Stunning as the difference between light and dark, between salvation and damnation, is the picture John Bunyan paints of the differing views of Christian and Ignorance. These two opposite people are both on seemingly the same path to the Celestial City, but their destinations are marked by their beliefs--their beliefs of faith and salvation--and whether they are true, or false.
Faith. Both Christian and Ignorance know the concept of faith--that it is the act of believing, but they put their faith, their believing, in different things. While Christian puts his faith in the work Christ did on the cross, Ignorance puts his faith in his own obeying of the commandments laid out by Christ. As they walk down the road to the Celestial City, Christian asks Ignorance what he puts his faith in, and to this he replies with “I shall be justified before God from the curse, through His gracious acceptance of my obedience to His law." Christian stands aghast that Ignorance could have such a belief as this, for “true justifying faith puts the soul, as sensible of its lost condition by the law, upon flying for refuge unto Christ’s righteousness." He goes on to explain that true faith depends only upon Christ’s redeeming work upon the cross, and that the debt for sin was already paid. Ignorance’s faith was a “fantastical, false faith,” for “this faith maketh not Christ a justifier of thy [speaking of Ignorance] person, but of thy actions; and of thy person for thy action’s sake, which is false." As these two men compare beliefs, it is shown that one is a child in thought and the other a man planted firm in the truth of Christ.
Salvation. Even as faith and salvation are entwined, so the placing of faith determines either salvation or condemnation; this was shown as the conversation deepened between Christian and Ignorance. Christian believed that salvation comes from believing and accepting Christ’s gift and claiming His righteousness and name before God the Father, knowing that in himself he was nothing and condemned. On the other hand, Ignorance believed that salvation would be granted to him because of his adherence to the law, for he did not believe that his own soul was sinful and his heart was deceitful, and therefore he had no personal need of Christ’s righteousness to save him. Because Christian placed his faith in Christ, his soul was saved; but Ignorance placed his faith in what he did, and was rejected.
As the tale of Pilgrim’s Progress drew to a close, Christian was seen swimming the river of death, and then was escorted by angels to the gates of the Celestial City, where he was accepted joyfully into the kingdom and arms of Christ, his Redeemer; but Ignorance was seen hiring a boat to help him cross the river, and then climbing slowly up the hill to the gate of the City. At the gate he knocked and knocked, until an angel peered out and asked why he knocked, for Heaven did not know him, and Christ did not know him. He was perceived as an unwashed intruder and was drug away to the pit reserved for those who did not accept the gift of Christ’s redemption on the cross. Along the path the conversation between Christian and Ignorance seemed like a trifle and a matter of no use, but pride and arrogance could not, and never will, earn a place in the City that God has prepared for those who trust in Him.
