The Pilgrim's Progress: A Readable Modern-Day Version of John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress (The Pilgrim's Progress Series Book 1)

by John Bunyan

“I’m searching for a joy that does not fade,” replied Christian, “a secure inheritance in Heaven that cannot be corrupted and will be given at the appointed time to those who earnestly search for it.”

“See that you do not refuse godly advice just like the nation of Israel did. For if God’s own people did not escape judgment and suffered for it, how much more will you suffer if you turn away from Him who warns you from heaven. And what’s more, He tells us that if we are His, we will live by faith, but if we turn our backs on Him, our souls will suffer without Him.

“There are three things in the man’s advice that you must absolutely hate: first, his cunning ability to turn you away from the true path; secondly, his work in displaying the cross as unpleasant and repulsive; and finally, that he points you in a direction that ultimately leads to death.”

This is to show how the law, instead of cleansing the heart from sin, revives sin, giving it strength to grow and develop in the soul.38 You can see that the law can both discover and condemn sin, but it has no power to control it.

“The things of this world are temporary, but the things we cannot see are eternal.41 But even though we know this to be true, it’s still very difficult. You see, our natural desires for the things of this world are very strong and adamantly opposed to spiritual desires for the world to come. It’s like they are close neighbors who will never get along.”

“This is Christ, who, with the oil of grace, continually maintains the work already begun in the heart.42 The grace He supplies ignites the soul of His people like a roaring fire that, despite the devil’s best efforts, will never be extinguished. This is a difficult concept for man to understand—that even when we are tempted, Christ is doing all the work by supplying the grace we need to stand firm.”

“I neglected to watch and be on guard. As a result, I stopped controlling my lust, and now it runs free; I sinned against the truth and goodness of God’s Word; I grieved the Holy Spirit, and now He’s gone; I flirted with temptation, and the devil came to me; I provoked God to anger, and He abandoned me. At last, I’ve hardened my heart to the point that I cannot repent.”

“Jesus has given me rest by means of His sorrow and life by means of His death!”

“Regardless of how high and difficult this hill is, I’m determined to walk up it because I know it leads to the Way of Life. I might become weak or even scared, but I will have courage and press on because it’s better to be on the right path, even if it’s difficult, than to go an easier way that ends in misery.”

The first was to understand how Christ, in opposition to Satan, maintains His work of grace in the heart.

we are mere foot soldiers and should never desire to meet an enemy in battle nor boast that we could do better when hearing of others who have been defeated. Nor should we entertain thoughts that our own spiritual maturity is braver than it is, because those that think this way often suffer the worst when tried.

When I thought of returning to sin, my conscience was completely overcome with guilt—even though my mind was content to remain in sin. I was tormented on both sides!”

he told me that this man was the Lord Jesus, who lives at the right hand of the Most High.184 He then explained that to be justified by Him, I must trust in what Jesus accomplished when He suffered while hanging on the cross.185

I understood I must look for righteousness in the person of Jesus Christ and for satisfaction for my sins by His blood. In obedience, Christ submitted to the penalty of His Father’s law for those who will accept it for their salvation with thankfulness. As a result, my heart was full of joy, my eyes flooded with tears, and my affections overflowed with love for the name, people, and ways of Jesus Christ.”