The Discipline of Grace: God's Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness [Paperback]

Jerry Bridges (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1994

Grace is every bit as important for growing as a Christian as it is for becoming a Christian. "The pursuit of holiness", writes Jerry Bridges", must be anchored in the grace of God; otherwise it is doomed to failure.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Bible teacher Bridges here invites Christian believers who are pursuing holiness to pause for a moment to consider the role of God's grace in making such pursuit possible. Bridges urges the discernment of grace and the subsequent practice of the disciplines of commitment, conviction, choices, watching, and adversity. Bridges's Bible-centered devotions will appeal most to evangelical Christians seeking renewal of their faith. Recommended for most public libraries.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

We know we need grace. Without it we'd never come to Christ in the first place. But being a Christian is more than just coming to Christ. It's about growing and becoming more like Jesus. It's about pursing holiness. The pursuit of holiness is hard work, and that's were we turn from grace to discipline. Grace is every bit as important for growing as a Christian as it is for becoming a Christian in the first place. Grace is at the heart of the gospel, and without a clear understanding of the gospel and grace we can easily slip into a performance based lifestyle that bears little resemblance to what the gospel has to offer us. The Discipline Of Grace offers a clear and thorough explanation of the gospel and what it means to the believer, and how the same grace that brings us to faith in Christ also disciplines us in Christ, and how we learn to discipline ourselves in the areas of commitment, convictions, choices, watchfulness, and adversity. The Discipline Of Grace is highly recommended reading for anyone struggling to overcome the world in Christ. -- Midwest Book Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 239 pages
• Publisher: Navpress Publishing Group (November 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891098836
• ISBN-13: 978-0891098836
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #465,221 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jerry Bridges is a longtime staff member of the Navigators and currently serves with their collegiate ministry. In addition to his international speaking ministry, he has authored ten books and three devotionals; among them The Pursuit of Holiness, which has sold well over a million copies, and the award-winning The Discipline of Grace and I Will Follow You, O God.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

80 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Biblical, Balanced, Substantive, and Challenging, January 21, 2003

By 

J. F Foster - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Discipline of Grace: God's Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness (Paperback)

When it comes to the area of books on Christian living, Jerry Bridges stands out among a very crowded field of authors. In the last 10 years, there has been an explosion of books on Christian living, with all kinds of authors trying to find a publishing niche - whether it's books that are geared specifically towards women, homeschoolers, men, parents, seniors, new Christians, seasoned Christians, etc. Thankfully, in the midst of all this we have an author like Bridges, whose 'niche' is writing thorough and challenging books that the entire body of Christ can profit from. This particular book certainly falls into that category.

The purpose of the book is to attempt to find a Biblical basis for understanding our individual pursuit of holiness. In particular, the book tries to explore what our role is, versus what God's role is, and then expanding upon not only what we should be doing, but what our approach and attitude should be in order for our efforts to be effective. This is a difficult area. As Bridges properly points out, teachings on personal holiness range from a 'God is in control so don't worry about your own conduct' approach to a legalistic rules and regulations approach that on a practical level leaves holiness entirely up to the individual. Bridges spurns both approaches in favor of a balanced approach that struck me as being very biblically responsible. That approach being that God is indeed in control and His grace is the ingredient that empowers our efforts to become more holy.

The strength of the book is the last six or so chapters where Bridges puts practical legs upon many of the Biblical concepts discussed in the first half of the book and develops several Biblical disciplines that all Christians should heed in their lives. Those who read the first part of the book and begin (as I admittedly did) to think that Bridges is soft-peddling sin by so exalting grace need to read through the entire book. The last several chapters really bring a solid balance to the presentation, and I found these disciplines to be substantive and challenging not only in the disciplines themselves, but also in the perspective we need to have about them as being spiritually worthless without the power of the Holy Spirit and the motive to discipline ourselves out of a love for God. Particularly insightful was Bridges comment that many folks who practice certain disciplines can get into a legalistic mindset because they don't practice the disciplines out of a love for God, but out of a fear of guilt or out of loving the disciplines themselves but not loving God. Very good point.

I would strongly recommend this book to all Christians at any stage of their Christian walk. There is some very good meat in here that personally convicted me, and I think many Christians who are trapped either in a legalistic or antinomian mindset will find the Biblical balance set forth by Bridges to be very refreshing. Those who struggle with understanding their role in holiness will find in this book a God focused perspective that affirms human responsibility in the context of God's sovereignty, and that these truths are complementary in the area of Christian living and pursuing holiness. A very good book.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thoughtful and well written book worth reading., June 2, 1999

By A Customer

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This review is from: The Discipline of Grace: God's Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness (Paperback)

The Discipline of Grace is a wonderfully clear explanation of how God's grace frees us from the impossible task of being self-made people. The central idea of this book is that grace is the key to enjoying the freedom that is offered in the Gospel of Christ. This is without question one of the most helpful and encouraging books I have ever read. It would be an excellent read for the Christian who struggles with guilt or having an assurance of their salvation. It would also be a good book for a seeker who wants a better understanding of how the gospel of Christ should be applied in practical living.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who's Responsible for What?, February 11, 2006

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Lightman (New York) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: The Discipline of Grace: God's Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness (Paperback)

The Lord says to Moses, "Speak to the congregation of the children of Israel and say to them: `You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy'".

The Master calls His followers, saying, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect".

Yet we clearly are imperfect, and our response to this calling all too often smacks of striving, pride, and ultimately of hypocrisy.

So what are we to do? And who's responsible for what?

These questions are explored by Jerry Bridges in this excellent book. The title itself is a meditation on shared responsibility in the process of sanctification. On the surface it may seem that grace and the personal discipline to pursue holiness are opposed to one another, but Bridges argues that they are not. "In fact", he writes, "they go hand in hand. An understanding of how grace and personal, vigorous effort work together is essential for a life-long pursuit of holiness".

A foundational point that the author makes is that Christians must constantly preach the Gospel to themselves. The conventional paradigm is that the Gospel is relevant to unbelievers, and that after they come to the Lord, the essential focus becomes one of discipleship. However, Bridges reminds us that daily recognition of the saving grace of the Gospel message is necessary if discipleship is not to become a matter of performance and of empty striving.

He describes how the primary responsibility of the disciple is to behold the glory of the Lord as it is displayed in the Gospel; this opens us to the sanctification that is the work of the Holy Spirit. And as we receive this grace, the practice of the other spiritual disciplines that are discussed in the book becomes a natural out flowing of the love of God in the believer.

And so it is; as the Lord said to St. Paul, "My grace is sufficient; my power is made perfect in weakness".

This book, which grapples with some of the central issues of the Christian walk, should be required reading for all believers.