One of the reasons that 'Good Books' on holiness are so important is because of the emphasis on this doctrine in 'The Word Of God'.Jerry Bridges highlights that with these words-"God has called every Christian to a holy life.There are no exceptions to this call." Part of the reason for this is that holiness is part of God's nature and he wants those who are called by His name to reflect who he is.To any that would take issue with the author's statement I would be concerned as to how much or how well they grasp 'God's Revelation Of Himself' and who man is in the light of what God has revealed about him.
Believer's are no longer slaves to sin.Their will is no longer in bondage to sinful desires,though they still struggle with sinful thoughts and desires,depending on how diligently we guard our hearts(the thoughts we entertain,the things we take in with our eyes and ears-if we are not wise,disciplined and discerning in what we take in through our senses,our affections will be influenced with evil things).This will influence our wills and the result will be that holy living will be stunted.-"The seat of indwelling sin,then,is our deceitful,unsearchable heart.A second thing that we should realize is that indwelling sin works largely through our desires." We need to have our desires conform to what our Lord has revealed in his word to be godly and holy desires(to know Christ better,to desire God's will,to see God's purposes accomplished...)John Owen's work's on sin and temptation addressed in great detail the conflict with desire and reason and the objects of our affections.-"Hence,said Owen,denying sin must be chiefly directed on the affections.We must make sure our desires are directed toward glorifying God,he said,and not satisfying the lusts of our bodies." One of the most intense battles that believers continually face,in this life,is the struggle with sinful desires versus godly reasoning.-"if you give in to temptation,it will be because desire has overcome reason,in the struggle to influence your will."
It must also be kept in mind,that in our own strength,we are weak and helpless,but if we trust God to strengthen us,we will prevail,by His grace.This is where prayer is vital,both regular times and seasons of prayer and ejaculatory prayer(offering up prayer to God immediately and continually as needed).
The fact that the Holy Spirit indwells believers will enable them to not only desire to be holy but to actively pursue it.-"Only one who has a strong desire to be holy will ever persevere in the painfully slow and difficult task of pursuing holiness. ...even though we fail so often,in our inner being we delight in God's law." Romans 7:22 'For I delight in the law of God after the inward man.' It is one of the marks of God's children to have an ongoing desire to be holy.There will be stops and starts,discouragement because of frequent failures,nevertheless there will be a continual desire to pursue holy living.If this is not present(especially over a sustained period of time)there should be cause for concern as to the state of one's soul.The Pursuit of holiness is part of what it is to be on the narrow road which leads to life.
The longer one has been a Christian,the greater the danger of 'Spiritual Pride' gaining a foothold.-"As we grow in the Christian life we face increasing danger of spiritual pride.We know the correct doctrines ...but we may not see the poverty of our own spiritual character." Having a knowledge of the truth and walking in the truth are not the same thing.There must be a knowledge of truth to walk in 'God's Ways',but having knowledge without living by the truth can be a real danger.The blessing that God's Word pronounces from cover to cover is for those who '...walk not in the counsel of the ungodly...but...delight in the law of the Lord.' I think that it is a universal tendency to be more easily comfortable when things are good,and to focus on God when things are bad.I believe that this is one of the main reasons that trial and affliction are so necessary in the lives of the people of God,because it gets our attention,it shifts our emphasis Godward and it has a humbling effect.
I think Jerry Bridges has written more than a few very important and helpful books,often with even the most useful Christian writers,there is one that stands out among them and is their most influential work.For A.W.Pink it is 'The Sovereignty Of God',for John Bunyan 'The Pilgrim's Progress',John Macarthur 'The Gospel According To Jesus',J.C.Ryle 'Holiness',John Owen 'The Mortification Of Sin',Jeremiah Burroughs 'The Rare Jewel Of Christian Contentment',R.C.Sproul 'The Holiness Of God',Timothy Keller 'The Reason For God' and for Mr.Bridges I believe it is 'The Pursuit Of Holiness'.It is one off the best books ever written on this vital Christian teaching.
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Stephen
Jerry Bridges keeps me intrigued with the gospel and its direction for all of us
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