19 November 2010

Self-Despair and Faith

[T]he index of the soundness of a man's faith in Christ is the genuineness of the self-despair from which it springs.
--J. I. Packer, 'The Puritan View of Preaching the Gospel,' in A Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life (Crossway, 2010; repr.), 170

2 comments:

Unknown said...

I think the key phrase in that quote is "from which it springs", correct?

Please correct me if I am wrong, but would a man's faith be genuine according to this statement if he deemed himself very hopeless and in turn sees the hope of salvation in Christ and then finds his faith and security in that mighty Savior?

Just trying to get a grasp on this idea for myself...

Dane Ortlund said...

Trevor: yes and yes.