The Pursuit of Holiness

Very informative.

(Posted on 4/6/12)

New thing to me...audio books, but I certainly enjoy the good sound quality and the excellent reading.

(Posted on 10/24/11)

I highly recommend this book. It was so challenging to me and I'm sure it will be to you in your Pursuit of Holiness...

(Posted on 10/5/11)

Whether you simply have a vague understanding of "holiness," or you are a Bible scholar that has spent a significant amount of time studying this word's origin, usage, and possible meanings, you know that holiness seems to be an unattainable attribute of men. Yet there it is in the Bible, the command, "Be Holy, for I am Holy." How are we to attain this holiness? How are we to strive for this holiness? What is meant by this command? To what degree are we to be holy?

These are the questions that I have struggled with over the years. No matter how much I have efforted myself to be holy, I am not there. Take into account all of my thoughts and desires and I am set back even further from the attainment of holiness. Factor in my deep-seated motives, and holiness becomes a completely foreign country, where I am separated from it by vast oceans of selfishness, impurity, weakness, and the like.

A few years ago I read through The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges, and it really helped me to understand the meaning of holiness, the commands of holiness, and the pursuit of holiness from a Biblical perspective. Over the last few weeks I have been listening Christian Audio's version of this book and have once again been assisted in my own personal pursuit.

This book is both encouraging, in its ability to relate to everyone's struggle, and convicting, in its confrontation of the lack of pursuit. You see, we must be in this pursuit of holiness. Sharing the struggles with all mankind doesn't exempt us from striving, it demands that we do so by eliminating the excuse. Because of this, I also appreciate the fact that this book is very theological without sacrificing its practicality. In other words, it is very useful. Jerry Bridges gives very practical applications while building the Biblical basis for those applications. I was able to walk away with something to do. I found myself putting the lessons into practice on those days where I had listened to a chapter on the way to work.

I highly recommend this book. I especially recommend this book for use in a group study or Sunday school situation. There are many opportunities for discussion as Jerry Bridges is also open and honest about his own struggles.

I would also like to recommend the Christian Audio version of this book. The voice talents that Christian audio employs for the reading of their books are really quite good. I always feel pulled in, as if the author was actually sitting there reading the book to me themselves. I am even considering purchasing a few of the CD versions of these books to keep on the shelves at the church where I am the Pastor. I see quite a potential for those who have a difficult time reading or are simply looking for a way to fill their commutes to work or the drives to a vacation. There are many that may not purchase an audio book right now, but would consider listening to one if the church made it available. I'm telling you, once you've listened to an audio book, you'll be hooked.

(Posted on 4/9/11)

This book provides clarity, convictions, and encouragement to those seeking after God's standard.

(Posted on 3/1/11)

Thanks for the gracious gift from christianaudio Reviewers Program

Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness (Colorado Springs: Navpress, 1978).

Reviewed by Derek R. Iannelli-Smith

Brief Biography of Jerry Bridges

Jerry Bridges has discipled many of us over the years in the sacredness, consecration, and worship of God, and having the opportunity for reviewing The Pursuit of Holiness, in audio was fantastic!

For three months, I have persevered through the study guide, the book, my bible, and the audios. Spending this time in pursuit of holiness, has been quite humbling, convicting, and awakening to the enormity of God’s Holiness in light of my sinfulness and how small the Cross really is, in my life. And I am still not finished with the study guide!

Seventeen chapters of scriptural themed topics on the pursuing or ‘going all out’ of holiness with good tension reflecting God’s sovereignty and our responsibility as disciples of Christ Jesus.

Meditation just on the scriptures below will provide a reward for those that seek HIM.

HOLINESS IS FOR YOU Romans 6:14 (ESV)
THE HOLINESS OF GOD 1 Peter 1:15-16 (ESV)
HOLINESS IS NOT AN OPTION Hebrews 12:14 (ESV)
THE HOLINESS OF CHRIST 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
A CHANGE OF KINGDOMS Romans 6:6-7 (ESV)
THE BATTLE FOR HOLINESS Romans 7:2 (ESV)
HELP IN THE DAILY BATTLE Romans 6:1 (ESV)
OBEDIENCE—NOT VICTORY Romans 8:13 (ESV)
PUTTING SIN TO DEATH Colossians 3:5 (ESV)
THE PLACE OF PERSONAL DISCIPLINE 1 Timothy 4:7 (ESV)
HOLINESS IN BODY 1 Corinthians 9:27 (ESV)
HOLINESS IN SPIRIT 2 Corinthians 7:1 (ESV)
HOLINESS AND OUR WILLS Philippians 2:13 (ESV)
HABITS OF HOLINESS Romans 6:19 (ESV)
HOLINESS AND FAITH Hebrews 11:8 (ESV)
HOLINESS IN AN UNHOLY WORLD John 17:15 (ESV)
THE JOY OF HOLINESS Romans 14:17 (ESV)
The Pursuit of Holiness is saturated in Scripture combined with listening to it, embeds the sword in our hearts and minds. Jerry Bridges is also a master of presuppositional apologetics.

A combination of confessional, dialoging and triperspectival teaching, this classic is a great personal devotion, small group, or discipling material. It is easy to see why over 1 million copies are out there and have been impacting many of us for a while. This work is essential part of the staple diet of any believer pursuing holiness. This is my 2nd time around with this masterpiece!

We can say just as accurately that the pursuit of holiness is a joint venture between God and the Christian. No one can attain any degree of holiness without God working in his life, but just as surely no one will attain it without effort on his own part. God has made it possible for us to walk in holiness. But He has given to us the responsibility of doing the walking; He does not do that for us.

We Christians greatly enjoy talking about the provision of God, how Christ defeated sin on the cross and gave us His Holy Spirit to empower us to victory over sin. But we do not as readily talk about our own responsibility to walk in holiness. Two primary reasons can be given for this.


First, we are simply reluctant to face up to our responsibility. We prefer to leave that to God. We pray for victory when we know we should be acting in obedience.
The second reason is that we do not understand the proper distinction between God’s provision and our own responsibility for holiness. I struggled for a number of years with the question, “What am I to do myself, and what am I to rely on God to do?” Only as I came to see what the Bible teaches on this question, and then faced up to my own responsibility, did I see any progress in the “pursuit of holiness.”


The title for this book comes from the biblical command, “Pursue holiness, for without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14, author’s paraphrase). The word pursue suggests two thoughts: first, that diligence and effort are required; and second, that it is a lifelong task. These two thoughts form a dual theme throughout this book. While seeking to set forth clearly and accurately God’s provision for our holiness, I have deliberately stressed our responsibility, feeling that this is an emphasis sorely needed among Christians today. At the same time I have sought to emphasize that holiness is a process, something we never completely attain in this life. Rather, as we begin to conform to the will of God in one area of life, He reveals to us our need in another area. That is why we will always be pursuing—as opposed to attaining—holiness in this life.

Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness (Colorado Springs: Navpress, 1978), 9.

How did this study impact me? Maybe some of my notes from the study guide is a good place to conclude. These are my personal study notes and what God and I were talking about;

the pursuit of holiness is not about ‘victory’ over my sins.
the pursuit of holiness is not a performance-based gospel.
the pursuit of holiness is about facing up to my responsibility.
the pursuit of holiness is about understanding the proper distinction between God’s provision and my responsibility for holiness.
the pursuit of holiness is about conforming to the character of God.
the pursuit of holiness is not about making allowances for minor flaws or shortcomings in my character.
the pursuit of holiness is about God rescuing my ambition.
is there evidence of practical holiness in my life?
do I strive and desire after holiness?
do I grieve over my lack of it (holiness) and earnestly seek the help of God to be holy?
is my food to do the will of Him who sent me?
how do I view those who do not show love to me? do I see them as a person for whom Christ died or as a person making my life difficult?
satan will try to confuse me on the issue of what God has done for us and what I must for myself.
I was born a sinner, and it takes practice to develop my particular style of sinning.
I sin because I choose to sin.
the seat of indwelling sin is my heart, it works largely through my desires, and it tends to deceive my understanding and reasoning.
is my natural result of seeing God’s standard and my sinfulness the awaking within of a desire to be holy?
it may not be the activity itself that determines whether something is sinful for me, but rather my response to it.
the more I see the holiness of God in light of my sinfulness, the bigger the Cross becomes in my life.
it is by willing, prayerful, and persistent obedience to the requirements of Scripture that godly patterns are developed and become part of me.
the objective of my meditation (on scripture) is application – obedience to scripture.
wow… a definite musing, thank you again christianaudio for this great blessing!

http://diakrinomusings.wordpress.com/2011/02/23/audiobook-review-the-pursuit-of-holiness-jerry-bridges/

(Posted on 2/23/11)

I downloaded it and it was Amazing! I read it in 2 days. I compare it to the Bait of Satan by John Bevere. Jerry Bridges is a very knowledgable author of Sin and how you can break free from its bondage even as a new christian or as a refresher for an older christian. A must have!

(Posted on 1/31/11)

Excellent book showing how true faith works itself out in love as one passionately desires to bring glory to Christ through their life.

(Posted on 1/21/11)

It's not only God's will for us to be holy but also His command. We cannot just sit back and wait for God to sanctify us, but we must actively pursue putting off our sin. And although we are blessed with the outcome of victory in our own lives by this, even more important is that our obedience brings glory to God. This book is full of practical examples, AND practical applications for many areas we can walk in obedience by pursuing holiness.

This classic is short and easy to read or listen to.

(Posted on 1/20/11)

In this classic book “The Pursuit of Holiness“, Jerry Bridges sets out an almost exhaustive catalogue of principles by which one might consider what it means to seek a life of holiness. Usefully, the early parts of the work present not how to pursue holiness, but a systematic explanation of the relevance of holiness to the Christian, its essential root, origin and object in the Holiness of God, and the imperatives presented by scripture which motivate and define this search for holiness.

Jerry Bridges: The Pursuit of Holiness

Of particular value is the chapter entitled “obedience not victory” in which careful attention is paid to the way in which one measures holiness – particularly that one should not seek ‘victory’ in the pursuit of holiness (that being what we have won for us in Christ), but rather ‘obedience’ to God’s law (in light of what Christ has indeed done for us).

The work, as all books discussing holiness, treads a very thin line between a created legalism and Christian freedom in the Gospel. The author skilfully moves the discussion back to the Gospel or grace in a number of places, which is greatly to be valued given the topic at hand. That being said, there are places where the reader may feel the line has been crossed into an artificial legalism. As an example, the application of Romans 14 to produce a mandate to derive one’s “own convictions” according to how “God is leading [you]” and then hold them to be a rule one must be “careful not to violate” runs contrary to the intention of Paul to underscore freedom according to knowledge. Thus, whereas the Holy Ghost writes by Paul, “I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteems any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean” (Romans 14:14) it seems the author finds a mandate to figure out what God is leading one to esteem unclean and so declare it such unto one’s self.

That being said, the work as a whole stands solidly upon scripture and reflects Grace as its motivation and end. Although I think this is a good book which presents much value and encouragement to the discerning Christian reader, I do not recommend the book for new Christians or those who do not have a firm understanding of the Gospel and the doctrine of justification as the power with which Jerry Bridges brings to the table may easily overpower all other concerns.

This edition is read by Arthur Morey who does a wonderful job adding expression and interest to a text which is at times difficult and expresses complex concepts.

With thanks to the christianaudio reviews program who provided the review copy of this audio book

(Posted on 1/15/11)