Roger Duke
Feb 272 min read
Roger Duke
Feb 272 min read
February 14 - I Believe God’s Word Quickens the Dead
Roger Duke
“When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth’”[!]
John 11: 43.
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, that to have an effectual calling the Holy Ghost [Spirit] must accompany the word of the Gospel and with mighty power: I mean; that calling which is of God is made to be the fruit of electing love. I know, says Paul to the Thessalonians; brethren, beloved your election of God: For our Gospel came not unto you in word only; but also in power, and in the holy Ghost [Spirit], and in much assurance (1 Thessalonians 1: 4, 8). Otherwise, men will not, cannot, hear and turn [or repent]. Samuel was called four times, before he knew the voice of him that spoke from heaven. It is said of them [the Israelites] in Hosea, as the Prophets called them, so they went from them. And instead of turning to them, [they] sacrificed to Balaam, and burnt incense to graven images (1 Samuel 4:6, 10: Hosea 11: 2).
The reason being: Because men by nature, are not only dead in sins but enemies in their minds by reason of wicked works. The call then is this: Awake you who sleep and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light (Ephesians 5: 14). Understand; therefore, that effectual calling is like that word of Christ that raised Lazarus from the dead: A word attended with an arm, that was omnipotent. Lazarus come forth—was a word to the dead—but not only so: It was a word for the dead; a word that raised him from the dead; a word that outwent all opposition; and that brought him forth of the grave though bound hand and foot! (John 11: 43; Ephesians 2: 1-2; Hebrews 10: 32; Galatians 1: 15; & Acts: 9).
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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