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How the Protestant Reformers are Still Changing the World

Tag: Redemption

J. I. Packer on Propitiation

April 12, 2025 /

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Cor. 5:21 (NASB)

Just recently I came across a very fine quote from Dr. J. I. Packer that I had copied out of his book, Knowing God, quite a long time ago. Packer sets forth–in classic Reformed style–the doctrine of propitiation in the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ. The word propitiation (Gk. hilasterion = to conciliate, appease, expiate) refers to the satisfaction of the wrath of God through the death of Christ (See: Rom. 3:25; Heb. 2:17; 1 Jn. 2:2; 1 Jn. 4:10). In short, Jesus becomes sin for his people and satisfies the divine wrath of our Holy God. In addition, he gives to them his righteousness in a “double imputation” (i.e. our sins are imputed to Him, and His righteousness is imputed to us). Consider Packer’s explanation of propitiation:

Dr. J.. I. Packer (1926-2020)

“The basic description of the saving death of Christ in the Bible is as a propitiation, that is, as that which quenched God’s wrath against us by obliterating our sins from His sight. God’s wrath is His righteousness reacting against our unrighteousness; it shows retributive justice. But Jesus Christ has shielded us from the nightmare prospect of retributive justice, in obedience to His Father’s will, and receiving the wages of sin in our place. By this means justice has been done, for the sins of all that will ever be pardoned were judged and punished in the person of God the Son, and it is on this basis that pardon is now offered to us offenders. Redeeming love and retributive justice joined hands, so to speak, at Calvary, for there God showed Himself to be ‘just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus.’ Do you understand this? If you do, you are now seeing to the very heart of the Christian gospel.”

— Dr. J. I. Packer, Knowing God, 170

Packer’s quote is an excellent reminder to us of the redemptive work that Jesus Christ accomplishes for the sake of his people. The Apostle Paul puts it this way, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us–for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'” (Gal. 3:13). Therefore, let us give praise and thanks to Almighty God for sending forth his Son to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. Jesus, by his sacrificial work on the Cross, makes it possible for us to escape the retributive justice of God and live as those who have been redeemed. Soli Deo Gloria!

— Dr. Marcus J. Serven

Here are three books by Dr. J. I. Packer that I treasure. Each one of them is great–but, Knowing God is preeminent!

Sources:

Abbott-Smith, G. A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh, Scotland: T. & T. Clark Ltd., 1981.

Packer, James I. Knowing God. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1973. 

John Murray on the Atonement

March 11, 2024 /

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God…” 1 Peter 3:18

Over the next two months our theology class at Redeemer Theological Academy will be discussing the atoning work of Jesus Christ and its application to our life. This is a very rich subject, and sadly it is oftentimes neglected in the realm of theological studies. Not so for us! We will be digging into many Bible texts in both the Old and New Testaments seeking to uncover all that the Lord has for us to learn. Once we have examined the work that Jesus accomplished for us on the Cross, we will then study its application in the life of the Believer–specifically, our justification, adoption, redemption, reconciliation, ongoing sanctification, and future glorification. These are exciting and encouraging doctrines, and I suspect we will all be invigorated in our faith as we reflect upon them!

Consider what Prof. John Murray of Westminster Theological Seminary wrote about the bitterness of sin and the atoning work of Jesus Christ

Prof. John Murray (1898-1975)

“It is true we bear the punishment of our sins and we may know something of the bitterness. We are subject to the wrath of God, and the sting of unremitted guilt can reflect the awful severity of divine displeasure. Our sins have separated us from God and we can know the dismal emptiness of being without God and without hope in the world. There is still more we can know of the bitterness of sin and death. The lost in perdition will everlastingly bear the unrelieved and unmitigated judgment due to their sins; they will eternally suffer in the exaction of the demands of justice. But, there was only one, and there will not need to be another, who bore the full weight of the divine judgment upon sin and bore it so as to end it. The lost will eternally suffer in the satisfaction of justice. But they will never satisfy it. Christ satisfied justice. “The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6). He was made sin and he was made a curse. He bore our iniquities. He bore the unrelieved and unmitigated damnation of sins, and he finished it. That is the spectacle that confronts us in Gethsemane and on Calvary.” (Murray, Redemption: Accomplished and Applied, 76-77)

These insightful words are just a small sample of all that we will be studying in the months ahead. It is crucial for Christians everywhere to know that Jesus willingly laid down his life for the sake of sinners, and that the work he accomplished on the Cross fully satisfies the divine justice of the Father. Our sins have been forgiven! And, as a result we are now at peace with God because of the work of Jesus. The Apostle Paul notes, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). There is much to rejoice in as we embrace the reality of this statement, and come to realize that our sins have been forgiven and our destiny is to always to be with our Lord.

— Dr. Marcus J. Serven

Source of Information: 

Murray, John. Redemption: Accomplished and Applied. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, 1955. 

Biblical Theology (Fall, 2023)

August 16, 2023 /

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.” John 5:39

Theology Study Group – A Course in Biblical Theology

Course Description:
Over the Fall semester (2023) the Theology Study Group at Redeemer Presbyterian Church here in Austin, TX will focus on two important questions in Biblical Theology:

(1) What are the principles for accurately interpreting the Bible? (Hermeneutics)
(2) What are the major themes that emerge from passages in the Bible? (Exegesis)

Each week we will explore a text from the Bible that deals with one of the central themes of Holy Scripture: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Consummation. By understanding the themes that knit everything together, we will then be better able to interpret and apply individual passages from the Bible.

Instructor:
Rev. Dr. Marcus J. Serven, MDiv, ThM, DMin
Pastor of Christian Discipleship at Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA)
(email) mserven@redeemerpres.org

Textbooks:
— The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story, Craig Bartholomew, Michael Goheen, 2nd Edition, Baker Academic, 2014
— Redemption Accomplished and Applied, John Murray, Eerdmans, 2015
— Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, J. I. Packer, Revised Edition, IVP, 2012

Who is welcome to attend? All men and women who have a desire to go deeper in theological studies than we can offer in our weekly School of Discipleship. Also, High School and College age students are welcome to attend as long as they are motivated to learn theology at a more advanced level.

When and Where: Beginning on September 14, 2023 we will meet every Thursday morning (except for Thanksgiving Day on Nov. 23) in Calvin Hall (Room 208) at Redeemer Presbyterian Church. This is an “in person” class and students are expected to regularly attend all classes.

For Serious Students: For those who desire to take the class “for credit” towards a certificate, extra assignments will be given: (1) Write a 10 page paper explaining how Jesus’ words in John 5:39-40 should be interpreted. And (2) pass an examination of 25 questions (short answers) on “How to Interpret the Bible” and the contents of the The Drama of Scripture.

— Dr. Marcus J. Serven

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