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Lesson Five - Christian Arrives at the Place of Deliverance and Later Meets Simple, Sloth, and Presumption

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 Reading: Pp. 37 ~ 39

 Summary:

     It is in this lesson that Christian arrives at the cross and loses the burdens that were once upon his back. It is then that you see God’s wondrous salvation and forgiveness. Christian also meets the three shining ones and from them, he receives forgiveness of his sins, he was given a change of raiment, and he was given a mark on his forehead and a roll. As he continues on the journey, he comes across three men, Simple, Sloth, and Presumption who were fast asleep with chains upon their feet. It is because these three men had no hope and desire to do anything and that’s what keeps them chained and always having the urge to keep sleeping. Emily Lu

 Main Subjects:

1. The great deliverance which our pilgrim had so desperately sought had now been accomplished. We have here a wonderful picture of God's salvation. Forgiveness, justification, and sealing are all things that happen at the cross where Christian loses his symbolic burden of sins.
        Part 1
        Part 2
2. Christian sees three men laying there fast asleep with chains upon their feet. Their names were: Simple, Sloth, and Presumption. Note that the relief of Christian's sinful Burden at the cross is not the conclusion. Bunyan suggests salvation is momentary and progressive. Therefore, the newly convicted Christian should continue to make his way through a perilous world.
        Part 1
        Part 2
3. Verses
4. Vocabulary

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1. When does the burden fall from Christian's back? What is the point of this fact of the story? --back to top--

• The burden falls from Christian’s back when he came to a place that was somewhat ascending and it was upon that place that there stood a cross and below it, there was a sepulchre. It was at that very place that the burden upon Christian’s back fell. This shows the greatness of God’s salvation and forgiveness that he has given to Christian. Emily Lu

• The burden falls from Christian’s back when Christian runs up a hill that has a cross on top of it with a tomb underneath it. As Christian comes up to the cross, his burden fell from his back, representing his salvation, and it tumbled down the hill “until it fell into the mouth of the sepulcher and was seen no more.” Thus, the point is that, looking onto the cross, Christian is saved by Christ and he is relieved of his burden. Joshua Ma
• The burden falls from Christian’s back when Christian is running on a road and comes up to a cross, which is standing on a hill. As he comes up to this place, the burden loosens from his shoulders and falls into the opening of a stone tomb (that is located at the bottom of the hill), where it is buried.  This part of the story resembles what the Bible tells us. When the burden falls, it symbolizes the death of Jesus Christ, because Jesus died for our sins. When Christian’s burden falls into the tomb and is buried, it demonstrates that Christian’s burden has really been dealt with. In the Bible, this part represents the burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Vicki Shen
• When Christian came up with the cross, his burden loosed off from his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and tumbled and tumbled until it went to the mouth of the sepulchre. What this means is that after Christian went to Christ’s cross, his (Christian’s) sins were forgiven, and so his burden (sin) fell off his back. Jennifer Lee
• At the cross, Christian’s burden is taken off by the first shining one. This means that if you believe in God, he will take your burden off. However, you must continue to follow the bible. Angela Zhou
• When Christian walks up to the cross, his burden falls. I think this is because here is the place where Jesus died. The meaning (I think) is that Jesus forgave us and died on the cross for us many years ago, and is still willing to forgive us forevermore. Janna Qiao
• When Christian arrives at the cross, the burden falls from his back. The point is that the Lord saves Christian, by the cross and so his burden of sin is washed away.  Elaine Lee
• The burden fell off of Christian’s back when he ran until he came to a cross. Then, his burden fell off, and then it fell into the sepulcher and was gone. When the burden fell into the mouth of the sepulcher, it represented the death of Jesus, because he died for our sins. David Shen
• The burden falls from Christians back when he stops at the cross. His burden loosened up and fell off his back. This shows us Gods love for us that he is willing to give Christian a second chance and to forgive him. Samuel Lu
• When Christian arrives at the cross, his burden falls off. Jesus—who is the cross—can cure people, and he cured Christian of his burden. Michelle Lee

2.What 3 things does he receive immediately afterwards from 3 "shining ones"?--back to top--

• Christian receives from the Three Shining Ones:
       From the first one, Christian’s sins were forgiven
       From the second one, Christian was stripped of his rags and given a change of raiment.
       Lastly, from the third, Christian was given a mark on his forehead and a roll with a seal upon it. Christian was told to give in at the Celestial City’s Gate. Emily Lu
• The three things he receives from three “shining ones” are a change of garments, a mark upon his forehead, and a scroll with a seal on it. The new garments, a change from his old rags, represent the rags of his “unrighteousness” being taken away and replaced with a robe of “righteousness.” The mark upon his forehead, on the other hand, represents separation from the others, being set apart, while the seal is God’s declaration concerning Christian being marked out as belonging to God. In addition, Christian also “receives” forgiveness for his sins from them. Joshua Ma
• The three things he receives immediately afterwards from the “3 shining ones” are a complete change of garment, a mark upon his forehead and a scroll with a seal on it, which should be handed in upon arrival at the Celestial City. Also, his sins are forgiven by the “3 shining ones.” The forgiving of Christian’s sins signifies that God is at peace with Christian. The complete change of garment represents Christ’s righteousness, compared to Christian’s old rags of unrighteousness. The mark on Christian’s forehead shows that God set him apart from everyone else as a true child of God. The sealed scroll symbolizes God’s sealing declaration that Christian belongs to God. Vicki Shen
• Christian received a mark on his forehead, a roll with a seal upon it, and was also stripped from his rags and was clothed with a change of raiment. Jennifer Lee
• The first shining one took his burden off. The second one took off his rags and gave him clothes. The third one placed the mark of Christ on his head and gives him a copy of the Bible. Angela Zhou
• Christian receives the knowledge of forgiven sins of his, he then receives raiment from the second shining one, and last but not least, he receives the seal of God. Janna Qiao
• Christian receives a coat, a mark and a roll with a seal, and was forgiven of his sins. Elaine Lee
• From the “3 shining ones”, Christian received a change of garment, a mark on his forehead, and a scroll with a seal on it, which Christian was supposed to hand in when he got to the Celestial City. Also, his sins were forgiven. David Shen
• Christian receives forgiveness from the first shining one. He then got clothed by the second shining one. And the last shining one gave Christian a mark on his forehead gave him a roll with a seal on it which he told him to give it in to the Celestial Gate. Samuel Lu
• Christian’s sins were forgiven, a change of raiment, and a mark on his forehead. Michelle Lee

3. What is the meaning of the circumstances in which Christian finds Simple, Sloth, and Presumption? --back to top--

• Christian finds Simple, Sloth, and presumption asleep. He wakes them up and offers to help them but they don’t even consider the help Christian is willing to give and just continues sleeping. Emily Lu
• Christian finds Simple, Sloth, and Presumption asleep at the bottom of the hill, with chains attached to their heels. There is Simple, who represents “spiritual dullness,” or being spiritually ignorant; there is Sloth, who represents “spiritual lethargy,” or being too “tired” to seek God. Presumption, on the other hand, represents “spiritual haughtiness,” or not wanting to seek God because one feels self-sufficient enough. All of these represent self-induced “conditions,” or things a sinful person can bring onto themselves. They are in spiritual ruin, and are in danger if they do not repent. Joshua Ma
• Simple represents spiritual dullness; he has spiritual plainness combined from spiritual ignorance. Sloth represents spiritual lethargy; he has immoral inactivity combined from immoral indulgence. Presumption represents spiritual haughtiness; he has too much confidence combined from pride. They all self-inflicted a spiritual restriction upon themselves, one that they’re too lazy to break out of. The circumstances in which Christian finds Simple, Sloth, and Presumption are that they are sleeping. This shows that they have spiritual ignorance. They refuse to wake up or get up, even when Christian urgently advised them to. As a result, they are clearly and spiritually suffering from an impending danger of self-destruction and perishing from ignorance and neglect. Vicki Shen
• It means that since Simple, Sloth, and Presumption were so lazy, they were chained up and lost their freedom. Jennifer Lee

• The three people, Simple, Sloth, and Presumption are unwilling to go on, so instead they sleep. They have no desire to go to the City. They feel that what they have done already is enough. Janna Qiao

• A little way off the cross, Christian finds Simple, sloth and presumption. They are sleeping, with shackles at their feet. This shows us that we must not slack off once we begin being saved.  God’s full salvation does not happen within a second. Angela Zhou

• When Christian finds Simple, Sloth, and Presumption, this means that if they grow lazy, they will be chained and would have no freedom. Elaine Lee

• When Christian meets Simple, Sloth, and Presumption, he saw that they were sleeping. The meaning of this is that Simple, Sloth, and Presumption are lazy and ignorant. They don’t want to pay attention to God. David Shen

• Christian finds three men sleeping. Their names are Simple, Sloth, and Presumption. He offered to help them but they all refused. Samuel Lu

• It means that Simple, Sloth, and Presumption are very lazy and that they are not even aware of the fact that they have lost their freedom. Michelle Lee

4. What are we to learn from those who sleep along the way? --back to top--

• We learn from these three that:
  Simple- sees no danger and can’t encounter anything that may seem difficult just like the meaning of his name.
  Sloth- you can tell, just from his name that he is lazy. All he replies to Christian is to continue sleeping
  Presumption- He just replies that every fat must stand upon his own bottom. Emily Lu

• After just experiencing salvation, Christian eagerly awakens the three, telling them to repent and believe – no doubt he expected a repentant and sorrowful response. He is, however, met with scorn for his concern and advice. Simple claims there is no danger, so he should continue to sleep, while Sloth mumbles for more sleep and not wanting to wake up; Presumption claims he needs no help. This represents some pilgrims’ unwillingness to being awakened, to being counseled, and to being unshackled, things they willingly do themselves. Joshua Ma

• What we are to learn from these three who sleep a little off the way is that we should not be neglectful pilgrims, like Simple, Sloth, and Presumption. We should be awakened, counseled, and unshackled. We should not be so blind as to not desire to see, be so bigoted as to prefer error to truth, and be so captive as to be blind and claim to see. Vicki Shen

• It means don’t be lazy, and accept the fact that people are willing to help. Don’t ignore people when they offer help. Simple, Sloth, and Presumption are way too lazy and they ignored Christian when he offered to unchain them. Jennifer Lee

• We must not shift off the path to heaven after the cross. We must commit ourselves to listen to God. Angela Zhou

• We learn that we must keep going to finis what we have started. Janna Qiao

• We are to learn not to ignore others peoples’ good advice and help. We are also to know that not to doze off and keep sleeping instead of reaching our goals.  Elaine Lee

• We can learn that we should never be lazy and we will get our reward. We should always be on track and never go off track like Simple, Sloth, and Presumption David Shen

• After waking the three men Simple replied,” I see no danger”. Sloth said,” He wanted more sleep and Presumption answered,” every fat must stand upon his bottom. Then they went back to sleep. We should learn from these three that we should not be lazy and give up. Samuel Lu

• Don’t become lazy and ignorant because you might lose your freedom and not even notice. Michelle Lee

Verses For The Pilgrim’s Progress pgs 37-39 Michelle Lee --back to top--

• Luke 3:17—His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
• Mark 2:5—when Jesus saw their faith, 0he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

• Zechariah 3:3-5—Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "see, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you." Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head." so they put a clean turban on his had and clothed him, while the angel of the lord stood by.

• Proverbs 23: 24—the father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has wise son delights in him.

• 1 Peter 5: 8—Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prows around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Lesson 5 Vocabulary Angela Zhou and Elaine Lee --back to top--