Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners
by John Bunyan | Book Summary
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Author: John Bunyan
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Bunyan's spiritual journey, however, was not a straight line from sinfulness to salvation; it was fraught relentlessly with episodes of intense doubt, internal and external setbacks, failures, ecstasies, obstacles, immense strength, and humiliating weakness. Just when it seemed that Bunyan had at last put his doubt and sinfulness behind him, he returned to his fallen state with a newfound vigor. He also was often plagued by periods of superficial Christian behavior, confusing cultural Christianity and the esteem gained from good works with genuine spiritual connection with Christ. Ultimately, Bunyan's spiritual labor provides us with an example of the sinner saved. His journey from condemnation to salvation, mired as it was in the unavoidable fallenness of human nature, shows us the awesome immensity of God's grace and the saving power of the Cross. As inescapable as our human sinfulness may be, Bunyan's story shows us that God's love is still more inescapable than that. |
John Bunyan was a 17th-century British Puritan preacher known primarily for his hugely popular allegory, The Pilgrim's Progress. That work, written during a twelve year stint in prison for preaching outside of the parish, is now considered one of the most important works in all of English literature and theology.
Bunyan wrote dozens of works during his lifetime, many of which were sermons. Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, his autobiography, was written just before he began work on The Pilgrim's Progress.
Bunyan died of a fever in 1688 at the age of 59. To this day, he remains one of Christianity's most influential figures.
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners
by John Bunyan
[ Book Summary ]
| Author | John Bunyan |
| Publisher | Vintage Spiritual Classics |
| Date | 1666 |
| Pages | 100 |
Overview:
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners details the spiritual journey of its author, the 17th-century Puritan preacher John Bunyan. Bunyan's life, as the title suggests, persisted in a state of sinfulness for many years. Bunyan was not simply a run-of-the-mill sinner, but a young man known for his profligacy and penchant for swearing. His disregard for the sacred was severe, and upon his eventual embrace of Christianity, he considered his former self to be the Chief of Sinners.
Bunyan's spiritual journey, however, was not a straight line from sinfulness to salvation; it was fraught relentlessly with episodes of intense doubt, internal and external setbacks, failures, ecstasies, obstacles, immense strength, and humiliating weakness. Just when it seemed that Bunyan had at last put his doubt and sinfulness behind him, he returned to his fallen state with a newfound vigor. He also was often plagued by periods of superficial Christian behavior, confusing cultural Christianity and the esteem gained from good works with genuine spiritual connection with Christ.
Ultimately, Bunyan's spiritual labor provides us with an example of the sinner saved. His journey from condemnation to salvation, mired as it was in the unavoidable fallenness of human nature, shows us the awesome immensity of God's grace and the saving power of the Cross.
As inescapable as our human sinfulness may be, Bunyan's story shows us that God's love is still more inescapable than that.
John Bunyan was a 17th-century British Puritan preacher known primarily for his hugely popular allegory, The Pilgrim's Progress. That work, written during a twelve year stint in prison for preaching outside of the parish, is now considered one of the most important works in all of English literature and theology.
Bunyan wrote dozens of works during his lifetime, many of which were sermons. Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, his autobiography, was written just before he began work on The Pilgrim's Progress.
Bunyan died of a fever in 1688 at the age of 59. To this day, he remains one of Christianity's most influential figures.