# J.I. Packer on the differences between the biblical gospel and the “modern” gospel

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2006/03/01/ji-packer-on-the-differences-between-the-biblical-gospel-and-the-modern-gospel/
- Published: 2006-03-01T16:13:00-06:00
- Author: tollelege

“There is no doubt that evangelicalism today is in a state of perplexity on and 
unsettlement. In such matters as the practice of evangelism, the teaching of holiness,
the building up of local church life, the pastor’s dealing with souls and the exercise
of discipline, there is evidence of widespread dissatisfaction with things as they
are and of equally widespread uncertainly as to the road ahead. This is a complex
phenomenon, to which many factors have contributed; but, if we go to the root of
the matter, we shall find that these perplexities are all ultimately due to our 
having lost our grip on the biblical gospel.

Without realizing it, we have during the past century bartered that gospel for a
substitute product which, though it looks similarly enough in points of detail, 
is as a whole a decidedly different thing. Hence our troubles; for the substitute
product does not answer the ends for which the authentic gospel has in past days
proved itself so mighty.

We would suggest that the reason lies in its own character and content. It fails
to make men God-centered in their thoughts and God-fearing in their hearts because
this is not primarily what it is trying to do. One way of stating the difference
between it and the old gospel is to say that it is too exclusively concerned to 
be “helpful” to man— to bring peace, comfort, happiness, satisfaction— and too little
concerned to glorify God. The old gospel was “helpful,” too— more so, indeed, that
is the new—but (so to speak) incidentally, for its first concern was always to give
glory to God.

It was always and essentially a proclamation of divine sovereignty in mercy and 
judgment, a summons to bow down and worship the mighty Lord on whom man depends 
for all good, both in nature and in grace. Its center of reference was unambiguously
God. But in the new gospel the center of reference is man. This is just to say that
the old gospel was _religious_ in a way that the new gospel is not. Whereas the 
chief aim of the old was to teach people to worship God, the concern of the new 
seems limited to making them feel better.

The subject of the old gospel was God and his ways with men; the subject of the 
new is man and the help God gives him. There is a world of difference. The whole
perspective and emphasis of gospel preaching has changed.”

–J.I. Packer, _A Quest for Godliness_, from the chapter entitled [_‘Saved by His Precious Blood’: Introduction to John Owen’s_ The Death of Death in the Death of Christ.](http://www.johnowen.org/media/packer_quest_for_godliness_ch_8.pdf)__(
Crossway, 1990), p. 125-126.