Roger Duke
2 hours ago2 min read
Roger Duke
1 day ago2 min read
Roger Duke
2 days ago2 min read
February 17 - Turn to God in Repentance
Roger Duke
Say to them, “As I live, declares the LORD God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live, turn back, turn back from your evil way, for why will you die, O House of Israel?”
Ezekiel 33: 11
This entry is taken from Daily Readings - John Bunyan a 366 day devotional edited by (and posted with permission from) Roger D. Duke, Scholar-in-Residence at Stage & Story, and published by Christian Heritage Press.
Each month focuses on a different book or writing by Bunyan. For February: My Confession of Faith (or A Confession of My Faith and a Reason of My Practice, or, With Who, and Who Not, I can Hold Church-fellowship, or the Communion of Saints)
[I believe] repentance is a turning the heart to God in Christ: A turning from sin and the Devil and darkness to the goodness and grace, and holiness that is in Him. Wherefore they of olden day are said to repent because they came to loath and abhor themselves for all their abominations. I abhor myself; said Job, and repent in dust, and ashes (Ezekiel 6: 9, 2: 43, 36: 31; Job 42: 5-6).
Godly repentance: doth not only affect the soul with the loathsome nature of sin that is past; but fills the heart with godly hatred of sins that yet may come. When Moses feared that through his being overburdened, with the care of the children of Israel, some unruly, or sinful passions might shew themselves in him—what did he say? I beseech thee kill me out of hand, if I have found grace in thy sight, and let me not see my wretchedness. (Numbers 14:13-15). Consider how Paul called godly repentance wrought in the upright Corinthians. Behold he said this same thing that you sorrowed after a Godly sort: What carefulness it wrought in you? What clearing of yourselves? Yes, what fear? Yes, what vehement desire and what zeal, what revenge? In all things you have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter (2 Corinthians 7: 9-11).
John Bunyan was a preacher, theologian and author, whose best-known work, The Pilgrim's Progress, has challenged and influenced readers for almost 350 years.
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