Scripture speaks of a holiness which we have in Christ before God and a holiness which we must strive after

Scripture speaks of a holiness which we have in Christ before God and a holiness which we must strive after

Jerry Bridges was a well-known Christian author and speaker who often emphasized the importance of holiness in the life of a believer. In his teachings, Bridges frequently referenced the idea that Scripture speaks of a holiness which we have in Christ before God and a holiness which we must strive after.

The concept of holiness in the Christian faith is rooted in the belief that God is holy and calls His people to be holy as well. This holiness is not something that we can achieve on our own, but rather something that is imputed to us through our faith in Christ. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, His righteousness is credited to us, and we are seen as holy and blameless in the eyes of God.

This positional holiness is a foundational truth of the Christian faith, but it is not the end of the story. Scripture also calls us to pursue holiness in our daily lives, striving to live in a way that is pleasing to God and reflects His character. This is where the concept of progressive sanctification comes into play – the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ as we grow in our relationship with Him.

Bridges often emphasized the importance of both aspects of holiness – the positional holiness we have in Christ and the practical holiness we are called to pursue. He believed that understanding and embracing our identity as holy in Christ is essential for living a life of obedience and growth in the Christian faith.