Roger Duke
2 hours ago2 min read
Roger Duke
1 day ago2 min read
Roger Duke
2 days ago2 min read
February 18 - Repentance Produces Love
Roger Duke
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] . . . produces love. Wherefore Paul when he had put the church in remembrance that they were called of God; added concerning brotherly love they had no need that he should write unto them. If God be so kind to us, to forgive us our sins, to save our souls, and to give us the kingdom of heaven; let these be motives beyond all others to provoke us to love again. Further, if we who are beloved of God are made members of one man’s body all partakers of his grace; clothed all with his glorious righteousness; and are together appointed to be the children of the next world; why should we not love one another?
Beloved, if God so loved us we ought also to love one another (1 Joh 4: 11). And truly so we shall if the true grace of God be upon us. Because we also see them to be the called of Jesus. Travelers that are of the same country, love and take pleasure in one another when they meet in a strange land. We sojourn here in a strange country; with them that are heirs together with us of the promised kingdom and glory (Hebrews 11: 9). Now as I say, this holy love produces works by its love. Love in God, and Christ, when discovered, compels us to love. The name, and word, and truth of God in Christ together with the sincerity of this grace; of faith, and holiness that is in us, are the delightful objects of this love.
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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