Derek Thomas

And Christian says, no, he doesn't see it. But then instead, Evangelist says, well, do you see yon wicked gate, the straight gate? Straight is the gate that enters into everlasting life, and broad is the gate that leads to hell. Do you see that straight gate? And that's been a question that's been asked.

Why did Bunyan have Christian go to the straight gate rather than go to the cross, rather than go to Calvary, rather than go straight to Jesus? And I think the answer to that is Bunyan's own experience, his autobiographical experience of salvation, that he was under conviction of sin where he couldn't see the solution. He couldn't see the answer to his need.

Why did Bunyan have Christian go to the straight gate rather than go to the cross, rather than go to Calvary, rather than go straight to Jesus? And I think the answer to that is Bunyan's own experience, his autobiographical experience of salvation, that he was under conviction of sin where he couldn't see the solution. He couldn't see the answer to his need.

And Christian then, he's not yet a Christian, of course. He's actually called Graceless. We learn this later. His name is changed to Christian. And he says, sir, I perceive by my book in my hand, he's talking to evangelists, that I am condemned to die and after that to come to judgment. And I find I'm unwilling to do the first nor able to do the latter.

And Christian then, he's not yet a Christian, of course. He's actually called Graceless. We learn this later. His name is changed to Christian. And he says, sir, I perceive by my book in my hand, he's talking to evangelists, that I am condemned to die and after that to come to judgment. And I find I'm unwilling to do the first nor able to do the latter.

He doesn't want to die, and he cannot think of coming before God in judgment. And evangelist tells him where he needs to go. He needs to go to the wicked gate. Well, this is the gate of entry that Jesus speaks of in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 7. And then let me pick up part of what evangelist then says to Christian.

He doesn't want to die, and he cannot think of coming before God in judgment. And evangelist tells him where he needs to go. He needs to go to the wicked gate. Well, this is the gate of entry that Jesus speaks of in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 7. And then let me pick up part of what evangelist then says to Christian.

He gives him a parchment roll, and it was written on this parchment roll, "'Fly from the wrath to come.'" And we read, "'The man therefore read it, and looking upon Evangelist, very carefully said, "'Whither must I fly?' Then said the evangelist, pointing with his finger over a very wide field, do you see yonder wicket gate? The man said, no. Then said the other, do you see yonder shining light?

He gives him a parchment roll, and it was written on this parchment roll, "'Fly from the wrath to come.'" And we read, "'The man therefore read it, and looking upon Evangelist, very carefully said, "'Whither must I fly?' Then said the evangelist, pointing with his finger over a very wide field, do you see yonder wicket gate? The man said, no. Then said the other, do you see yonder shining light?

He said, I think I do. Then said the evangelist, Keep that light in your eye, and go up directly thereto. So shalt thou see the gate at which, when thou knockest, it shall be told thee what to do. So I saw in my dream that the man began to run. Now he had not run far from his own door, but his wife and children, perceiving it, began to cry after him to return."

He said, I think I do. Then said the evangelist, Keep that light in your eye, and go up directly thereto. So shalt thou see the gate at which, when thou knockest, it shall be told thee what to do. So I saw in my dream that the man began to run. Now he had not run far from his own door, but his wife and children, perceiving it, began to cry after him to return."

But the man put his fingers in his ears and ran on crying, life, life, eternal life. So he looked not behind him, but fled towards the middle of the plain. Well, that's how Bunyan sets the scene in the opening two or three pages of Pilgrim's Progress. It's a scene of this man, Christian, actually called Graceless.

But the man put his fingers in his ears and ran on crying, life, life, eternal life. So he looked not behind him, but fled towards the middle of the plain. Well, that's how Bunyan sets the scene in the opening two or three pages of Pilgrim's Progress. It's a scene of this man, Christian, actually called Graceless.

And he is running with his fingers in his ears away from his wife and children and the city of destruction. And he's running, he doesn't quite know where, towards a light that is shining. But he's carrying this enormous burden upon his back. Well, this is a road trip. This is a great journey.

And he is running with his fingers in his ears away from his wife and children and the city of destruction. And he's running, he doesn't quite know where, towards a light that is shining. But he's carrying this enormous burden upon his back. Well, this is a road trip. This is a great journey.

It's a tale told in a style that is very familiar to us and especially I think in 2012 when we are living in an age in which fantasy literature is again very popular and Lord of the Rings, Tolkien is another road trip beginning in one place and ending in another.

It's a tale told in a style that is very familiar to us and especially I think in 2012 when we are living in an age in which fantasy literature is again very popular and Lord of the Rings, Tolkien is another road trip beginning in one place and ending in another.

And so for the next number of sessions, we're going to look at Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and see the journey that this man, Christian, makes to find salvation.

And so for the next number of sessions, we're going to look at Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and see the journey that this man, Christian, makes to find salvation.

Thank you.