| Gospel-Driven Sanctification |
|
The following is an excerpt from a Jerry Bridges interview in Modern Reformation Magazine where he speaks of the process of putting on Christlike character.
This progressive sanctification always involves our practice of spiritual disciplines, such as reading Scripture, praying, and regularly fellowshipping with other believers. It also involves putting to death the sinful deeds of the body (see Rom. 8:13) and putting on Christlike character (see Col. 3:12-14). And very importantly it involves a desperate dependence on Christ for the power to do these things, for we cannot grow by our own strength.
So sanctification involves hard work and dependence on Christ; what I call dependent effort. And it will always mean we are dissatisfied with our performance. For a growing Christian, desire will always outstrip performance or, at least, perceived performance. What is it then that will keep us going in the face of this tension between desire and performance? The answer is the gospel. It is the assurance in the gospel that we have indeed died to the guilt of sin and that there is no condemnation for us in Christ Jesus that will motivate us and keep us going even in the face of this tension.
We must always keep focused on the gospel because it is in the nature of sanctification that as we grow, we see more and more of our sinfulness. Instead of driving us to discouragement, though, this should drive us to the gospel. It is the gospel believed every day that is the only enduring motivation to pursue progressive sanctification even in those times when we don't seem to see progress. That is why I use the expression "gospel-driven sanctification" and that is why we need to "preach the gospel to ourselves every day."
Jerry Bridges is a staff member with the Navigator collegiate ministry group. |
| Testimony |
|
 Read a short testimony by Tim Challies on the conviction of this book by Jerry Bridges.
Click here to read his testimony. |
| Performance-Based Discipleship |
Evangelicals commonly think today that the gospel is only for unbelievers. Whether it is a wrong premise or even a committment to discipline, many believers limit their relationship to God to the following of a set of rules in God's word. They say, just tell me what I need to do and they will go do it! The concern is not with the effort or commitment to a pursuit of holiness or obedience to God's word, but rather the attempt to accomplish such on their own apart from dependance on the Holy Spirit. Still more concerning is that many believers think that God's acceptance of them and his blessing in their life depends on how well they perform.  The gospel is not simply for unbelievers, it is for sinners. The Christian must always remember that it is the message of the gospel that provides acceptance before a holy God. And that our justification was not only a past-tense experience but also a present-day reality. We need to live every day by faith in the shed blood and righteousness of Christ. We must look to Christ alone for acceptance with the Father. In the pursuit of holiness we need to recognize that it is not what we do for God but what Christ does for us.
We have been set free from the penalty and power of sin. In other words, we have died to sin. Paul wrote in Romans 6:2 "How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?" The obvious question that arises then is how should we live the Christian life? What does the pursuit of holiness look like? While we are free from sin's guilt and dominion we still deal with its' presence. Sin may wage war against us causing us to struggle, but it cannot reign over us (Romans 8:1). So, the place to begin in dealing with sin is to believe the gospel when it says you have died to sin's guilt. It is here that the pursuit of holiness and the grace of God go hand in hand.
So let us seek to grow in Christlikeness through "dependant effort" always remembering the basis on which we stand before God; a sinner in need of God's grace.
|
