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What is a Christian? The richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God as Father.
J. I. Packer
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Interpretation

What this quote means

A Christian is defined by their relationship with God, recognizing God as their Father.

In this quote, J. I. Packer emphasizes that the essence of being a Christian lies in the intimate relationship one has with God. It is not merely about following rules or rituals, but rather understanding and embracing God as a loving Father, which shapes one's identity and spiritual journey.

Themes

ChristianGodFatherIdentityFaith

In practice

Example use cases

During a church sermon to emphasize the importance of faith.

More from J. I. Packer

Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord.
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He that has learned to feel his sins, and to trust Christ as a Saviour, has learned the two hardest and greatest lessons in Christianity.
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We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the psalms, and that the habit of celebrating the greatness and graciousness of God yields an endless flow of thankfulness, joy, and zeal.
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The fruit of wisdom is Christlikeness, peace, humility and love. And, the root of it is faith in Christ as the manifested wisdom of God
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Were I asked to focus the New Testament message in three words, my proposal would be ADOPTION THROUGH PROPITIATION, and I do not expect ever to meet a richer or more pregnant summary of the gospel than that.
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Only when it is seen that what decides each individual's destiny is whether or not God decides to save him from his sins, and that this is a decision that God need not make in any individual case, can one begin to grasp the biblical view of grace.
J. I. PackerRead

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