Without the Spirit man is so infirm that he cannot, with all other means whatsoever, be enabled to think one right saving thought of God, of Christ, or of his blessed things.
John BunyanRead
Our sins, when laid upon Christ, were yet personally ours, not his; so his righteousness, when put upon us, is yet personally his, not ours.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote speaks to the personal ownership and dual nature of sin and righteousness in the context of faith.
John Bunyan discusses the theological concept of sin and righteousness, illustrating that while our sins are attributed to Christ when he bears them, they remain our personal responsibility. Conversely, when we receive His righteousness, it is a gift that still belongs to Him, underscoring the profound and complex relationship between humanity's faults and divine grace.
Themes
SinRighteousnessFaithTheologyGrace
In practice
Example use cases
In a sermon discussing the nature of redemption, this quote could help illustrate the transformative power of faith.
More from John Bunyan
All quotes βI saw, moreover, that it was not my good frame of heart that made my righteousness better, nor my bad frame that made my righteousness worse; for my righteousness was Jesus Christ himself, the same yesterday and today and forever.
John BunyanRead
For to speak the truth, there are but few that care thus to spend their time, but choose rather to be speaking of things to no profit.
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I saw a man clothed with rags . . . a book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back.
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Look how fears have presented themselves, so have supports and encouragements; yea, when I have started, even as it were at nothing else but my shadow, yet God, as being very tender of me, hath suffered me to be molested, but would with one Scripture or another, strengthen me against all; insomuch that I have often said, Were it awful, I could pray for greater trouble, for the greater comfort's sake.
John BunyanRead
There can be but one will the master in our salvation, but that shall never be the will of man, but of God; therefore man must be saved by grace.
John BunyanRead
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