The pursuit of holiness

by Jerry Bridges

Paper Book, 1978

Status

Available

Description

This new edition replaces both The Pursuit of Holiness and the separate study guide by combining both resources into one volume!"Be holy, for I am holy," commands God. But holiness is something that is often missed in the Christian's daily life. According to Navigator author Jerry Bridges, that's because we're not exactly sure what our part in holiness is. In The Pursuit of Holiness, he helps us see clearly just what we should rely on God to do-and what we should take responsibility for ourselves. As you deepen your relationship with God, learn more about His character, and understand the Holy Spirit's role in holiness, your spiritual growth will mature. The included study guide contains 12 lessons.

Publication

Colorado Springs : Navpress, c1978.

Rating

(220 ratings; 4.2)

User reviews

LibraryThing member atimco
Jerry Bridges's slim little book is an eminently practical, biblical examination of the issue of holiness in the Christian life. The back cover calls holiness "the Christian's joint venture with God," and the tension between what God does and what the Christian is responsible for keeps this from
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being a legalistic recital of why we should be holy. Most Christians would agree that we should, but mental assent is not the same as obedience.

Bridges, a former U. S. Navy officer, is an engaging author who doesn't hesitate to talk about some of his own struggles, like his craving for ice cream, his temptations to "shade the truth" and cover up small offenses, his sweet tooth, his experiences in the service, etc. He writes well and clearly and his style is very readable. As I typed out the quotes below, I realized he, like me, has a great fondness for the m dash. (Long may it connect our thoughts and provide dramatic pauses—just where we want them!)

In the introduction, Bridges admits that the book is weighted more toward our responsibility to be holy than God's to make us so. But he states unequivocally that the Christian's holiness is not what saves him or makes him acceptable to God; rather, it is part of what comes with salvation. Christ's righteousness is imputed to us, as if we had lived His perfect life, and God accepts us on the basis of His Son. And yet it is undeniable that the New Testament places responsibility for personal holiness directly on the Christian; we are constantly exhorted to be holy, to control our sinful desires, to flee temptation, to throw off the sin that entangles us and run the race with perseverance... all active verbs. The book's title is fitting; it is all about our pursuit, our active work toward the goal set before us.

One chapter I really appreciated was the one titled "Holiness in Body." Bridges rightly points out that in Western Christianity, we have come to view excesses of gluttony and laziness as weakness of the will rather than sin (93). He talks about the importance of physical discipline, demonstrating that whatever gives our body and physical appetites ascendancy over our minds is "sin to you" (Susannah Wesley, 94).

I also appreciated how he highlights meditation as an essential part of Bible study. When we think of learning God's Word, we think of hearing it preached, reading it in our quiet time, and memorizing verses. What we often miss is the practice of meditating on—thinking about and turning over in our minds—God's Word. It isn't enough for me to study my daily passage, quote it, and then dismiss it from my mind. I need to think about it throughout my day, and that won't happen without discipline.

I liked, too, how Bridges emphasizes that holiness is not just abstaining from evil, but actively pursuing good. Christianity is not a vacuum, a list of do's and don'ts (mostly don'ts); it is a pursuit of God and the thoughts and actions that please Him.

One thing that made me a little uncomfortable was how Bridges often says God spoke to him. He never claims new revelation or anything crazy like that, but he will say "God spoke to my heart" or some similar phrase. Coming from a background in which God is often misquoted in subjective stories of personal spiritual revelations, I am extremely cautious of such claims. And yet at the same time, the Bible does say that the Holy Spirit will bring things to our remembrance (John 14:26), and that is basically what Bridges describes (usually it's an instance of him realizing that he needs to apply a biblical principle to a certain situation). So maybe it's just the way he phrases it that bothers me slightly.

There are so many excellent quotes in this book. Here are just a few:

Our first problem is that our attitude toward sin is more self-centered than God-centered. We are more concerned about our "victory" over sin than we are about the fact that our sins grieve the heart of God. (p. 17–18)

God wants us to walk in
obedience—not victory. Obedience is oriented toward God; victory is oriented toward self... This is not to say that God doesn't want us to experience victory, but rather to emphasize that victory is a byproduct of obedience. (p. 18)

As we grow in holiness, we grow in hatred of sin; and God, being infinitely holy, has an infinite hatred of sin... We need to cultivate in our own hearts the same hatred of sin God has. Hatred of sin as sin, not just as something disquieting or defeating to ourselves, but as displeasing to God, lies at the root of all true holiness. (p. 29)

If there is not, then, at least a yearning in our hearts to live a holy life pleasing to God, we need to seriously question whether our faith in Christ in genuine. (p. 33)

To persist in disobedience is to increase our necessity for discipline. (p. 35)

The more we grow in holiness, the more we need assurance that the perfect righteousness of Christ is credited to us. (p. 41)

It is hypocritical to pray for victory over our sins yet be careless in our intake of the Word of God. (p. 66)

The Christian should never complain of want of ability or power. If we sin, it is because we choose to sin, not because we lack the ability to say no to sin. (p. 71–72)

Discipline toward holiness begins then with the Scriptures—with a disciplined plan for regular intake of the Scriptures and a disciplined plan for applying them to our daily lives. (p. 84)

We must avoid general commitments to holiness and instead aim for specific obedience in specific instances. (p. 88)

Any training—physical, mental, or spiritual—is characterized first by failure. We fail more often than we succeed. (p. 89)

[Paul] knew well that physical softness inevitably leads to spiritual softenss. (p. 96)

Every sin we commit reinforces the habit of sinning and makes it easier to sin. (p. 113)

The battle for holiness must be fought on two fronts—within and without. Only then will we see progress toward holiness. (p. 116)

Our reaction to the sinful world around us, however, must be more than just defensive. We must be concerned not only for our own purity of mind and heart, but also for the eternal destiny of those who would pollute us. (p. 128)

God intends the Christian life to be a life of joy—not drudgery... Only those who are obedient—who are pursuing holiness as a way of life—will know the joy that comes from God. (p. 131)


I will certainly revisit this book. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member MarthaLillie
Excellent book. After reading Respectable Sins, I decided to read the Pursuit of Holiness by the same author. There were many good suggestions as to how to try to become more holy. Although it will always be a "struggle", studying the Bible, praying and searching for God's will through the help of
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the Holy Spirit must be done each and every day.
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LibraryThing member kwmcdonald
Incredibly good book. Gives a balanced view between the knowledge that we can't live for God on our own, but that God won't do it all for us.
LibraryThing member theologicaldan
In an age when everyone is a Christian, this is a good correction to the easy believism prevelant in many parts of the church. Very practical also.
LibraryThing member erickimberly
The MOST CONVICTING BOOK (besides Scripture) that I have ever read. It is a must have for any library, and I don't say that often - it is my favorite book of time up till now
LibraryThing member Raddai
"Though we think of of holiness in a more narrow sense of separation from impurity and moral evil, in its broad sense holiness is obedience to the will of God in whatever God directs." So be it!
LibraryThing member nesum
A fine argument for following Christ not just in name, but in action. When we strive for holiness, we are striving to reflect more of Him. Bridges handles the subject well, keeping the focus on God while also stressing our responsibility in our own actions. I would recommend to anyone.
LibraryThing member Corrientes
"Be holy, for I am holy," commands God to His people. But holiness is something that is often missed in the Christian's daily life. According to Jerry Bridges, that's because we're not exactly sure what our part in holiness is. In The Pursuit of Holiness, he helps us see clearly just what we should
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rely on God to do-and what we should accept responsibility for ourselves.

Whether you're continuing your pursuit of holiness or just beginning, the principles and guidelines in The Pursuit of Holiness will challenge you to obey God's command of holiness.
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LibraryThing member BeitHallel
NO OF PAGES: 158 SUB CAT I: Sanctification SUB CAT II: SUB CAT III: DESCRIPTION: God's command is, "Be holy, for I am holy." But as victims of sin's "guerrilla warfare," Christians are often prone to give up the fight, or at least to comprise with sin in its more difficult forms. Why do we so
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rarely experience holy living? The central issue confronting us, says Jerry Bridges in "The Pursuit of Holiness," is that Christians fail to understand their own responsibility for holiness. "If we sin," he writes, "it is because we choose to sin - not because we lack the ability to say no to temptation. We are not defeated; we are dimply disobedient.NOTES: Donated by Pat Irwin. SUBTITLE: "Run in such a way as to get the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:24
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LibraryThing member seoulful
An immensely practical book for all who struggle with problems that keep one from achieving a life pleasing to God. The author comes down very hard on the side of personal responsibility for holiness. There has been general confusion in Christian circles about what God does and what we Christians
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are to do to achieve victory over the sins that so easily entrap us. According to Bridges,"The determination that 'I'll not do that anymore,', based upon sheer human resolve, has never once broken the shackles of sin. But there are practical principles which we can follow to train ourselves in godliness." 1) Frequent repetition--we say yes to sin and gradually become more inclined to that sin. We say no and the reverse happens. 2) Never let an exception occur. 3) Diligence in all areas is required to insure success in one area. An interesting concept that links all problem areas. 4) Don't be discouraged by failure. A highly recommended program for all who want to live free.
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LibraryThing member laholmes
This is classic book from Jerry Bridges and offers great insight into living a Holy life. From Body, mind, heart and will, all the areas are covered. By NavPress this has all the hallmarks of the Navigators Ministry: sound biblical teaching, continuous scripture references, and easy reading. This
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is a must read for anyone serious about pursuing God.
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LibraryThing member exinanition
I have two copies of this book. This review appears with the other copy also:

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this book! From the first time I read it until now I have been amazed at the brilliance of Jerry Bridges' keen insight into the holiness of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and our need to pursue
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this same holiness if we are to have that continual loving relationship with God which He so desires and which we also should so desire. An excellently written book by a truly inspired author.

Get the book. Read it. Then read it again and again. It will improve your relationship with the Lord if you will take it to heart.
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LibraryThing member Leena_Duncan
This is a great book to read. It's easy to read, has thought-provoking quotes and has the one quality that all great books have: it makes you think and examine yourself. Everyone has their own thoughts on what it means to be holy and this book will make you think of it in another light.
LibraryThing member learn2laugh
Decent read. This earlier work shows a zeal that seems tempered by more grace filled tones in later works.
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