Pilgrim's Progress: Ignorance Protests Imputed Righteousness

Previously we saw Ignorance make his Confession and Christian respond by demonstrating the faith described by Ignorance as Fantasy, False and Deceitful. In making his response Christian made no empty denouncements but along with them made also gospel declarations. And because the gospel is such good news Ignorance protests as follows:

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?

As we read this my 15 year old quoted Rom 6:1, "Shall we continue in sin that Grace may abound?"

How would answer Ignorance at this point? True the gospel is so good, Chris has indeed in his own person done without us. But is it true that "this conceit" as Ignorance terms, will lead us into all lust. Does the gospel truly understood free us to all kinds of SIN?

And we also answer as in Romans 6:2, NO, GOD FORBID, May it never be! How can we that are dead to sin live any longer therein. Even at the indeed of his book, does Bunyan repeatedly address also this matter of sanctification on gospel terms.

My 11 year old this morning reminded us that Though the law shows us very well what we must do it does not give us the ability to do it. The law condemns but it does not save.

How Christian responds to Ignorance's Protest:
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 thy 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.

I love it all, but note especially this word: "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."

The Answer lies in this: "the true effects of saving faith."

Saving Faith is effectual in the life of the believer. We believe because we have been born again. And being born-again we are new creations in Christ Jesus. We live from new principals. The Spirit of the Living God indwells us now, and He works in us both to WILL and TO DO of his good pleasure. Phil 2:9.

Ignorance says: "This gospel is too good, believe that and there will be nothing to restrain you from all manner of loose-living, sin, and high treason. HOW IGNORANT is Ignorance to the true effects of saving faith! How can we who are dead to sin live any longer therein?"