I mentioned in one of my earlier posts this month that John Bunyan was thoroughly Calvinistic in his soteriology while at the same time wholly evangelistic. Even a cursory reading of Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ would show the latter to be true. Passages like the following show that my earlier premise is true as well:
There are some men who think they may not be contradicted when they plead for the will, wisdom, and power of man in reference to the things that are of the kingdom of Christ. But I will say to such a man, he never yet come to understand what the Scripture teaches concerning himself; nor has he ever known what coming to Christ is, by the teaching, gift, and drawing of the Father. He is such a one that has set up God's enemy in opposition to him, and that continues in such acts of defiance; and what his end, without a new birth, will be, the Scripture teaches also; but we will pass this. (pg. 136)
When Bunyan states "he never yet come to understand what the Scripture teaches concerning himself" he recognizes the total depravity and inability of that man. None of us, being dead in trespasses and sins, can exercise any "will, wisdom, and power" in matters of salvation. We need a Savior, One who really and completely saves, Jesus Christ.
They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. - Psalm 14:3, ESV (compare Romans 3)
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