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
No comments:
Post a Comment