The Son of God appeared oe earth in the body, He was raised in the body, in the sacrament the believer receives the Lord Christ in the body, and the resurrection of the dead will bring about the perfected fellowship of God’s spiritual-physical creatures.
The believer therefore praises the Creator, the Redeemer…for the bodily presence of another believer.
The prisoner, the sick person, the Christian in exile sees in the companionship of a fellow Christian a physical sign of the gracious presence of the triune God.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess,
for He who promised is faithful.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing,
but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:23-25
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The Christian needs another Christian who speaks God’s Word to him.
He needs him again and again when he becomes uncertain and discouraged,
for by himself he cannot help himself without belying the truth.
He needs his fellow believer as a bearer and proclaimer of the divine word of salvation.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Annie, I’ve just started reading a biography of Bonhoeffer and to know what he experienced makes these quotes all the more powerful. Thanks for sharing. I’ve been challenged lately to share truth with Philip more each day as he walks thru the dark valley of depression. It is His truth that sets us free.
Blessings,
Kelly List
I know in my own life too how helpful it has been for people to remind me of truth. It becomes a light in the darkness.
By the way, these Bonhoeffer quotes are from a little book he wrote, Life Together.