin our souls.” Packer outlines 6 pitfalls, areas of unwillingness, that stop His guidance from getting through. And we pray, search us O God.