The Pilgrim's Progress

[Davies]

Christian. "And did you presently fall under the power of this conviction?"

Hopeful. "No, I was not willing presently to know the evil of sin, nor the damnation that follows upon the commission of it, but endeavoured, when my mind at first began to be shaken with the Word, to shut mine eyes against the light thereof."

Christian. "But what was the cause of your carrying of it thus to the first workings of God's blessed Spirit upon you?"

Hopeful, "The cause were, 1. I was ignorant that this was the work of God upon me, I never thought that by awakenings for sin, God at first begins the conversion of a sinner. 2. Sin was yet very sweet to my flesh, and I was loath to leave it. 3. I could not tell how to part with mine old companions, their presence and actions were so desirable unto me. 4. The hours in which convictions were upon me were such troublesome and such heart-affrighting hours that I could not bear, no not so much as the remembrance of them upon my heart." - John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

It's very important to remember when a person has his eye opened to the reality of Jesus Christ, and what God has said in the Bible, the natural instinct is to run or hide. It's the same thing a child does when they know they are in trouble. As adults we run and hide in different ways. Avoidance is a big way we run and hide. Pride is another response to God's awakenings. 'I'm a good person, or, 'I define for myself what is right and wrong,' and by so doing, a person creates and image of God as effective as those who create little statues and bow down to them and pray in front of them. We generally are offended by the truth not realizing it's the work of God in our life. The better we understand what we deserve, the better we can understand the grace of God.

- Davies

 

[Davies]

Conversion

The next section I want to share is Hopeful's answer or apology of his conversion. When I read it, my heart soared with joy. Truly, it is a miracle if you have experienced what Bunyan shares here. I will share it over a few posts because it's a bit lengthy, but it is well worth the time and effort to read.

Christian. "And could you at any time with ease get off the guilt of sin when by any of these ways it came upon you?"

Hopeful. "No, not latterly, for then they got faster hold of my conscience. And then, if I did but think of going back to sin (though my mind was turned against it) it would be double torment to me."

Christian. "And how did you do then?"

Hopeful. "I thought I must endeavour to mend my life, for else, thought I, I am sure to be damned." - John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

When I look back on my own conversion which happened in my early thirties, I distinctly remember several times, having known the truth of the Bible that surely, if I were to die today, God would be just to damn me forever. The weight of these words never left me until I put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ. It was like a physical weight even though nothing physical was on my shoulder. The thought of it is oppressive, but this conviction was wrought in me by the Holy Spirit. Wrought is a good word isn't it? lol. A sinner must know that the righteousness or holiness of God had laid down the sentence of condemnation, because of his sins. Furthermore, a sinner must know he is a sinner by nature. It is natural for him to sin. He even takes great pleasure in sinning. Even now that I am a Christian, I am capable of great sins, and I have to reckon the old man dead by faith. I've heard people tell me that they were born Christians because they were born into a Christian family. I've had people tell me that they don't deserve to be punished eternally in the Lake of Fire by God because the things they have done weren't that bad. Until a person knows and has the conviction that if God were to were to judge them for the things they have done and that it would be right for God to cast them away, forever to suffer conscience torment, then I question you're ability to see the value of God's grace, mercy, and what Jesus did nearly 2000 years ago.

- Davies

 

[Davies]

Christian. "And did you endeavour to mend?"

Hopeful. "Yes, and fled from, not only my sins, but sinful company, too, and betook me to religious duties, as praying, reading, weeping for sin, speaking truth to my neighbours, &c. These things I did, with many others, too much here to relate."

Christian. "And did you think yourself well then?"

Hopeful. "Yes, for a while; but at the last my trouble came tumbling upon me again, and that over the neck of all my reformations."

Christian. "How came that about, since you was now reformed?"

Hopeful. "There were several things brought it upon me, especially such sayings as these, 'All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.' 'By the works of the law no man shall be justified.' 'When you have done all things, say we are unprofitable,' [Isaiah 64:6; Galatians 2:16; Luke 17:10] with many more the like. From whence I began to reason with myself thus: if all my righteousnesses are filthy rags, if by the deeds of the law, no man can be justified, and, if when we have done all, we are yet unprofitable, then 'tis but a folly to think of heaven by the law. I further thought thus: If a man runs an 100l. (100 pounds) into the shopkeeper's debt, and after that shall pay for all that he shall fetch, yet his old debt stands still in the book uncrossed; for the which the shopkeeper may sue him, and cast him into prison till he shall pay the debt." John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

With this struggle that Bunyan describes here, you can tell he has walked the path to sanctification. I have spent years stubbornly thinking I need to do more so that God will be happy with me. Even today when I fail, I'm tempted to think if I did things right, then God won't be angry with me. This is all works based, old-man thinking. Again, Bunyan is illustrating what a person goes through who knows the debt he owes God, because of having violated the law of God too many times to count and can never be paid by himself. Have you ever felt there is no hope because you can't meet God's requirements? Have you counted your sins? Could you imagine playing your sins on a movie screen for the world to watch? The righteous judge knows it all better than you, the one who committed all the sins, and He has the power to judge you. He would be right in doing so, and if you could contemplate all your sins, you would agree with Him in His judgement.

- Davies

 

[farouk]

Davies:

Justification by faith, versus sanctification in both its positional and conditional aspects: two rather different aspects of the work of Christ in the believer - both essential - but very distinct, right?

Happy new year, BTW.

Blessings.

 

[Davies]

Davies:

Justification by faith, versus sanctification in both its positional and conditional aspects: two rather different aspects of the work of Christ in the believer - both essential - but very distinct, right?

Happy new year, BTW.

Blessings.

Good morning farouk,

Glad you're back. I know you went somewhere. I hope you had some time to rest, and Happy New Year to you.

I'm not sure if your post was related to my previous post, but I'm not sure I understood the conditional aspects of justification and sanctification. I wouldn't mind discussing that at length because that may help us in giving us assurance of our faith and may help us in our sanctification. I would agree with you that justification and sanctification are two distinct things connected in the order they occur. I've heard it said there is a one-time sanctification which is our justification, and then there is our progressive sanctification of which is completed at our death when we will be perfectly conformed to the image of Jesus. As progressive sanctification relates to my previous post, I would say the more sanctified you are, the more you understand that you don't deserve anything from God, and have a better understanding of the grace of God, empowering the believer. The very thing that most people are afraid of, God's holiness, His adherence to justice, is the very thing that brings a person to the foot of the cross. At the cross we see justice kept, and mercy triumphing at the same time.

- Davies

 

[farouk]

Good morning farouk,

Glad you're back. I know you went somewhere. I hope you had some time to rest, and Happy New Year to you.

I'm not sure if your post was related to my previous post, but I'm not sure I understood the conditional aspects of justification and sanctification. I wouldn't mind discussing that at length because that may help us in giving us assurance of our faith and may help us in our sanctification. I would agree with you that justification and sanctification are two distinct things connected in the order they occur. I've heard it said there is a one-time sanctification which is our justification, and then there is our progressive sanctification of which is completed at our death when we will be perfectly conformed to the image of Jesus. As progressive sanctification relates to my previous post, I would say the more sanctified you are, the more you understand that you don't deserve anything from God, and have a better understanding of the grace of God, the empowered the believer. The very thing that most people are afraid of, God's holiness, His adherence to justice, is the very thing that brings a person to the foot of the cross. At the cross we see justice kept, and mercy triumphing at the same time.

- Davies

Davies:

Ty; yes, we had a good trip to NY for a few days.

What I meant was that a person is justified by faith and this is a perfect work that God accomplishes by faith in the Person and work of Christ: the believer is fully justified (Romans 5.1, etc.).

Sanctification on the other hand has both its positional aspect (in principle the believer is set apart) and also its conditional aspect, in that s/he must take up his or her cross daily, and follow Him, and seek to be conformed to His image more perfectly.

I think Bunyan is speaking about aspects of this.

Blessings.

 

[Davies]

After Hopeful remembers many things that troubled his conscience even while thinking he is reforming himself...

Christian. "Well, and how did you apply this to yourself?"

Hopeful. "Why, I thought thus with myself. I have by my sin run a great way into God's book, and that my now reforming will not pay off that score; therefore I should think still under all my present amendments. But how shall I be freed from that damnation that I have brought myself in danger of by my former transgressions?"

Christian. "A very good application. But pray go on."

Hopeful. "Another thing that hath troubled me, even since my late amendments, is that if I look narrowly into the best of what I do now, I still see sin, new sin,l mixing itself with the best of that I do. So that now I am forced to conclude that notwithstanding my former fond conceits of myself and duties, I have committed sin enough in one duty to send me to hell, though my former life had been faultless."

Christian. "And what did you do then?"

Hopeful. "Do! I could not tell what to do, till I brake my mind to Faithful, for he and I were well acquainted. And he told me that unless I could obtain the righteousness of a man that never had sinned, neither mine own nor all the righteousness of the world could save me." John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

Only a Christian can come to that conclusion, that they need a righteousness outside of themselves, because the holiness of God will not find him guiltless because of his sins. No amount of repenting will do. No amount of good deeds can make amends. This is why Jesus was born under the law so that He could redeem those who were under the curse of the law. Only if we could live our lives with the assurance that Jesus' righteousness was our own, then we should live sanctified lives, lives of gratitude, humble lives since we know there is nothing we have done to earn salvation.

- Davies

 

[Davies]

Christian. "And did you think he spake true?"

Hopeful. "Had he told me so when I was pleased and satisfied with mine own amendments, I had called him fool for his pains: but now, since I see my own infirmity, and the sin that cleavesto my best performance, I have been forced to be of his opinion."

Christian. "But did you think, when at first he suggested it to you, that there was such a man to be found, of whom it might justly be said that he never committed sin?"

Hopeful. "I must confess the words at first sounded strangely, but after a little more talk and company with him, I had full conviction about it."

Christian. "And did you ask him what man this was, and how you must be justified by him?"

Hopeful. "Yes, and he told me it was the Lord Jesus, that dwelleth on the right hand of the Most High. And thus, said he, you must be justified by him, even by trusting to what he hath done by himself in the days of his fleash, and suffered when he did hang on the tree. I asked him further how that man's righteousness could be of that efficacy, to justify another before God? And he told me he was the mighty God, and did what he did, and died the death also, not for himself, but for me, to whom his doings and the worthiness of them should be imputed , if I believed on him." John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

Justified by faith. Justified believing in Jesus, the second Person of the Trinity, God Himself. Justified by believing in the work of Jesus, His death and resurrection. Accounted as righteous. Jesus took our sins upon Himself. That's hard to believe, and only God can help you to believe it. Sometimes this coming to Jesus takes a person years, others just a short time. Either way, God is glorified when we believe. May God increase our faith so that we may live more for Him.

- Davies

 

[Davies]

Christian. "And what did you do then?"

Hopeful. "He bid me go to him and see. Then I said it was presumption, but he said no, for I was invited to come. Then he gave me a book of Jesus his inditing, to encourage me the more freely to come. And he said concerning that book that every jot and tittle thereof stood firmer than heaven and earth. Then I asked him what I must do when I came. And he told me I must entreat upon my knees with all my heart and soul the Father to reveal him to me. Then I asked him further how I must make my supplication to him. And he said go and thou shalt find him upon a mercy-seat, where he sits all the year long to give pardon and forgiveness to them that come. I told him that I knew not what to say when I came, and he bid me say to this effect, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner, and make me to know and believe in Jesus Christ; for I see that if his righteousness had not been, or I have not faith in that righteousness, I am utterly cast away. Lord, I have heard that Thou art a merciful God, and hast ordained that Thy Son Jesus Christ should be the Saviour of the world; and, moreover, that Thou art willing to bestow Him upon such a poor sinner as I am (and I am a sinner indeed). Lord, take therefore this opportunity, and magnify Thy grace in the salvation of my soul, through Thy Son Jesus Christ. Amen." John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

Now, if we can change the modern sinner's prayer with Hopeful's sinner's prayer, I think we would have less false converts today that testify to the condition of the church. What a beautiful prayer. The understanding of the need for an alien righteousness because Hopeful knew he had none of his own. Hopeful knew he was a sinner. He knew he was in need of mercy. He knew he needed his sins forgiven. Hopeful believed that God was able to forgive him. Hopeful knew that without God, he would be "utterly cast away." May we repent daily. May we look upon Jesus daily. "Martha, Martha." Can you hear the Savior say? We are too concerned with what we should be doing, when we should be like Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus, gazing upon Him and listening to Him.

- Davies

 

[Davies]

Christian. "And did you do as you were bidden?"

Hopeful. "Yes, over, and over, and over."

Christian. "And did the Father reveal His Son to you?"

Hopeful. "Not at the first, nor second, nor third, nor fourth, nor fifth; no, nor at the sixth time neither."

Christian. "What did you do then?"

Hopeful. "What! Why I could not tell what to do."

Christian. "Had you not thoughts of leaving off praying?"

Hopeful. "Yes, and hundred times, twice told."

Christian. "And what was the reason you did not?"

Hopeful. "I believed that that was true which had been told me, to wit, that without the righteousness of this Christ, all the world could not save me, And therefore thought I with myself, if I leave off, I die; and I can but die at the throne of grace. And withal, this came into my mind, 'If it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come, and will not tarry.' [Habukkuk 2:3] So I continued praying until the Father showed me His Son." - John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

We often think that God does not hear us when we pray. There are many reasons for that, but I liked what Bunyan said, "without the righteousness of this Christ...I die; and I can die at the throne of grace." Isn't that wonderful. Isn't this how God showed the faith of the Syrophoenician woman, 'the little dogs eat the crumbs from the master's table.' How about the teaching of the unjust judge and the widow? The widow was persistent in her petition, 'I will grant this woman her request lest she wears me out with her coming.' You know that God has done a work of faith in you when you resign yourself to Him whether it be bad or good. That's the kind of love God puts in a person, a sign of conversion, the type of love that we can't conjure up at will.

- Davies

 

[Davies]

This next passage is one of my favorites!

Christian. "And how was he revealed unto you?"

Hopeful. "I did not see him with my bodily eyes, but with the eyes of mine understanding; and thus it was. One day I was very sad, I think sadder than at any one time in my life; and this sadness was through a fresh sight of the greatness and vileness of my sins. And as I was then looking for nothing but hell, and everlasting damnation of my soul, suddenly, as I thought, I saw the Lord Jesus look down from heaven upon me, and saying, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,'" [Acts 16:31]

"But I replied, 'Lord, I am a great, a very great sinner,' and he answered, 'My grace is sufficient for thee.' [2 Corinthians 12:9] Then I said, 'But, Lord, what is believing?' An then I saw from that saying, 'He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst,' [John 6:35] that believing and coming was all one, and that he that came, that is, run out in his heart and affections after salvation by Christ, he indeed believed in Christ. Then the water stood in mine eyes, and I asked further, 'But Lord, may such a great sinner as I am be indeed accepted of thee, and be saved by thee?' And I hear him say, ' And him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.' [John 6:37] Then I said, 'But how, Lord, must I consider of thee in my coming to thee, that my faith may be placed aright upon thee?' Then he said, 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes. He died for our sins, and rose again for our justification. He loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. He is mediator between God and us. He ever liveth to make intercession for us.' [I Timothy 1:15; Romans 10:14, 4:25; Revelation 1:5; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25] From all which I gathered that I must look for righteousness in his person and for satisfaction for my sin by his blood; that what he did in obedience to his Father's law and in submitting to the penalty thereof was not for himself, but for him that will accept it for his salvation and be thankful. And now was my heart full of joy, mine eyes full of tears, and mine affections running over with love, to the name, people, and ways of Jesus Christ"

It was a bit long, but salvation is a miracle, and there will be no end to thank God for it, from now to eternity.

- Davies

 

[farouk]

Reminds me of the passage in Luther's biography, where the devil showed him a list of all the sins that Luther had committed.

And Luther replied, You can write over the whole list: 'The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin".

 

[Davies]

Ignorance. "What! Would you have us trust to what Christ in his own person has done without us? This conceit would loosen the reins of our lust, and tolerate us to live as we list. For what matter how we live if we may be justified by Christ's personal righteousness from all, when we believe it?"

Christian. "Ignorance is thy name, and as thy name is so art thou; even this thy answer demonstrateth what I say. Ignorant thou art of what justifying righteousness is and as Ignorant how to secure they soul through the faith of it from the heavy wrath of God. Yea, thou also art ignorant of the true effects of saving faith in this righteousness of Christ, which is to bow and win over the heart to God in Christ, to love his name, His word, ways and people, and not as thou ignorantly imaginest." John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

Here we see a person who depends on what He does rather than the righteousness of Jesus to justify him. He thinks if he depends on the righteousness of Jesus alone that his lust will be released and will have the liberty to do whatever he wants. We understand by this that a person who believes such does not understand the Gospel and his trust is misplaced. The only thing we can do is point to Jesus and pray that we all may come to repentance which is God's desire.

- Davies

 

[Davies]

Christian. "Give me leave to put in a word. You ought not so slightly to speak of this matter. For this I will boldly affirm (even as my good companion hath done) that no man can know Jesus Christ but by the revelation of the Father. Yea, and faith, too, by which the soul layeth hold upon Christ (if it be right), must be wrought by the exceeding greatness of his mighty power; the working of which faith, I perceive, poor Ignorance, thou art ignorant of. Be awakened then; see thine own wretchedness, and fly to the Lord Jesus; and by his righteousness, which is the righteousness of God (for he himself is God), thou shalt be delivered from condemnation." John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

The work of the Holy Spirit is to convict us of sin. I think the nature of sin cannot be learned by us on our own. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to reveal to us our condition, and thus our need for Jesus. It is the job of the Holy Spirit to teach us about Jesus as well. We cannot learn this by just reading the words of the Bible. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to awaken us, to open the eye. We cannot hurry the Spirit's work in us or anyone else. This work is done over the lifetime of a person. I pray we have the wisdom to listen to the Spirit and be able to do what God has commanded, repent and believe in the Lord Jesus.

- Davies

 

[Skillet]

It's an amazing book! I used to have it but didn't take it with me sadly enough when I moved to Australia.. I was about 4-5 years old when I first read it, and it's a great story!