Children Quote by J.I. Packer
““You sum up the whole of New Testament religion if you describe it as the knowledge of God as one’s holy Father. If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all. For everything that Christ taught, everything that makes the New Testament new, and better than the Old, everything that is distinctively Christian as opposed to merely Jewish, is summed up in the knowledge of the Fatherhood of God. ‘Father’ is the Christian name for God. Our understanding of Christianity cannot be better than our grasp of adoption.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Knowing God, J.I. Packer, 1973
Christian identity is rooted in seeing God as a loving Father; understanding this adoption shapes worship, prayer, and life perspective.
In simple terms: Christianity is about knowing God as Father.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the Father‑child relationship.
Themes
faith
identity
relationship
theology
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
theological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal prayer
- church teaching
- counseling
- family life
- mission work
Key Concepts
adoption
Fatherhood
spiritual formation
Questions to Reflect On
- How does seeing God as Father change daily decisions?
- What practices nurture this sense of adoption?
A Different Perspective
If one focuses solely on rules without feeling paternal love, the faith can become legalistic.
