What the 1689 Baptist Confession Teaches About Knowing You Are Saved

Many readers of John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress remember the scene in which Christian leaves the City of Destruction and begins his journey toward the Celestial City. The story is an allegory of the Christian life, and Bunyan fills it with images that illustrate biblical theology.After Christian passes through the Narrow Gate and comes to the Cross, the burden on his back falls away. Three Shining Ones appear, clothing him in new garments and giving him a sealed scroll. Christian is not told everything the scroll contains, but he is told to keep it close and to present it when he reaches the Celestial City. As the story unfolds, the scroll becomes a source of comfort to him. When he looks at it, he has assurance that the journey will end in welcome rather than rejection.But then, on the Hill of Difficulty, Christian grows weary. He comes to a pleasant arbor built for the refreshment of pilgrims, sits down, pulls out his scroll, and reads it for comfort. Then he falls asleep.…