Jerry Bridges made a mark – he left an impression on many, many Christians of this generation and the last. He certainly made an impression on me. Jerry died within the last several days and his pursuit of holiness is over. He’s in the presence of the Lord, and has heard the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
The Pursuit of Holiness was the first of his books I had the pleasure of reading. The first time I read it I was in college and it revolutionized the way I understood the Christian life and, specifically, the importance of holiness. I learned that holiness (being more and more set apart and pure) is to be actively pursued with strenuous effort, and that it isn’t something that just happens by itself. I’ve read The Pursuit of Holiness many times since then, and have even taught through the book several times with my Bible classes.
Bridges emphasized effort, to be sure, but always effort empowered by the Holy Spirit and as a result of God’s grace. In that vein, his writings on the gospel itself and the work of Christ are absolutely indispensable. He’s one of the few authors I can recommend wholeheartedly.
I had the privilege of listening to him preach at Western Seminary’s Spurgeon Fellowship several years ago. It was a great blessing to hear from a humble and faithful servant of Christ. I encourage you to read Justin Taylor’s tribute to Jerry here.
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