Here is a participatory exercise.
JI Packer has a new book coming out in February. It is called 18 Words: The Most Important Words You Will Ever Know.
Just for fun: BEFORE you check out which 18 words Packer thinks are the most important, which words do you think are most important? Think of a list of 5 or 10 of the most important words, record them in the comments, and then see how many match Packer's list.
Then, feel free to comment on Packer's list. What has he left out?
13 comments:
Let's see...
Faith, Love, Sin, Salvation, Hell, Grace, Mercy, Holiness.
Repentence? Maybe he is following Rick Warren nowadays?
No, I don't think Packer is going Warren on us.
Thats a good question though. Should repentance be among the top 18 words?
anonymous:
Hell but no Heaven?
My guess, coming from Packer:
reconciliation, regeneration, justification, adoption, propitiation, salvation, redemption, sanctification, mortification, glorification... and then maybe love, mercy/lovingkindness, grace... Will he bring up the glorious words, election and predestination?
How abuot God.
Chase, I'm with you.
I can't believe "devil" made the list and not God.
I guess he would say all these 18 words are about God.
God, Christ, Spirit; holiness, sin, hell; justification, sanctification,glorification; faith, hope, love; Gospel, Word, Body; grace, glory, heaven.
[Don't read this if you haven't already made your list.] Ouch! I did pretty bad (6/18). How can "Devil" make the list and not "Christ"? Where is "glory" and "Gospel"?
Nale,
That is a pretty good list.
I want to include more gospel words: reconciliation, adoption, redemption, propitiation, imputation!!!
Justin,
Forgive me for leaving out God. I thought salvation, faith, love, grace, holiness and mercy included God. I don't recall God making it to Packer's list of 18 words either. Oh wait, you pointed that out. But you think he would say his 18 words are about God. But mine weren't. Hmm must be I didn't blog as someone with a "name" behind them.
In other words, it's okay for Packer to leave God off his list, but you question others about it. You may want to write a post on idols in ones life.
God, heaven, holiness, salvation, sanctification, justification, glorification, sin, grace, mercy, forgiveness, substitution, election, hell, judgment. I am sure his list is better than mine, but those are a few off the top of my head.
I think the words are about God. and He did use Lord, interesting list, though. And if I had to bet whether Packer is right, or whether I am, I would go with Packer.
Packer has thought about these things far longer than I have.
Repentance should definitley be one of them! He has gotten a little "off" in his thinking I do believe. I'm a little leary of him lately. "Knowing God" is one of the best books I have ever read regardless of his thoughts lately.
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