Season 5 Podcast 28 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 5, Chapter 2 A. “Goodwill.”

Season 5 Podcast 28 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 5, Chapter 2 A. “Goodwill.” In last week’s episode, Christian, after being led off the straight and narrow way, escaped Mr. Worldly Wiseman, Legality, Civility, and The Village of Morality which tried to lure him into the wisdom of the world rather than following the path outlined in the Bible. Evangelist helps guide Christian back on the straight and narrow path which leads to the Wicket Gate where he meets Mr. Goodwill.Then did Christian begin to go back to the right road; and Evangelist, after he had kissed him, gave him one smile, and bid him God speed; so he went on with haste, neither spake he to any man by the way; nor, if any asked him, would he give them an answer. He went like one that was all the while treading on forbidden ground, and could by no means think himself safe, till again he was got in the way which he had left to follow Mr. Worldly Wiseman's counsel: so after a time, Christian got up to the gate. Now, over the gate there was written, "Knock, and it shall be opened unto you."Part of the genius of Bunyan is in the meticulous way he analyzes the road to salvation. As we continue in Pilgrim’s Progress, note the role of freewill and agency. Let me first distinguish the difference between the two terms. First of all, intelligence self-exists. It cannot be created or destroyed. Intelligence is who we are. It is our consciousness. Will is inherent in our intelligence or spirit as is potential also. Freewill is a product of law. God created our spirit body in his image which houses our intelligence. The spirit has freewill, not the body. The spirit has intelligence, not the body. The spirit has life in itself, not the body. The body is subject to temporal laws.  The spirit isn’t. The body dies. The spirit doesn’t. The only way we can lose our freewill is to give it away. We are enticed by God to do good. We are enticed by Satan to do evil. The spirit, not the body or brain, chooses whom it will serve. God protects our freewill. Satan tries to take it away or have us forfeit it. Agency, on the other hand, is related to our knowledge of good and evil. Agency is the ability to choose between good and evil. We lose freewill when we willfully allow Satan to take over our spirit. We lose agency when we call good evil and evil good.  Notice the scripture referred to above, “Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” God does not impose his will upon you. That is among the differences between God and Satan. Satan will, if allowed, impose his will upon you. Satan seeks death and captivity. God seeks eternal life and freedom. That is among the primary differences between God and Satan. For the door to be opened to Christ, you must first knock. That preserves your agency. Also notice in the above that Christian had a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Humility is a necessary virtue to finding Christ. Worldly Wiseman, Legality, and Civility did not possess humility. They were proud and sought to replace God. The Village of Morality is a misnomer. Bunyan was being ironic. It could more accurately be called The Village of Sliding Ethics. It replaced the absolute laws of God with relative values. That is why it had no foundation. Christian continues to knock until someone answers. Notice that Christian has a broken heart and a contrite spirit."May I now enter here? Will He within Open to sorry me, though I have been An undeserving rebel? Then shall I Not fail to sing His lasting praise on high."The gate keeper knows that Christian is there; however, he does not run to the gate. Remember that Christian had veered off the straight and narrow path. Before entering the gate, he had to prove his humility.