Heroes

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible…. 

Hebrews 11:36  ESV

Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 

I confess I have heroes.  My earliest heroes were the “Cowboy” in Hollywood Westerns.  Later they were athletes, more particularly Doak Walker.  And since I was converted, my heroes have first been men of the Scriptures such as David and the Apostle Peter and then great Christians of history since the close of Scriptures. 

One is the poor Monk Gottschalk.  Maybe later we will visit him.  But more particularly I have been fascinated from early on with John Bunyan.  There is nothing about Bunyan as you meet him in Grace Abounding, a biography, to his complete Pilgrim’s Progress that is ordinary.  He is an extraordinary person.  He was and must be remembered first as a preacher.  But this is only the beginning.  He was an author, (the two greatest allegories ever written), a Biblical Commentator of the first order, (The First Ten Chapters of Genesis), a controversialist cf,  his writings on the Ten Commandments, The Sabbath, and Baptism, a poet, and a theologian.  We are never left in doubt, but we are treated to a complete understanding of Bunyan’s faith and doctrine. 

The popularity of Pilgrim’s Progress up into the late 20^th century was second only to the Bible.  It was read, enjoyed, and embraced by Christians of every persuasion.  But very few ever really knew what Bunyan believed.

I must express special gratitude to him for the insight he gave me on the Sabbath and for freeing me from an exclusivity in Christian communion based on the mode and subjects of baptism.  His Water Baptism No Bar To Communionion released me from a bondage that warrants my unchanging gratitude.

 

Before I quote from his Confession as illustration of his doctrine, it needs to be noted that Bunyan was a street corner preacher and praised by the great and saintly John Owen as the most outstanding preacher of that day. 

John Bunyan, A Confession Of My Faith

Of Election

1.       I believe, that election is free and permanent being founded in grace and the unchangeable will of God.
2.      I believe, that decree, choice, or election was before the foundation of the world and so before the elect themselves had being in themselves.
3.      I believe, that the decree of election is so far off from making works in us foreseen the grounds or cause the choice, that it contains in it…not only the persons but the graces that accompany their salvation.  I believe, no man can know his election, but by his calling.I believe, therefore, that election does not prevent the means which are appointed of God to bring us to Christ….; but rather puts a necessity upon the use and effect thereof, because they are chosen to be brought to heaven that way 

Well said, Pilgrim.