Part 6 – The Wicket Gate: God's Appointed Way

 

Are We Looking for Jesus in the Wrong Places?

Part 6 – The Wicket Gate: God's Appointed Way

"I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." (John 10:9, ESV)

Having now encountered Mr Worldly Wiseman, Legality and Civility, and more recently Formalist and Hypocrisy, John Bunyan has carefully removed every false confidence upon which men naturally rely. Human wisdom cannot save. Morality cannot remove the burden of sin. Religious tradition cannot provide an entrance into the Kingdom of God. Having exposed these false hopes, Bunyan now brings Christian to one of the most significant moments in the entire pilgrimage—the Wicket Gate.

It is worth asking why Bunyan gives such prominence to what appears to be an ordinary gate. Why not simply allow Christian to continue on his journey? Why pause here and devote so much attention to the manner in which he enters? I believe the answer is found in the words of our Lord Himself.

"I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." (John 10:9, ESV)

Notice that Jesus does not merely say that He points the way, or even that He knows the way. He declares that He Himself is the Door. The entrance into life is not found through a philosophy, a religious system, a moral code, or a tradition handed down from one generation to another. It is found in a Person.

This is precisely what Bunyan has been preparing us to understand.

Mr Worldly Wiseman offered another way. Legality and Civility promised that morality and good works could accomplish what only Christ could accomplish. Formalist and Hypocrisy assumed that entering by another route mattered very little provided they eventually found themselves upon the King's Highway. Each believed there was another entrance. Bunyan patiently removes each of these false hopes before finally directing our attention to the only entrance God has appointed.

Christian does not arrive at the Wicket Gate because he has earned the right to enter. He comes as a burdened sinner, convinced that he cannot save himself and entirely dependent upon the mercy of the One who waits within. That, surely, is the very heart of the Gospel. No one enters the Kingdom because he deserves to enter. Every sinner enters by grace through faith in Christ alone.

One detail in Bunyan's account is easily overlooked, yet it teaches an important lesson. As soon as Christian approaches the Gate, Goodwill reaches out and quickly draws him inside. Christian immediately asks why he acted with such urgency, and Goodwill explains that Beelzebub has established a nearby castle from which those approaching the Gate are often shot with arrows to prevent them from entering.

Why does Bunyan include this detail?

I believe he is reminding us that coming to Christ is not merely an intellectual decision. A spiritual battle is underway. Satan has no desire to see men and women enter by God's appointed way. Throughout this series, we have already seen his subtle methods. He first appealed through human reasoning in Mr Worldly Wiseman. He then offered confidence in morality through Legality and Civility. Later, he encouraged confidence in religious tradition through Formalist and Hypocrisy. Having failed to prevent Christian from reaching the Gate by deception, Bunyan now reminds us that there is an enemy who opposes all who seek to come to Christ.

Yet notice where Christian's safety is found. It is not found in his own strength, determination, or ability to avoid the arrows. His safety is found the moment Goodwill receives him. What a wonderful picture of the grace of God. Our security has never rested in our ability to hold on to Christ, but in Christ's willingness to receive all who come to Him.

Perhaps that is the lesson Bunyan wants us to remember above all else. Many voices invite us to choose another road, another entrance, or another means of acceptance before God. The Scriptures, however, continually direct us to Christ. He alone is the Door. He alone is God's appointed entrance to life. Every other way ultimately leaves the sinner outside.

In our next study, we shall accompany Christian to the place where the burden finally falls from his back. There Bunyan directs our attention to the Cross, where every burdened sinner discovers what only Jesus Christ could ever accomplish.

Signing off

Tyrone

Scripture References: John 10:9; John 14:6; Matthew 7:13–14; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8–9; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:10–18.

Are We Looking for Jesus in the Wrong Places - part 5

 

Are We Looking for Jesus in the Wrong Places?

Part 5 – Formalist and Hypocrisy

"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." Matthew 7:13–14 (ESV)

Having entered through the Wicket Gate, Christian continues on his journey towards the Celestial City. It is here that John Bunyan introduces two men whose appearance would have given every impression that they too were genuine pilgrims. They spoke the same language, travelled the same road, and claimed to be pursuing the same destination. Yet before Christian considered where they were going, he asked a far more important question.

How had they entered the Way?

The answer immediately exposed the difference between them. Unlike Christian, they had not entered through the Gate at all. They had climbed over the wall, explaining that this had long been the custom in their country and that countless others had entered the same way before them. In their minds, it mattered little how one entered the King's Highway, provided he was now travelling upon it.

At first glance, their argument appears difficult to refute. After all, if they were walking the same road, seeking the same destination, what difference could the point of entry possibly make? Surely what mattered was that they were now on the journey.

Bunyan knew exactly what he was doing.

He was exposing one of the oldest assumptions in the human heart—that sincerity is enough, that tradition is sufficient, and that if enough people have followed a particular path, it must surely be acceptable to God. Formalism and hypocrisy did not deny the existence of the King, nor did they reject the King's Highway. Their error lay in believing they could approach the King's Highway on their own terms.

Has anything really changed?

Many today would argue that it matters little how a person comes to God, provided they are sincere. Others rest their confidence in religious tradition, assuming that because generations before them believed a particular way, it must therefore be true. Some trust their denomination, others their baptism, their confirmation, their family heritage, or simply the fact that they have always called themselves Christians.

Yet throughout the Scriptures, God never calls His people to examine tradition by tradition. He continually calls them back to His revealed Word.

The Bereans offer us a remarkable example of this. Although they received Paul's preaching eagerly, they did not simply accept his teaching because of who he was. Luke tells us that they searched the Scriptures daily to determine whether these things were so. Their confidence rested not in the reputation of the preacher but in the authority of God's Word.

That principle is as necessary today as it was then.

Every church has traditions. Every denomination has practices that have developed over time. Some are helpful and honour God. Others may simply be customs that have been repeated for generations. The question is never whether something is old or widely accepted. The question is whether it agrees with the Scriptures that testify of Christ.

This is precisely why the Bible must remain our final authority in all matters of faith and practice. Every doctrine, every tradition, every opinion, and every spiritual claim must ultimately be tested by the written Word of God. We are not free to reshape the Scriptures to fit our traditions; rather, our traditions must continually be examined in the light of the Scriptures.

Formalist and Hypocrisy were content because they looked like pilgrims. Christian, however, understood that appearances could never replace obedience. The issue was not whether these men looked sincere. The issue was whether they had entered in the way the King Himself had appointed.

That same question confronts every generation.

Are we following Christ according to the Scriptures, or according to traditions we have never stopped to examine? Have we accepted certain beliefs simply because they have always been taught, or have we searched the Scriptures to see whether these things are so?

Bunyan reminds us that the Christian life is never built upon appearances, custom, or religious tradition. It is built upon God's revealed truth. That truth always directs us, not to ourselves or to our traditions, but to Jesus Christ, who alone is the object of our faith and the fulfilment of all that the Scriptures proclaim.

In our next study, we shall continue with Christian's journey as Bunyan begins to unfold the significance of the narrow way and the dangers that still lie ahead for every pilgrim.

Signing off

Tyrone

Scripture References: Matthew 7:13–14; Acts 17:10–12; John 5:39; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; Colossians 2:8.

Are We Looking for Jesus in the Wrong Places? - Part 4

 Part 4 – Legality and Civility: The False Hope of Morality

"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20, ESV)

At the close of our previous study, Mr Worldly Wiseman persuaded Christian to leave the road leading to the Wicket Gate and directed him instead towards the village of Morality. There, he assured Christian, lived a man called Legality who, with the help of his son Civility, could remove the burden from his back without the hardships that lay ahead.

At first glance, there appears to be nothing obviously wrong with the advice. Christian was not being encouraged to return to the City of Destruction, nor was he being urged to abandon his search for God. He was simply being offered what appeared to be a better way of obtaining the very thing he desired most—to be rid of the burden that weighed so heavily upon him. It is worth asking why Bunyan sends Christian to Morality rather than somewhere openly sinful or rebellious, for in doing so he exposes one of the greatest misunderstandings concerning the Gospel. Bunyan understood that one of the greatest dangers facing every generation is not necessarily immorality, but the belief that morality can accomplish what only Christ can accomplish. It is possible to be honest, respectable, charitable, and outwardly religious, and yet still carry the burden of sin.

That is precisely where Mr Worldly Wiseman's counsel was so deceptive. Christian's burden was real, but the remedy being offered was false. Instead of directing him towards God's appointed way, he directed him towards man's efforts. The burden of sin was no longer to be removed by the One to whom the Scriptures testify, but by morality, good works, and respectability. The Cross quietly disappeared from view, replaced by the false hope that fallen man might somehow make himself acceptable to a holy God.

Has anything really changed? How often do we hear people say, "I try to live a good life," "I do more good than bad," or "Surely God knows my heart." Others place their confidence in church attendance, charitable giving, religious observances, or a lifetime of respectable living. While these things may have their place, Bunyan forces us to ask a far more important question. Can morality remove the burden of sin?

The Apostle Paul answers that question with unmistakable clarity.

"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20, ESV)

Paul is not condemning God's Law, nor is he suggesting that it has failed in its purpose. On the contrary, he explains exactly what that purpose is. The Law gives us the knowledge of sin. It reveals the holiness of God and exposes the true condition of our own hearts, but it was never given as a means by which sinful men and women could make themselves righteous before God.

Paul explains this even more clearly in his letter to the Galatians:

"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians 3:24, KJV)

The Law can expose the burden of sin, but it has no power to remove it. It was never intended to save the sinner, but to bring him to Christ, the only One who could bear the burden of sin and remove it forever.

That is why Mr Worldly Wiseman's advice was so dangerous. Christian was being directed towards something that God never intended to accomplish, what only Christ could accomplish. The burden that weighed upon his back could never be lifted by morality, good works, or keeping the Law. It could only be removed by the One who would bear that burden in his place.

This is why the Scriptures continually direct us away from confidence in ourselves and back to Christ. The Law prepares us for the Gospel by revealing our need of a Saviour, but it is Christ alone who fulfilled the Law perfectly and accomplished what no sinner could ever accomplish for himself. Every attempt to earn God's acceptance by our own efforts, however sincere, ultimately leads us away from the very One to whom the Law was designed to point.

Before we leave Legality and Civility behind, perhaps we should ask ourselves one searching question. Am I trusting in what I have done for God, or in what Christ has already done for me?

In our next study we shall meet two men who appeared to be genuine pilgrims. Bunyan called them Formalist and Hypocrisy, and through them he exposes the danger of outward religion without true obedience to the Gospel.

Signing off

Tyrone

Are We Looking for Jesus in the Wrong Places?

Part 3 – Mr Worldly Wiseman

Before Christian had travelled very far on his journey, Bunyan introduces us to a man whose advice appeared, on the surface, both reasonable and compassionate. Unlike Obstinate, who openly rejected Christian's message, or Pliable, who quickly abandoned the journey when difficulties arose, Mr Worldly Wiseman had no objection to Christian seeking relief from his burden. His concern was with the route Christian had chosen. In his mind, there was a far easier and more sensible way to achieve the same result.

If we are not careful, we can read this part of Pilgrim's Progress and quickly conclude that we would never have heeded such advice. Yet Bunyan understood human nature remarkably well. Christian was weary, burdened by his sin and desperate for relief. Mr Worldly Wiseman appeared at exactly the right moment, not to persuade Christian to abandon his search for salvation, but to persuade him that there was a better way to obtain it.

It is worth noting that Mr Worldly Wiseman never tells Christian to forget God. He never suggests that the burden is unimportant, nor does he mock Christian's desire to be rid of it. Instead, he directs Christian away from the Wicket Gate and sends him to the village of Morality, where, he claims, a man called Legality can remove the burden without the hardship that lies ahead.

That should prompt us to stop and think immediately.

Why would Bunyan introduce such a character so early in Christian's journey?

The answer, I believe, is found throughout the Scriptures. Satan has seldom succeeded by persuading people to abandon God altogether. More often he simply persuades them to seek God on their own terms rather than His. From the Garden of Eden onwards, man has continually been tempted to exchange God's revealed way for one that appears more reasonable, more attractive, or less demanding.

Has anything really changed?

How often do we hear people say, "Surely God wouldn't expect that," or "There must be another way"? We are encouraged to trust our own reasoning, to follow our hearts, or to believe that sincerity is enough. Even within the Church, we are constantly presented with ideas that sound convincing because they appeal to human wisdom rather than to the Word of God.

The question is not whether advice sounds reasonable.

The question is whether it agrees with the Scriptures that testify of Christ.

The Apostle Paul warned the church at Colossae:

"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."

(Colossians 2:8, ESV)

Notice that Paul does not simply warn us against philosophy or human tradition. He concludes with the words, "...and not according to Christ." That is the standard by which every teaching, philosophy, tradition, opinion, and claimed spiritual truth is to be judged. Does it agree with Christ? Does it direct us to Christ as He has been revealed in the Scriptures, or does it quietly persuade us to place our confidence elsewhere? This is precisely why the Bible, the written Word of God, must always remain the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. 

Every doctrine, teaching, opinion, tradition, and personal experience must be brought before the Scriptures and tested by them. We are not at liberty to measure God's Word by our own understanding; rather, our understanding must continually be measured by God's Word. If the Scriptures testify of Christ, then they alone are God's appointed standard by which every claim concerning Him is to be examined.

Mr Worldly Wiseman has never disappeared. He still speaks through every voice that urges us to place our confidence in human wisdom rather than in divine revelation. He still points men and women away from God's appointed way and towards a path that appears easier, more acceptable, and more reasonable.

Before we move on, perhaps we should ask ourselves an honest question. Have there been times when we have accepted advice simply because it sounded reasonable, without first asking whether it aligned with the Word of God? Have we allowed the wisdom of this world to shape our thinking more than the Scriptures that testify of Christ?

In our next study, we shall meet the man to whom Mr Worldly Wiseman directed Christian-Legality. There we shall discover why morality, good works, and keeping the law can never remove the burden of sin.

Signing off

Tyrone

Scripture References: Genesis 3:1–6; Colossians 2:8; Proverbs 3:5–6; Isaiah 55:8–9; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; John 5:39.

Are We Looking for Jesus in the Wrong Places?

Part 2 – The First Responses to the Gospel

In Part 1, we established that God has not left us to discover Christ through our own imagination, religious traditions, personal experiences, or the opinions of men. The Lord Jesus Himself answered the question of where we should look.

"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me."

(John 5:39, ESV)

If we are to look unto Jesus, we must look where God has chosen to reveal Him. The Scriptures testify of Christ.

With that foundation laid, we now begin our journey through Pilgrim's Progress. John Bunyan introduces us to a number of memorable characters, each representing a different distraction, temptation, or attitude of the heart. Rather than simply studying Bunyan's allegory, let us use these characters as mirrors to examine ourselves in the light of God's Word.

Obstinate – The Man Who Refused to Listen

Every journey must begin with a first step.

Christian had become burdened by the knowledge of his sin after reading the Book. He understood that the City of Destruction was under God's judgment and that he must flee if he were to be saved. Yet not everyone who heard the same warning responded as he did.

One of the first men we meet is Obstinate, and his name tells us almost everything we need to know about him. Christian pleaded with him to consider the danger. He spoke of the coming judgment and urged him to leave with him, but Obstinate would hear none of it. His mind was made up before the conversation had even begun. He dismissed the warning, ridiculed the journey, and eventually returned to the very city from which Christian was fleeing.

At first glance we may think that Obstinate represents only the unbeliever who openly rejects the Gospel. Certainly he does represent such people. Every generation has those who refuse to hear the Word of God, regardless of how plainly it is preached. No amount of evidence, persuasion, or pleading will move a heart that has already determined not to believe.

Before we conclude that Obstinate has nothing to teach the believer, perhaps we should ask ourselves a more searching question. Is it possible for Christians to display the very same spirit?

How often have we read a passage of Scripture that challenged us, only to explain it away because it demanded a change we were unwilling to make? How often have we defended a tradition, an opinion, or a long-held belief simply because we had already decided we could not be wrong? Have we ever resisted correction because it was easier to remain comfortable than to submit to the Word of God?

Obstinacy is not merely refusing to hear the Gospel; it is refusing to hear God.

The Pharisees searched the Scriptures, yet when those very Scriptures pointed them to Christ, they refused to believe Him. Jesus said,

"...yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life."

(John 5:40, ESV)

Notice that Jesus did not say they could not come; He said they would not come. Their problem was not a lack of evidence but a stubbornness of heart. They searched the very Scriptures that testified of Christ, yet they refused the One to whom those Scriptures pointed.

How different is the attitude of the believer who truly looks unto Jesus. He comes to the Scriptures, not to prove himself right, but to be taught. He is willing to have his opinions corrected, his traditions examined, and his life brought into conformity with the Word of God. His desire is not merely to defend what he has always believed, but to know Christ more perfectly through the testimony God has given concerning His Son.

Before we leave Obstinate behind, let us ask ourselves one final question.

Is there any area of my life where I already know what the Scriptures say, yet I have quietly decided that I will not obey them?

If so, then Obstinate has not merely crossed our path.

He has found a place within our own hearts.

Pliable – The Man Who Started Well

If Obstinate represents the man who refuses to begin the journey, Pliable represents the man who begins with enthusiasm but without conviction.

Unlike Obstinate, Pliable was willing to listen. The promise of the Celestial City appealed to him, and he gladly joined Christian on the journey. Everything appeared promising—until they both fell into the Slough of Despond.

It was there that Pliable's true character was revealed.

The difficulties of the journey quickly outweighed the joys that had first attracted him. Rather than pressing on, he blamed Christian for his troubles, climbed out of the mire, and returned to the City of Destruction.

His faith lasted only as long as the journey was easy.

Sadly, Pliable is just as common today. Many gladly receive the message of salvation while it promises peace, blessing, purpose, and hope. Yet when following Christ brings opposition, sacrifice, disappointment, or suffering, their enthusiasm quickly fades.

Jesus described such people in the Parable of the Sower.

"Yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away." (Matthew 13:21, ESV)

The issue was never the seed.

The issue was the root.

Saving faith is not measured by how enthusiastically we begin, but by whom we continue to trust when the road becomes difficult. The Christian life has never been promised to be an easy path. Our Lord Himself said that those who would follow Him must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him.

Every believer will eventually encounter his own Slough of Despond. For some it will be suffering. For others it will be unanswered prayer, persecution, loss, temptation, or disappointment. Those moments often reveal whether our faith rests in Christ Himself or merely in the blessings we hoped to receive from Him.

Before we leave Pliable behind, we should ask ourselves another searching question.

Am I following Christ because He is worthy to be followed, or only because I expect the journey to be easy?

Before we move on to the next characters in Bunyan's remarkable allegory, it is worth pausing to reflect on what we have already seen. Obstinate and Pliable represent two very different responses to the Gospel, yet neither reached the Celestial City. One refused to begin the journey, while the other began with enthusiasm but faltered when the path became difficult.

The Christian life is not measured by how we start, but by whether we continue looking unto Jesus through every trial, every disappointment, and every temptation. As we continue this study, we shall discover that Bunyan's next characters become even more subtle in their attempts to draw our eyes away from Christ. Some will appeal to our reason, others to our pride, our desires, or even our religion. Yet every distraction has the same objective—to persuade us to look somewhere other than where God has directed us.

In our next study, we shall meet one of the most persuasive characters in Pilgrim's Progress: Mr Worldly Wiseman. His advice sounds reasonable, compassionate, and even helpful. Yet beneath his counsel lies one of the greatest dangers facing the Church today.

Signing off,

Tyrone

Scripture References: Matthew 13:3–9; Matthew 13:18–23; Luke 9:62; James 1:22–25; Hebrews 3:12–14; John 6:66–69.

Are We Looking for Jesus in the Wrong Places?

 

Part 1 – The Foundation

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..."

(Hebrews 12:2)

There are certain passages of Scripture that we become so familiar with that we seldom stop to consider what they are actually saying. Hebrews 12:2 is one of them. We readily agree that we are to look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, but have we ever asked ourselves how we are to obey such a command?

The disciples had no difficulty understanding these words. They walked with Christ, listened to His teaching, witnessed His miracles, and followed Him wherever He went. We cannot do that today, for Christ has ascended to the Father. Yet the command has not changed. We are still exhorted to look unto Jesus.

If God commands us to do something, He must also provide the means by which we may obey that command. He has not left us to search according to our own imagination, nor has He left us to depend upon dreams, visions, emotions, traditions, or the opinions of men. If we are to look unto Christ, then God Himself must tell us where Christ is to be found.

The Lord Jesus Himself answered that question plainly.

"Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." (John 5:39)

The command to "look unto Jesus" is neither an impossible command nor a mysterious one. God has already provided the means whereby we are to know His Son. We are not directed to feelings, experiences, visions, traditions, or the opinions of men. We are directed to the Holy Scriptures, for they testify of Christ. If we neglect the Scriptures, we shall inevitably begin looking for Christ where He has never promised to reveal Himself.

There is our answer.

The Scriptures testify of Christ.

If we desire to know Him, understand Him, follow Him, and keep our eyes fixed upon Him, then we must search the Scriptures. Every doctrine, every preacher, every experience, every tradition, and every spiritual claim must be tested by the written Word, because it is the written Word that bears witness to the Living Word.

This immediately presents another challenge.

If Christ is revealed through the Scriptures, then why do so many believers find themselves distracted? Why do so many begin well, only to wander from the simplicity that is in Christ? Why are so many drawn after teachings, movements, personalities, and worldly philosophies that gradually shift their attention away from Him?

Perhaps the answer is not as difficult as we imagine.

John Bunyan understood something about the Christian life that remains as true today as it was when he wrote Pilgrim's Progress. Through the journey of a man named Christian, Bunyan portrays the many voices, temptations, and distractions that seek to draw believers away from Christ. His characters are memorable not because they belong only to an allegory, but because we continue to meet them every day. More importantly, if we are honest with ourselves, we may even discover that some of them have found a place within our own hearts.

Mr. Worldly Wiseman still offers advice that sounds wiser than God's Word.

Legality still persuades men that acceptance with God is found through their own efforts.

Talkative still fills churches with those who speak much about religion while knowing little of Christ.

Demas still beckons believers to pursue the riches and pleasures of this world.

Giant Despair still imprisons many of God's children behind the walls of doubt and discouragement.

Ignorance still convinces sincere people that sincerity alone is sufficient.

The names have not changed because human nature has not changed.

This study is not intended to examine Bunyan's literary genius, remarkable though it was. Neither is it an attempt to elevate Pilgrim's Progress to the level of Scripture. Rather, we shall use Bunyan's characters as mirrors in which to examine ourselves. Each one represents a distraction capable of drawing our eyes away from Christ. As we consider them one by one, we must ask ourselves an uncomfortable question: Have I listened to this voice? Have I entertained this way of thinking? Has this distraction, perhaps unnoticed, drawn my attention away from the One whom I am commanded to behold?

For every character Bunyan introduces, we shall return to the Scriptures, because it is there that Christ is revealed. It is there that error is exposed. It is there that every distraction is answered.

If we are truly to look unto Jesus, then we must continually return to the testimony that God Himself has given concerning His Son.

Signing off,

Tyrone Arthur

Scripture References: Hebrews 12:2; John 5:39; Luke 24:27; Luke 24:44–45; 2 Timothy 3:15–17; Acts 17:11; Colossians 2:8.

Routine...

Routine is a comfortable place to live. How do I know this is true? This morning I woke up without internet. The fibre had been down since 22:00 the previous evening. I was hoping to get on top of the day, but at 04:45 I was still without a connection. I quickly realised how dependent I have become upon it. Work, blogging, communication, entertainment, research, and even the simplest of daily tasks all seem to require an internet connection. Without it I found myself feeling strangely lost and unproductive.

Rather than moving into a tailspin, my thoughts drifted back to an earlier time. A time when a Bible was a physical book in my hands and not simply another application on a screen. There was something about turning pages, feeling the paper between your fingers, and taking the time to slowly work through a passage. Life seemed simpler then, although the demands of life were no different. Every generation has had to work, survive, raise families, face hardships, and ultimately confront death. Yet there was an advantage to the slower pace. When we slow down, we tend to absorb more.

As I sat reflecting on this, my thoughts drifted toward a question that Christians often wrestle with. If we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, and if God accepts us because of His Son's sacrifice, why are there still so many instructions in Scripture about how we should live? The answer appears obvious at first, but I think it deserves closer examination.

If I fail and fall into sin, does that disqualify me from salvation? No. Christ paid the penalty for that sin. If He did not, then that sin would still need to be judged and paid for. God is holy and perfect in character. He does not accept bribes, nor does He simply turn a blind eye to wrongdoing. Justice demands that sin be dealt with.

This is where the discussion becomes interesting. Man entered into sin in the Garden of Eden. The covenant was broken, and every generation since has inherited the consequences of that rebellion. The evidence is everywhere. We do not have to teach children how to lie, become selfish, or put themselves first. Those things seem to come naturally. Scripture teaches that we inherit a fallen nature, and human history confirms it.

Now here is the question that many avoid asking. If we inherit this sinful nature, and if that nature inevitably produces sin, how can God hold us accountable?

It is not a new question. In fact, Paul anticipates the objection in Romans. The natural response of fallen man is to question the fairness of God's dealings with mankind. If we are born with a nature inclined toward sin, how can we be blamed for acting according to that nature? Yet Paul never arrives at the conclusion that mankind is innocent. Instead, he reminds us that the Creator has rights that belong to the Creator alone. We may not fully understand every aspect of God's dealings with humanity, but Scripture never presents us as innocent victims. We inherit a fallen nature, yet we willingly participate in sin. We are corrupted by sin, but we are also guilty of it.

The believer knows this through the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the testimony of Scripture, but the unbeliever is not without witness. God has given every person a conscience that testifies to right and wrong. It may be ignored, suppressed, or even seared over time, but it remains a witness against us. That is why mankind is accountable. We not only inherit a fallen nature; we repeatedly act upon it despite knowing better. If mankind's problem was simply ignorance, education would have solved it long ago. Yet the most educated societies on earth still lie, cheat, steal, hate, and murder. The problem runs far deeper than a lack of information. The problem is the nature itself.

In a human court of law, a defence attorney may argue that a person was born with a condition that influenced their behaviour. Such an argument may even reduce their culpability. Yet Scripture does not arrive at that conclusion. While the Bible acknowledges the reality of our fallen nature, it also makes it abundantly clear that we willingly participate in sin. We are not merely affected by it; we practise it.

The Apostle Paul understood this tension better than most. In Romans 7 he describes a battle that every believer recognises. He knew what was right yet often found himself doing the opposite. His mind agreed with God's law, yet another principle seemed to wage war within him.

"For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." (Romans 7:19)

I think most of us can relate to that statement. How often have we known exactly what we should do, only to find ourselves doing something else? Our actions often contradict what our minds know to be true.

This is why I do not want to underplay what I call the sinful gene. Not because it makes us innocent, but because it demonstrates how hopeless our situation really is. If every human being inherits a fallen nature, and every human being apart from Christ eventually sins, then what chance do we really have of standing before a holy God based upon our own merit? The answer, if we are honest, is none. Not a little chance or a slim chance, but no chance at all. The deeper we understand the problem, the brighter the gospel shines.

If salvation depended upon my ability to overcome my sinful nature through determination, discipline, religious effort, or good intentions, I would be hopelessly lost. The same would be true for every person reading these words. God did not leave mankind to solve a problem that mankind could never solve. Because He is just, sin had to be judged. Because He is merciful, He provided a substitute.

He sent His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into the world. Jesus lived the life we could never live. He faced temptation in every area of life yet never sinned. He fulfilled every righteous requirement of God and then willingly went to the Cross to pay the penalty for sinners. That sacrifice was not temporary, symbolic, or one of many sacrifices. It was, as Scripture declares, a once-for-all sacrifice.

The question then becomes, what am I supposed to do with that information?

The answer is not to attempt to earn God's favour through religious effort, nor is it to convince yourself that your good deeds somehow outweigh your bad ones. Scripture points us in a different direction altogether.

When the Philippian jailer asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" the answer came back clearly: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." (Acts 16:30-31).

Paul writes similarly in Romans: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9)

This requires honesty. We must acknowledge our sin and our inability to save ourselves. We must come to God on His terms, not ours, calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in faith. Scripture makes the promise that "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." 

(Romans 10:13)

The resurrection stands as God's declaration that Christ's sacrifice was accepted, and that death itself has been conquered. Scripture records that the risen Christ appeared to more than 500 witnesses after His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:6).

Do you believe this?

That is the question every person must answer. Outside Christ, our chances are none. We cannot save ourselves, because the problem runs deeper than our actions; it reaches into our very nature. Christ is not merely one path among many. He is the only hope any sinner has of reconciliation with God.

This brings me back to where my morning began. An internet outage reminded me how uncomfortable we become when routine is interrupted. Yet perhaps interruptions are not always a bad thing. Sometimes they force us to slow down, think deeply, and revisit truths that we have allowed familiarity to hide from view. One of those truths is this: apart from Christ, I am lost. Not merely inconvenienced by sin or struggling with sin but genuinely lost and without hope. That reality is what makes the grace of God so remarkable.

Signing off,

Tyrone

Related passages: Romans 2:14-15; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12-19; Romans 7:14-25; Romans 9:14-24; John 3:16-18.