Pursuit of Holiness
Jerry Bridges wrote The Pursuit of Holiness as a practical guide to biblical sanctification for ordinary Christians struggling with the gap between their desire for godliness and their daily experience of sin. Published in 1978 during the height of evangelical growth in America, the book emerged from Bridges' work with The Navigators, where he observed believers who knew doctrine but struggled to live out their faith in practical holiness. Drawing from his Reformed theological convictions and decades of discipleship ministry, Bridges sought to address what he saw as widespread confusion about how Christians actually grow in godliness.
The book's central argument rests on what Bridges calls the "divine-human cooperation" in sanctification. He insists that holiness is both God's work and human responsibility, requiring neither passive waiting nor self-effort alone. Bridges systematically dismantles antinomian tendencies while equally rejecting legalistic approaches to Christian growth. He demonstrates how the gospel provides both the motivation for holiness—gratitude for grace received—and the power for transformation through the Holy Spirit. The work emphasizes practical strategies for putting sin to death and pursuing righteousness, including the discipline of Scripture meditation, the cultivation of dependent prayer, and the necessity of addressing specific sins rather than sin in general. Throughout, Bridges maintains that holiness is not perfection but rather a lifelong process of growing conformity to Christ's character.
The Pursuit of Holiness has remained influential because it successfully bridges Reformed theology and practical Christian living without falling into either antinomianism or legalism. Its enduring appeal lies in Bridges' ability to make the doctrine of sanctification accessible while maintaining theological precision. The book has shaped evangelical understanding of spiritual growth for over four decades, particularly within Reformed and conservative evangelical circles.
Who should read this: Christians from Reformed or evangelical backgrounds seeking a theologically grounded yet practical approach to spiritual growth will find this most helpful. Those from traditions that emphasize different approaches to sanctification or readers looking for more contemplative or liturgical paths to holiness may find Bridges' framework less resonant with their spiritual needs.