The Gospel, Grace, and a Terrible Goody-Goody

  Recently, my Mom started reading the children's version of Pilgrim's Progress to my little brothers. The other day I heard them reading the part where Christian encounters Worldly Wiseman on his way to the wicket gate, which will lead him to salvation through grace. Worldly Wiseman advises Christian to turn away from the path to the wicket gate and to go the house of Mr. Legality in the town of morality so he may be freed of his burden. Instead of running to grace for freedom from his sin, Christian turned to the house of Mr. Legality where he hoped to become good enough to earn his salvation. One might criticize Christian for the foolishness of his decision, but turning to our own goodness as hope for salvation is an easy thing to do. Sadly, I find myself trying to do the same thing.
  Morality is good. But being a moral person does not give a body salvation. And when one lives their life trying to simply be moral, they often become a legalistic person as well. Priding themselves in a false righteousness which they think will merit God's favor.
  As a fallen person, I cannot actually attain goodness. All of my efforts fall immeasurably short of perfection. The deeds I do are broken and no effort of my own is going to save me. Rather, I am saved by a gospel of grace. In spite of all things I have done, both good and bad, I am a child of God. And I am a child of God because of the work of Christ. I am saved because Christ came to this earth and lived the holy and perfect life I could never hope to. Then He died in my place and bore the punishment I deserve. Finally, He rose from the dead. He conquered death so I can forever be with Him. That is what saves me. Not my own ability to keep the law, but Christ's having kept it for me.
  In Pilgrim's Progress, Christian also finds the same to be true. On his was to Mr. Legality's house, Christian encounters the law and realizes his complete and utter inability to keep it. So Christian returns to the path which will lead him to the wicket gate. After going through the wicket gate, Christian finds his way to the foot of the cross and to the opening of the empty tomb. Christian throws himself on the grace of God and is saved by the work of Christ alone. Like me, Christian had no goodness to save him. He was saved by the love of God.