If you are a certain introvert kind, a melancholy type, and you've just been born again,

you think, and then somebody starts to tell you that normal Christian living is above sin,

you are preparing a person for destruction.

And I heard him tell this story on a tape.

This is a pretty whitewashed version of it in the book here.

He talked in terms of suicide on the tape.

He said, John Owen saved my life.

What keeps a Christian from sinking under sin and doubt? In this episode of Light and Truth, John Piper reflects on J. I. Packers' enduring legacy

and his love for the writings of the Puritans this biographical

talk was given on a Wednesday evening at Bethlehem Baptist Church on March 13th

1991 I would like to in view of what's coming in JI. Packer and one of the emphases that he had, read a verse from 2 Timothy, Chapter 2, verse 7, very simple verse.

After Paul appeals for endurance here he says think over what I say for the Lord will grant you

understanding in everything isn't that interesting Think over what I say,

for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything.

There's a lot of people who take the second reality,

the Lord will grant you understanding and say,

therefore you don't need to think over what Paul says.

Because you've got a straight line here from God to your mind.

And so this rational transaction called thinking over is an unnecessary step because you've got this.

Paul said exactly the opposite. He said, you think over what I've said,

and in that process of faithful thinking over what I have said from the Lord, God will work.

And that's real fundamental to the way I function in my preaching and in my study. It's very significant to

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