Tag: Pursuit of Holiness – Bridges

Men’s Small Group // May 9, 2022

This is a lesson I prepared for a men’s small group and is based on the book “Pursuit of Holiness” by Jerry Bridges (Chapter 17)

Bridges – “God intends the Christian life to be a life of joy – not drudgery. The idea that holiness is associated with a dour disposition is a caricature of the worst sort. In fact, just the opposite is true. Only those who walk in holiness experience true joy.”

• Take a moment and really think about that. You know this in your head, but do you keep this in your heart?

Continue reading “Joy of Holiness” →

Men’s Small Group // May 2, 2022

This is a lesson I prepared for a men’s small group and is based on the book “Pursuit of Holiness” by Jerry Bridges (Chapter 16)

John 17:14-17 ESV
I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. [15] I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one*. [16] They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. [17] Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
* or from evil

Continue reading “Holiness in an Unholy World” →

Men’s Small Group // April 11, 2022

This is a lesson I prepared for a men’s small group and is based on the book “Pursuit of Holiness” by Jerry Bridges (Chapter 13)

Philippians 2:12-13 ESV
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, [13] for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Continue reading “Holiness and Our Wills” →

Men’s Small Group // April 4, 2022

This is a lesson I prepared for a men’s small group and is based on the book “Pursuit of Holiness” by Jerry Bridges (Chapter 12)

2 Corinthians 6:16 – 7:1 ESV
[6:16] What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. [17] Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, [18] and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
[7:1] Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Continue reading “Holiness in Spirit” →

Men’s Small Group // February 21, 2022

This is a lesson I prepared for a men’s small group and is based on the book “Pursuit of Holiness” by Jerry Bridges (Chapter 7)

Romans 6:5-11 ESV
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. [6] We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. [7] For one who has died has been set free from sin. [8] Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. [9] We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. [10] For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. [11] So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

What does this all mean?
“He delivers us from sin’s reign into the reign of his Son.” p.52

• Old self was crucified… body of sin brought to nothing… no longer enslaved to sin… set free from sin.
• We will also live with him… death no longer has dominion… he lives to God… alive to God in Christ Jesus
• This is the key — We are to consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God.
  • You must consider this, because at times it still feels like I am enslaved.
  • I am to consider my old self being crucified with Christ.

Continue reading “Help in the Daily Battle” →

Men’s Small Group // January 31, 2022

This is a lesson I prepared for a men’s small group and is based on the book “Pursuit of Holiness” by Jerry Bridges (Chapter 4)

²For our sake ¹he made him to be sin who knew no sin, ³so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

¹This means that God the Father made Christ to be regarded and treated as “sin” even though Christ himself never sinned.

²That is, God regarded and treated “our” sin (the sin of all who would believe in Christ) as if our sin belonged not to us but to Christ himself.

³This means that just as God imputed our sin and guilt to Christ (“he made him to be sin”) so God also imputes the righteousness of Christ—a righteousness that is not our own—to all who believe in Christ.

Understanding this is essential to pursuing holiness… We must keep coming back to this truth…

Continue reading “The Holiness of Christ” →

Men’s Small Group // January 24, 2022

This is a lesson I prepared for a men’s small group and is based on the book “Pursuit of Holiness” by Jerry Bridges (Chapter 3)

Necessity of Personal & Practical Holiness

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
(Hebrews 12:14)

• Main point of this chapter is that there is a holiness we have in Christ before God, and a holiness which we are to strive after.
• These two aspects of holiness complement each other. Our salvation is a salvation to holiness.
• We are through Christ made holy in our standing before God AND called to be holy in our daily lives.
• As Bridges says, “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 is genuine.”

Continue reading “Holiness is not an Option” →