--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is a Christian? The richest answer I…" description: "\"What is a Christian? The richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God as Father.\" — J. I. Packer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/j-i-packer-1856_answers_what-is-a-christian-the-richest-answer-i_2358572.png" --- # What is a Christian? The richest answer I know is that a… ![“What is a Christian? The richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God as Father.” quote by J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/j-i-packer-1856_answers_what-is-a-christian-the-richest-answer-i_2358572.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/j-i-packer-1856_answers_what-is-a-christian-the-richest-answer-i_2358572.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/j-i-packer-1856_answers_what-is-a-christian-the-richest-answer-i_2358572.png) > “What is a Christian? The richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God as Father.” [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A Christian is defined by having God as Father, emphasizing relational identity. **In simple terms:** Christian = child of God. Key Takeaway Embrace divine parenthood. Themes Christianity identity relationship Mood reflective reverent Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - faith formation - church community - personal devotion - mentorship Key Concepts theology spiritual formation Questions to Reflect On - How does this identity shape your life? - What does “Father” symbolize for you? A Different Perspective Definitions may vary across denominations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-god/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [God father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-father/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [God the Father is the giver of Holy Scripture; God the Son is the theme of Holy Scripture; and God the Spirit is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/god-the-father-is-the-giver-of-holy-scripture-god-the-son-is-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [I think the people at my record label know I'm a Christian and again, I've been really blessed that I've never had to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-lang/i-think-the-people-at-my-record-label-know-i-m-a-christian-and-again/) [Jonny Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-lang/) > [It's important for someone like me - who's known Obama for 20 years - to speak the truth. I know him to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hill-harper/it-s-important-for-someone-like-me-who-s-known-obama-for-20-years-to/) [Hill Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hill-harper/) > [The religion I know most about, which is the Christian one, would simply say that it's not really for one man or woman to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-faulks/the-religion-i-know-most-about-which-is-the-christian-one-would/) [Sebastian Faulks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-faulks/) > [You can know you're a Christian if, not are you dealing with your sin before God but is God dealing with you about your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-hunt/you-can-know-you-re-a-christian-if-not-are-you-dealing-with-your-sin/) [Johnny Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-hunt/) > [Quoting Scripture leads you to the fountain, but only if you plunge in and come up wet will I know that you are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/quoting-scripture-leads-you-to-the-fountain-but-only-if-you-plunge-in/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [I would want to know if they are Christian. When I read somebody's lyrics and they connect with my faith, are they Christian?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lacey-sturm/i-would-want-to-know-if-they-are-christian-when-i-read-somebody-s/) [Lacey Sturm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lacey-sturm/) > [Know that as a Christian, your destiny is to be Christlike in all of your ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/know-that-as-a-christian-your-destiny-is-to-be-christlike-in-all-of/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [What can I do my friends, if I do not know? I am neither Christian nor Jew, nor Muslim nor Hindu. What can I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/what-can-i-do-my-friends-if-i-do-not-know-i-am-neither-christian-nor/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [You’ll have your own superhero club before you know it. -Christian Ozera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/you-ll-have-your-own-superhero-club-before-you-know-it-christian-ozera/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“They did not categorize religion with belief but with cultural identity. The tragedy here is that no one has given them a reason to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nabeel-qureshi/they-did-not-categorize-religion-with-belief-but-with-cultural/) [Nabeel Qureshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nabeel-qureshi/) > [I am a Christian. I know I am a Christian, knowing that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-milsap/i-am-a-christian-i-know-i-am-a-christian-knowing-that-jesus-christ-is/) [Ronnie Milsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-milsap/) > [I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior. I believe that Jesus died for my sins, and rose again, and that's my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherri-shepherd/i-believe-in-jesus-christ-as-my-lord-and-savior-i-believe-that-jesus/) [Sherri Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherri-shepherd/) > [We know that as a Christian athlete, people are watching, and so we want to be the best example we can be and show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-zobrist/we-know-that-as-a-christian-athlete-people-are-watching-and-so-we/) [Ben Zobrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-zobrist/) > [“A man ought to live so that everybody will know he is a Christian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-lyman-moody/a-man-ought-to-live-so-that-everybody-will-know-he-is-a-christian/) [Dwight Lyman Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-lyman-moody/) ## More by J. I. Packer > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [What matters supremely, therefore, is not, in the last analysis, the fact that I know God, but the larger fact which underlies it -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/what-matters-supremely-therefore-is-not-in-the-last-analysis-the-fact/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [For what higher, more exalted, and more compelling goal can there be than to know God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/for-what-higher-more-exalted-and-more-compelling-goal-can-there-be/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Fanciful spiritualizing, so far from yielding God's meaning, actually obscured it. The literal sense is itself the spiritual sense, coming from God and leading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/fanciful-spiritualizing-so-far-from-yielding-god-s-meaning-actually/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Grace means God sending his only Son to the cross to descend into hell so that we guilty ones might be reconciled to God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/grace-means-god-sending-his-only-son-to-the-cross-to-descend-into/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [God made life, and God alone can tell us its meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/god-made-life-and-god-alone-can-tell-us-its-meaning/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Revival is the visitation of God which brings to life Christians who have been sleeping and restores a deep sense of God's near presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/revival-is-the-visitation-of-god-which-brings-to-life-christians-who/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Calvinism is the consistent endeavor to acknowledge the Creator as the Lord, working all things after the counsel of His will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/calvinism-is-the-consistent-endeavor-to-acknowledge-the-creator-as/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [There are few things stressed more strongly in the Bible than the reality of God's work as Judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/there-are-few-things-stressed-more-strongly-in-the-bible-than-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Maturity is a compound of wisdom, goodwill, resilience, and creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/maturity-is-a-compound-of-wisdom-goodwill-resilience-and-creativity/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [The peace of God is first and foremost peace with God; it is the state of affairs in which God, instead of being against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/the-peace-of-god-is-first-and-foremost-peace-with-god-it-is-the-state/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Today, on our own turf, we face pagan ignorance about God every bit as deep as that which the early church faced in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/today-on-our-own-turf-we-face-pagan-ignorance-about-god-every-bit-as/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [God is triune; there are within the Godhead three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; and the work of salvation is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/god-is-triune-there-are-within-the-godhead-three-persons-the-father/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [It is often the case, as all the saints know, that fellowship with the Father and the Son is most vivid and sweet, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/it-is-often-the-case-as-all-the-saints-know-that-fellowship-with-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [A little knowledge OF God is worth more than a great deal of knowledge ABOUT him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/a-little-knowledge-of-god-is-worth-more-than-a-great-deal-of/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) [Explore all 203 J. I. Packer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is a Christian? 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