The Pilgrim’s Progress, week 2, Tuesday, chapter 6

THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS

FROM THIS WORLD, TO THAT WHICH IS TO COME

CHAPTER 6

WEEK 2 – TUESDAY

Read and pray: “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Pet. 1:23)

Christian arrives at the Cross

His burden falls from his shoulders, he is justified,
and receives a garment and a certificate of adoption [sonship]¹ into the family of God.

MY dream continued. I saw Christian walking along a path that was bordered on both sides by walls called salvation (Isaiah 26:1). He was walking with great difficulty because of the burden on his back, but his steps were quick and steady; I saw him come to a small hill where a cross stood, and a little below it, a tomb. As soon as he reached the cross, his burden was loosened instantly from his shoulders and, rolling down, it fell into the tomb and never came out again.

How relieved and joyful Christian became! “Blessed be He who, through His sufferings, has given me rest, and through His death has given me life!” he exclaimed. He stood still for a moment, enraptured, as he contemplated the great benefit the cross had just brought him; he looked from side to side in awe, until his heart overflowed with abundant tears (Zechariah 12:10).

He was weeping when three shining beings appeared before him and greeted him with: “Peace be to you.” Then the first of them said: “Your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5). The second, taking off his filthy clothes, clothed him with a festive robe (Zechariah 3:4), and the third, placing a mark on his forehead (Ephesians 1:13), handed him a sealed certificate, which he was to ponder over along the way and present upon arriving at the Celestial City.

Upon seeing all these things, Christian felt immense joy and continued his journey, singing more or less these words:

“I always walked oppressed beneath the weight of all my sin, No balm could I find for my suffering until I came to this place. Where am I? Oh! surely here begins my blessedness, For here the chains were broken that bound the burden to my shoulders. I salute you, O blessed cross! Blessed be the holy sepulcher! Blessed be forever the One who was buried in you for my sins.”

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¹ There is no scriptural basis for believing that Christians were adopted by God. God did not find us in an orphanage; He begot us in Christ. “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’” (Gal. 4:6)

“‘Abba’ is an Aramaic word that means ‘father’. After being regenerated, we are no longer merely God’s creatures; we are His children. Now that we are born of God and are related to Him in life, it is very normal and sweet to call Him ‘Father.’” – Commentary by Witness Lee on note 2 of Rom. 8:15 (Recovery Version Bible)

Enjoy more:

Hymn "His Righteousness"

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