What do you think?
Rate this book
Inzet en Genade
The Discipline of Grace offers a clear and and thorough explanation of the gospel and what it means to be a believer.
Written by Navigator author Jerry Bridges, this book explores how the same grace that brings us to faith in Christ also disciplines us in Christ. In learning more about grace, you also will learn about God's character, His forgiveness, and the Holy Spirit.
Written by Navigator author Jerry Bridges, this book explores how the same grace that brings us to faith in Christ also disciplines us in Christ. In learning more about grace, you also will learn about God's character, His forgiveness, and the Holy Spirit.
240 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1994
834 people are currently reading
8290 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Bridges
117 books681 followersJERRY BRIDGES was an author and conference speaker. His most popular book, The Pursuit of Holiness, has sold over one million copies. Jerry was on the staff of The Navigators for over fifty years, and currently served in the Collegiate Mission where he was involved primarily in staff development, but also served as a speaker resource to the campus ministries.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 382 reviews
April 27, 2011
I know I say this every time I review a Jerry Bridges book, but I'm going to say it again: I love his books! Every one of them has had a profound influence on me, including The Discipline of Grace. It's definitely at or near the top of the list for my favorite of his books so far. His writing is very simple and plain-spoken, but he has an incredible grasp on the truth of our life in Christ and what that looks like lived out.
This book is essentially a followup to two of his earlier books. Transforming Grace focused on God's grace in our salvation and sanctification, The Pursuit of Holiness focused on our role in sanctification. The Discipline of Grace brings the two together beautifully:
"Some years ago I wrote a book titled The Pursuit of Holiness in which I strongly emphasized our responsibility for holiness as opposed to the concept of just turning it all over to God. Thirteen years later I wrote another book, Transforming Grace, in which I urged believers to learn to live by grace, not by performance. After Transforming Grace was published, many people asked me how it related to The Pursuit of Holiness. The question always seemed to carry the suggestion that grace and the pursuit of holiness are incompatible...Grace and the personal discipline required to pursue holiness, however, are not opposed to one another. In fact, they go hand in hand. An understanding of how grace and personal, vigorous effort work together is essential for a lifelong pursuit of holiness. Yet many believers do not understand what it means to live by grace in their daily lives, and they certainly don't understand the relationship of grace to personal discipline." (p. 13)
Enter The Discipline of Grace: God's Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness. Dr. Bridges begins by emphasizing the importance of the gospel throughout our lives, not simply at the point of conversion. We tend to view the gospel as for unbelievers and the duties of discipleship as for believers.
"But there is something more basic than discipleship, something that actually provides the necessary atmosphere in which discipleship can be practiced. The one word that describes what we must continue to hear is gospel.
We need to continue to hear the gospel every day of our Christian lives. Only a continuous reminder of the gospel of God's grace through Christ will keep us from falling into good-day/bad-day thinking, wherein we think our daily relationship with God is based on how good we've been." (p. 21)
The second chapter, "The Pharisee and the Tax Collector", discusses the two extremes we tend to go to: either dwelling on our besetting sins and failures, or self-satisfaction with our Christian life because we're convinced we believe the correct doctrines, practice the right disciplines, etc.
In the third chapter, Dr. Bridges exhorts us to "preach the gospel to ourselves" every day. He begins by pointing out that many people, though clearly believers, have only an elementary knowledge of the gospel. Why is this?
"I believe part of the problem is our tendency to give an unbeliever just enough of the gospel to get him or her to pray a prayer to receive Christ. Then we immediately put the gospel on the shelf, so to speak, and go on to the duties of discipleship. As a result, Christians are not instructed in the gospel. And because they do not fully understand the riches and glory of the gospel, they cannot preach it to themselves, nor live by it in their daily lives." (p. 46)
I sincerely agree with his assessment...I was one of those people at one time! He spends the rest of the chapter on a clear exposition of the biblical gospel and it's implications for ALL sinners (which includes non-Christians AND Christians!).
The fourth chapter, "We Died to Sin", explores the truth that Christ has delivered us not only from the penalty for sin, but also from the dominion of sin in our lives, which is made a reality through our union with Christ.
"...the gospel is far more than 'fire insurance' from eternal punishment in hell...through Christ's death on the cross, we are given the ability to live lives that are both pleasing to God and fulfilling for ourselves." (p. 62)
The rest of the chapter is an extended discussion of the concept of our union with Christ and what it means for us. This is one of the best explanations of this truth that I've ever read. Chapters three and four form the foundation for all that follows as Dr. Bridges lays out how to practically apply these foundational truths to our everyday lives.
The fifth chapter introduces the surprising idea that God disciplines us by grace. It's his grace, not his law, that "trains" and "teaches" us. He applies this concept, based on the foundation of the gospel and our union with Christ, to our life and spiritual growth and to the spiritual disciplines in chapters six through thirteen.
Once again, Dr. Bridges has achieved what so many writers and teachers struggle to do: he's expressed the biblical balance between legalism and license simply and lucidly. He clearly shows how fundamental the gospel and our union with Christ are to our day to day lives. The Discipline of Grace is a book I'll return to again and again for encouragement and clarity, and one I'll be enthusiastically recommending to family and friends.
Thank you to Navpress for the review copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read more: http://homewithpurpose.blogspot.com/#...
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
This book is essentially a followup to two of his earlier books. Transforming Grace focused on God's grace in our salvation and sanctification, The Pursuit of Holiness focused on our role in sanctification. The Discipline of Grace brings the two together beautifully:
"Some years ago I wrote a book titled The Pursuit of Holiness in which I strongly emphasized our responsibility for holiness as opposed to the concept of just turning it all over to God. Thirteen years later I wrote another book, Transforming Grace, in which I urged believers to learn to live by grace, not by performance. After Transforming Grace was published, many people asked me how it related to The Pursuit of Holiness. The question always seemed to carry the suggestion that grace and the pursuit of holiness are incompatible...Grace and the personal discipline required to pursue holiness, however, are not opposed to one another. In fact, they go hand in hand. An understanding of how grace and personal, vigorous effort work together is essential for a lifelong pursuit of holiness. Yet many believers do not understand what it means to live by grace in their daily lives, and they certainly don't understand the relationship of grace to personal discipline." (p. 13)
Enter The Discipline of Grace: God's Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness. Dr. Bridges begins by emphasizing the importance of the gospel throughout our lives, not simply at the point of conversion. We tend to view the gospel as for unbelievers and the duties of discipleship as for believers.
"But there is something more basic than discipleship, something that actually provides the necessary atmosphere in which discipleship can be practiced. The one word that describes what we must continue to hear is gospel.
We need to continue to hear the gospel every day of our Christian lives. Only a continuous reminder of the gospel of God's grace through Christ will keep us from falling into good-day/bad-day thinking, wherein we think our daily relationship with God is based on how good we've been." (p. 21)
The second chapter, "The Pharisee and the Tax Collector", discusses the two extremes we tend to go to: either dwelling on our besetting sins and failures, or self-satisfaction with our Christian life because we're convinced we believe the correct doctrines, practice the right disciplines, etc.
In the third chapter, Dr. Bridges exhorts us to "preach the gospel to ourselves" every day. He begins by pointing out that many people, though clearly believers, have only an elementary knowledge of the gospel. Why is this?
"I believe part of the problem is our tendency to give an unbeliever just enough of the gospel to get him or her to pray a prayer to receive Christ. Then we immediately put the gospel on the shelf, so to speak, and go on to the duties of discipleship. As a result, Christians are not instructed in the gospel. And because they do not fully understand the riches and glory of the gospel, they cannot preach it to themselves, nor live by it in their daily lives." (p. 46)
I sincerely agree with his assessment...I was one of those people at one time! He spends the rest of the chapter on a clear exposition of the biblical gospel and it's implications for ALL sinners (which includes non-Christians AND Christians!).
The fourth chapter, "We Died to Sin", explores the truth that Christ has delivered us not only from the penalty for sin, but also from the dominion of sin in our lives, which is made a reality through our union with Christ.
"...the gospel is far more than 'fire insurance' from eternal punishment in hell...through Christ's death on the cross, we are given the ability to live lives that are both pleasing to God and fulfilling for ourselves." (p. 62)
The rest of the chapter is an extended discussion of the concept of our union with Christ and what it means for us. This is one of the best explanations of this truth that I've ever read. Chapters three and four form the foundation for all that follows as Dr. Bridges lays out how to practically apply these foundational truths to our everyday lives.
The fifth chapter introduces the surprising idea that God disciplines us by grace. It's his grace, not his law, that "trains" and "teaches" us. He applies this concept, based on the foundation of the gospel and our union with Christ, to our life and spiritual growth and to the spiritual disciplines in chapters six through thirteen.
Once again, Dr. Bridges has achieved what so many writers and teachers struggle to do: he's expressed the biblical balance between legalism and license simply and lucidly. He clearly shows how fundamental the gospel and our union with Christ are to our day to day lives. The Discipline of Grace is a book I'll return to again and again for encouragement and clarity, and one I'll be enthusiastically recommending to family and friends.
Thank you to Navpress for the review copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read more: http://homewithpurpose.blogspot.com/#...
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
August 22, 2019
Mainly for the benefit of my future self, here are the chapter summaries I wrote at the end of (almost all) chapters:
Chapter 1 - How good is good enough?
God blesses us in virtue of the righteousness we have in Christ. We are to live holy lives. How? What can spark a desire to do that? Knowing Jesus' love for us. We know that through the Holy Spirit, He pours love into our hearts when we preach the gospel to ourselves. We are reminded of our sin - and so reject a performance mentality where we're never good enough - and it fills our hearts with joy. That love of Christ compels us to holiness.
Chapter 2 - The Pharisee and the tax collector
Sin is rebellion a despising of God and a challenge of His authority. We must see the depth of our sin, that we are constantly beseiged by it. Even if we don't murder etc., we commit 'refined' sins, and we fail to live up to God's requirements of our character. But at the same time we know that God has made provision for these sins in the Lord Jesus.
Chapter 3 - Preach the gospel to yourself
We are to remember daily the depth of our sin. But then also remember that God has completely separated that sin from us, satisfying His justice and taking away His wrath, by Jesus' blood. Preach this to yourself; dwell on it and meditate on it.
Chapter 4 - We died to sin
I forgot to write a summary for this one, though to be honest it is not easily summarisable because it's pretty intense - but super good! Another review gave this summary which I think is a good one - "Christ has delivered us not only from the penalty for sin, but also from the dominion of sin in our lives, which is made a reality through our union with Christ."
Chapter 5 - Disciplined by grace
The grace that saves is the grace that disciplines. We pursue holiness knowing that we are right with God in virtue of grace. God leads that discipline - we trust and obey. That discipline is inextricably linked to salvation - if you are not being disciplined, are you saved? Frequently we cling to a frail hope that a friend is saved, despite a total lack of evidence of the discipline of grace. Better to be real.
Remember that our actions reflect on God - at least, that's how unbelievers perceive Him. And those actions should include both putting off the old habits, and positively putting on the new ones. Those positive actions are just as important as avoiding negative sinful ones. Where does the power come to do that? From the gospel: the law commands but gives no power, but grace commands and gives power through the Holy Spirit.
Chapter 6 - Transformed into His likeness
We are regenerated - a new principle of life is in us - at conversion. We are then steadily sanctified. We are made more into Jesus's likeness, but it's a process, a work done by the Holy Spirit, though He elicits our response to help achieve it. If we are justified, we are being sanctified. We are still in the flesh so we struggle with sin, but it is a struggle - sin does not reign. Our likeness to Jesus comes in loving righteousness, hating sin, delighting in and doing God's will. One important means by which we are sanctified is to behold the glory of God in the gospel - remembering His forgiveness, seeing the gospel's glory, and so being motivated to deal with sin and grow in Jesus' likeness.
Chapter 7 - Obeying the great commandment
Must pursue holiness - out of love for God, motivated by the gospel.
Chapter 8 - Dependent discipline
We are dependent upon the Holy Spirit for our discipline. But it requires an activeness on our part - we are enabled to fulfil what's required of us by the Holy Spirit. How can we cultivate this dependency and discipleship? Prayer. We pray regularly for the Holy Spirit to enable us to put sin to death and to cultivate virtues. But we also, in doing this, acknowledge that we're dependent on God, not our self discipline, to be sanctified.
Chapter 9 - The discipline of commitment
We are to commit ourselves, wholeheartedly, to not sinning. And it's often easier to avoid the guilt of sin than to actively pursue Christlike virtue. We must commit to both. Make it your aim, your intention, to please God in everything you do. Make specific commitments in areas of your life where you need to. And do this all in view of God's mercy - remembering the great gospel message which underlies all of this.
Chapter 10 - The discipline of convictions
Our convictions are, to a greater or lesser degree, shaped by the Word of God or by society. Even Christians around us often set the standards we accept.
We are more formed by God, than the world, when we delight in His law, and meditate on it. We need to do this consistently and habitually. What does your unoccupied mind drift to? Use those unoccupied times to turn your minds to Scripture. To do this you need to memorise Scripture first, as well as understand it. We understand Scripture through dependent diligence - putting our trust in God's help as we study. But as well as this knowledge and meditation on Scripture, we must of course apply it. Knowledge on its own puffs up. And when we fail in these disciplines we are limiting our growing in holiness - but we are not limiting God's grace poured out upon us.
Chapter 11 - The discipline of choices
Sin reinforces sin, righteousness righteousness. Dependence, discipline are to help us not to sin and to be righteous - but it's that which is holiness, not the dependence etc. in and of themselves. Must ask the Holy Spirit for help in putting to death the deeds of the body. Must also hate all sin, not individual sins only or the guilt that comes from sin. Do this by seeing sin's true nature. Then repent, and plead the blood of Jesus Christ.
Chapter 12 - The discipline of watching
The world, the devil, and the flesh (our sinful nature) are the enemies to holiness. SO we must identify areas of weakness - both in ourselves and in the environment around us. Take precautions, pray, memorise Scripture. We always need the Holy Spirit's help in this - we are never invulnerable in our own strength. We must also pay attention to those 'little' sins which seep into our heart (and, I might add, pray to God to reveal those sins to us). We are free in Christ to do anything not sinful - but we should not use that freedom to put ourselves in temptation's way, to become enslaved to sin rather than the glory of god. Instead, watch and pray - watch yourself and the world around you, and pray for help. Pray for deliverance from sin and the devil, claiming victory over them that Jesus won on the cross.
Chapter 13 - The discipline of adversity
God disciplines us as a means of spiritual growth. Adversity itself is evidence of His care. But we should make use of adversity - seek God's purpose in it, rather than make light of it. That doesn't meant hat we shouldn't seek redress for the adversity, we should, but we should also submit to God, accept the hardship as part of His discipline, and trust in Him. Jesus's example on the cross is helpful here - "If there is any other way... yet not my will but yours be done". This adversity is intended to build us in Christlikeness. And we can better cope with it when we look forward to eternity where we will have a perfected character and no adversity. We can also better cope by remembering that even in adversity we're much much better off than we deserve - that's grace.
Chapter 1 - How good is good enough?
God blesses us in virtue of the righteousness we have in Christ. We are to live holy lives. How? What can spark a desire to do that? Knowing Jesus' love for us. We know that through the Holy Spirit, He pours love into our hearts when we preach the gospel to ourselves. We are reminded of our sin - and so reject a performance mentality where we're never good enough - and it fills our hearts with joy. That love of Christ compels us to holiness.
Chapter 2 - The Pharisee and the tax collector
Sin is rebellion a despising of God and a challenge of His authority. We must see the depth of our sin, that we are constantly beseiged by it. Even if we don't murder etc., we commit 'refined' sins, and we fail to live up to God's requirements of our character. But at the same time we know that God has made provision for these sins in the Lord Jesus.
Chapter 3 - Preach the gospel to yourself
We are to remember daily the depth of our sin. But then also remember that God has completely separated that sin from us, satisfying His justice and taking away His wrath, by Jesus' blood. Preach this to yourself; dwell on it and meditate on it.
Chapter 4 - We died to sin
I forgot to write a summary for this one, though to be honest it is not easily summarisable because it's pretty intense - but super good! Another review gave this summary which I think is a good one - "Christ has delivered us not only from the penalty for sin, but also from the dominion of sin in our lives, which is made a reality through our union with Christ."
Chapter 5 - Disciplined by grace
The grace that saves is the grace that disciplines. We pursue holiness knowing that we are right with God in virtue of grace. God leads that discipline - we trust and obey. That discipline is inextricably linked to salvation - if you are not being disciplined, are you saved? Frequently we cling to a frail hope that a friend is saved, despite a total lack of evidence of the discipline of grace. Better to be real.
Remember that our actions reflect on God - at least, that's how unbelievers perceive Him. And those actions should include both putting off the old habits, and positively putting on the new ones. Those positive actions are just as important as avoiding negative sinful ones. Where does the power come to do that? From the gospel: the law commands but gives no power, but grace commands and gives power through the Holy Spirit.
Chapter 6 - Transformed into His likeness
We are regenerated - a new principle of life is in us - at conversion. We are then steadily sanctified. We are made more into Jesus's likeness, but it's a process, a work done by the Holy Spirit, though He elicits our response to help achieve it. If we are justified, we are being sanctified. We are still in the flesh so we struggle with sin, but it is a struggle - sin does not reign. Our likeness to Jesus comes in loving righteousness, hating sin, delighting in and doing God's will. One important means by which we are sanctified is to behold the glory of God in the gospel - remembering His forgiveness, seeing the gospel's glory, and so being motivated to deal with sin and grow in Jesus' likeness.
Chapter 7 - Obeying the great commandment
Must pursue holiness - out of love for God, motivated by the gospel.
Chapter 8 - Dependent discipline
We are dependent upon the Holy Spirit for our discipline. But it requires an activeness on our part - we are enabled to fulfil what's required of us by the Holy Spirit. How can we cultivate this dependency and discipleship? Prayer. We pray regularly for the Holy Spirit to enable us to put sin to death and to cultivate virtues. But we also, in doing this, acknowledge that we're dependent on God, not our self discipline, to be sanctified.
Chapter 9 - The discipline of commitment
We are to commit ourselves, wholeheartedly, to not sinning. And it's often easier to avoid the guilt of sin than to actively pursue Christlike virtue. We must commit to both. Make it your aim, your intention, to please God in everything you do. Make specific commitments in areas of your life where you need to. And do this all in view of God's mercy - remembering the great gospel message which underlies all of this.
Chapter 10 - The discipline of convictions
Our convictions are, to a greater or lesser degree, shaped by the Word of God or by society. Even Christians around us often set the standards we accept.
We are more formed by God, than the world, when we delight in His law, and meditate on it. We need to do this consistently and habitually. What does your unoccupied mind drift to? Use those unoccupied times to turn your minds to Scripture. To do this you need to memorise Scripture first, as well as understand it. We understand Scripture through dependent diligence - putting our trust in God's help as we study. But as well as this knowledge and meditation on Scripture, we must of course apply it. Knowledge on its own puffs up. And when we fail in these disciplines we are limiting our growing in holiness - but we are not limiting God's grace poured out upon us.
Chapter 11 - The discipline of choices
Sin reinforces sin, righteousness righteousness. Dependence, discipline are to help us not to sin and to be righteous - but it's that which is holiness, not the dependence etc. in and of themselves. Must ask the Holy Spirit for help in putting to death the deeds of the body. Must also hate all sin, not individual sins only or the guilt that comes from sin. Do this by seeing sin's true nature. Then repent, and plead the blood of Jesus Christ.
Chapter 12 - The discipline of watching
The world, the devil, and the flesh (our sinful nature) are the enemies to holiness. SO we must identify areas of weakness - both in ourselves and in the environment around us. Take precautions, pray, memorise Scripture. We always need the Holy Spirit's help in this - we are never invulnerable in our own strength. We must also pay attention to those 'little' sins which seep into our heart (and, I might add, pray to God to reveal those sins to us). We are free in Christ to do anything not sinful - but we should not use that freedom to put ourselves in temptation's way, to become enslaved to sin rather than the glory of god. Instead, watch and pray - watch yourself and the world around you, and pray for help. Pray for deliverance from sin and the devil, claiming victory over them that Jesus won on the cross.
Chapter 13 - The discipline of adversity
God disciplines us as a means of spiritual growth. Adversity itself is evidence of His care. But we should make use of adversity - seek God's purpose in it, rather than make light of it. That doesn't meant hat we shouldn't seek redress for the adversity, we should, but we should also submit to God, accept the hardship as part of His discipline, and trust in Him. Jesus's example on the cross is helpful here - "If there is any other way... yet not my will but yours be done". This adversity is intended to build us in Christlikeness. And we can better cope with it when we look forward to eternity where we will have a perfected character and no adversity. We can also better cope by remembering that even in adversity we're much much better off than we deserve - that's grace.
February 28, 2022
4.4 Stars
Jerry Bridges' book "The Disciplines of Grace" is a masterpiece and classic exposition of the role of grace in our pursuit of holiness. Despite having a few disagreements in emphasis in his later chapters, the bulk of the book is a phenomenal reminder of the need for grace to fuel our efforts to be like Christ. This is something the Christian must never forgot, making this an extremely helpful book for all Christians to read.
Jerry Bridges' book "The Disciplines of Grace" is a masterpiece and classic exposition of the role of grace in our pursuit of holiness. Despite having a few disagreements in emphasis in his later chapters, the bulk of the book is a phenomenal reminder of the need for grace to fuel our efforts to be like Christ. This is something the Christian must never forgot, making this an extremely helpful book for all Christians to read.
September 26, 2024
Solid advice and applicable to the spiritual transformation. This is good for all to read, but it felt like it would be helpful for new Christians. I had many personal take-aways to forward me toward holiness.
April 6, 2023
I will admit I am partial to Jerry Bridges’ very practical writing. This book is a must read to me following his “The Pursuit of Holiness”. I think maybe the theme of the book is stated in his declaration at the end of the next to last chapter, “The gospel is the only foundation upon which we can build the disciplines necessary to pursue holiness. Grace and discipline cannot be separated.”
January 3, 2023
Great book! Jerry Bridges has a wonderful way of explaining biblical truth that is insightful, convicting, and memorable. This book emphasizes the role of the gospel in the battle with sin, and the necessity of discipline in living a holy life. This is a must read for every Christian.
April 9, 2020
This may be the best book I’ve read all year to this point. Bridges masterfully works together the dual realities of God’s Grace in the lives of His children and our responsibility to work in obedience to what His Word requires of us. God is the one who graciously enables us to walk in this obedience so that we may be sanctified, and our ultimate goal is that we will be made perfectly righteous and live in the presence of God for all eternity.
December 1, 2022
Savoury.
There was a lot of repetition in the chapters of this book, but it wasn't the repetition that you disdain, like a barking dog through the night. It was that repetition that you desire, like when you arrive home after a long day of work and you are greeted with smiles and love. The more frequently it occurs, the more of a constant refuge it becomes. Each chapter was like this. Constant reminders of what our goals should be in light of what God did do.
There was a lot of repetition in the chapters of this book, but it wasn't the repetition that you disdain, like a barking dog through the night. It was that repetition that you desire, like when you arrive home after a long day of work and you are greeted with smiles and love. The more frequently it occurs, the more of a constant refuge it becomes. Each chapter was like this. Constant reminders of what our goals should be in light of what God did do.
December 31, 2021
Discipline of Grace is an excellent resource for understanding sanctification. God is solely responsible for each Christian's salvation, but after salvation, what are God's role and our role in sanctification (the lifelong pursuit of holiness after salvation)? Jerry Bridges clarifies: "Both justification and sanctification have their source in the infinite love and free grace of God. Both are accomplished by faith. In justification, we rely on what Christ did for us on the cross. In sanctification, we rely on Christ to work in us by His Holy Spirit. In justification, God acts alone. In sanctification, He works in us but elicits our response to cooperate with him.”
The main point of the book is that: "Grace and the personal discipline required to pursue holiness are not opposed to one another. In fact, 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." The remainder of the book fleshes out the interaction between grace and discipline in the life of a Christian. If we have one without the other, we end up in one of two ditches: without grateful acceptance of God’s grace, we find ourselves with a relentless sense of guilt due to not living up to a certain unattainable standard; without a humble realization of our own sinfulness, we can be self-satisfied and self-righteous because of our knowledge and actions, especially in comparison to others.
After discussing the importance of grace, discipline, mortification of sin, obedience, dependence, and preaching the gospel to ourselves, Bridges closes the book looking at five specific disciplines for Christians to practice: commitment, convictions, choices, watching, and adversity. Each of these disciplines is carried out with continual reliance on the empowering work of the Holy Spirit.
All in all, this is a must-read for any Christian to encourage them in their pursuit of holiness and to understand the importance of both God's grace and personal discipline.
The main point of the book is that: "Grace and the personal discipline required to pursue holiness are not opposed to one another. In fact, 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." The remainder of the book fleshes out the interaction between grace and discipline in the life of a Christian. If we have one without the other, we end up in one of two ditches: without grateful acceptance of God’s grace, we find ourselves with a relentless sense of guilt due to not living up to a certain unattainable standard; without a humble realization of our own sinfulness, we can be self-satisfied and self-righteous because of our knowledge and actions, especially in comparison to others.
After discussing the importance of grace, discipline, mortification of sin, obedience, dependence, and preaching the gospel to ourselves, Bridges closes the book looking at five specific disciplines for Christians to practice: commitment, convictions, choices, watching, and adversity. Each of these disciplines is carried out with continual reliance on the empowering work of the Holy Spirit.
All in all, this is a must-read for any Christian to encourage them in their pursuit of holiness and to understand the importance of both God's grace and personal discipline.
February 19, 2021
Surely, every believer has looked at God’s standard of holiness or seen a great Christian fall and nearly given up in despair at their chance of ever living a holy life. I know I have. It’s a desperate place to be. How? How can any of us be holy? Sanctification (the action or process of being freed from sin or purified). That’s the answer and a wonderful one. Understood Biblically, as God’s power working in us to bring about God’s desired holiness in us, it is an amazing comfort. That is what this book would have us understand.
In teaching a Biblical view of justification and sanctification, this book lifts the burden of guilt and duty for our holiness from our shoulders and points us to the gloriously finished work of Christ on the Cross for our redemption and reconciliation. Then it strips us of any delusion of our own goodness and shows us God’s path and power for growing in holiness. The first chapters remind us of all the Christ gave us by His sacrifice, and what our response ought to be. The later chapters are the practical application of those truths. That’s where this book can get very personal. It doesn’t pick on any particular sin but encourages us to search the scriptures and apply them to our lives.
This is a book that should be alternately slowly savored and steadily braved. It will encourage, comfort, and convict you. I would strongly recommend it. It is one that is worth reading and rereading.
In teaching a Biblical view of justification and sanctification, this book lifts the burden of guilt and duty for our holiness from our shoulders and points us to the gloriously finished work of Christ on the Cross for our redemption and reconciliation. Then it strips us of any delusion of our own goodness and shows us God’s path and power for growing in holiness. The first chapters remind us of all the Christ gave us by His sacrifice, and what our response ought to be. The later chapters are the practical application of those truths. That’s where this book can get very personal. It doesn’t pick on any particular sin but encourages us to search the scriptures and apply them to our lives.
This is a book that should be alternately slowly savored and steadily braved. It will encourage, comfort, and convict you. I would strongly recommend it. It is one that is worth reading and rereading.
December 5, 2012
This is some great pastoral advice on how to view sanctification. Christians often struggle with how to put together two seemingly contradictory ideas: dependence on God on the one hand, and discipline in Spiritual activities we do on the other hand.
I listened to this on audio CD, so I wasn't able to digest a lot of the stuff he gets into. There were a couple of things in the book that bothered me. I'll get to those now. Bridges uses the word "appropriate" way too much. You gotta appropriate this and appropriate that, and appropriate everything. I wish he wouldn't use that same word all the time. The other phrase he over-uses is "at the same time..." For crying out loud, man!
At times he comes across as a little mystical. He writes that he can hear God talking to him, and that God implants thoughts into his head. That's something I find hard to appropriate at the same time, if you know what I mean.
Other than some minor glitches like that, there is really good stuff in here. He has some excellent analogies that stay with you. Some of his analogies get kind of strange and forced, but mostly they are good.
This book is worth reading. It is full of Scripture and a great corrective to false views of sanctification.
I listened to this on audio CD, so I wasn't able to digest a lot of the stuff he gets into. There were a couple of things in the book that bothered me. I'll get to those now. Bridges uses the word "appropriate" way too much. You gotta appropriate this and appropriate that, and appropriate everything. I wish he wouldn't use that same word all the time. The other phrase he over-uses is "at the same time..." For crying out loud, man!
At times he comes across as a little mystical. He writes that he can hear God talking to him, and that God implants thoughts into his head. That's something I find hard to appropriate at the same time, if you know what I mean.
Other than some minor glitches like that, there is really good stuff in here. He has some excellent analogies that stay with you. Some of his analogies get kind of strange and forced, but mostly they are good.
This book is worth reading. It is full of Scripture and a great corrective to false views of sanctification.
June 30, 2022
Still good the second time around. And by good I mean incredibly convicting
June 16, 2025
While there were many helpful things in this book, my biggest complaint is how scattered it felt. Once you get to the practical half of the book, it’s hard to remember the main point in the first half.
Was I convicted? Yes. Did I learn things? Yes.
But I’m not sure what the main point of the book is and I felt like a lot of things were pretty basic and shallow. I realize that I’ve been blessed to be in a solid church for most of my life, and I’m certainly not going to refrain from recommending this book to newer believers. But I’m still trying to find another Jerry Bridges book that lives up to Respectable Sins.
Was I convicted? Yes. Did I learn things? Yes.
But I’m not sure what the main point of the book is and I felt like a lot of things were pretty basic and shallow. I realize that I’ve been blessed to be in a solid church for most of my life, and I’m certainly not going to refrain from recommending this book to newer believers. But I’m still trying to find another Jerry Bridges book that lives up to Respectable Sins.
July 11, 2019
A well-timed read; logically developed and biblical. This book examines how to rightly motivate yourself for spiritual discipline, somewhat of a recent motif.
October 4, 2011
I give it 5 stars but I prefer the word awesome versus amazing. Awesome in that Jerry Bridges does a great teaching of God's grace, His discipline and the need to preach the gospel to ourselves, as in believers, daily.
Bridges writes in a manner that is easy to grasp and retain for those who like me can't easily grasp those deep thinking theologians. That is not to say Bridges is not a deep thinking theologian, he is and shows it by taking the deep to shallow waters for us who zone out when reading in deep waters.
This is only the second book I've read by Jerry Bridges (the other being 'Gospel for Real Life') but his ability to teach solid gospel in 'shallow waters' led me to use three of his books; The Gospel for Real Life: Turn to the liberating Power of the Cross, Growing Your FAith: How to Mature in Christ and Trusting God Even When Life Hurts as part of the curriculum in the Discipleship 101 program I teach in Soldiers of Christ Prison Ministries, the ministry God has called me to steward.
If you are like me and feel the challenge of reading books that go deep and comprehending was is written, give Jerry Bridges series of books a try.
As an FYI the reason it took 2.5 months to read is it was read as a weekly group study.
Bridges writes in a manner that is easy to grasp and retain for those who like me can't easily grasp those deep thinking theologians. That is not to say Bridges is not a deep thinking theologian, he is and shows it by taking the deep to shallow waters for us who zone out when reading in deep waters.
This is only the second book I've read by Jerry Bridges (the other being 'Gospel for Real Life') but his ability to teach solid gospel in 'shallow waters' led me to use three of his books; The Gospel for Real Life: Turn to the liberating Power of the Cross, Growing Your FAith: How to Mature in Christ and Trusting God Even When Life Hurts as part of the curriculum in the Discipleship 101 program I teach in Soldiers of Christ Prison Ministries, the ministry God has called me to steward.
If you are like me and feel the challenge of reading books that go deep and comprehending was is written, give Jerry Bridges series of books a try.
As an FYI the reason it took 2.5 months to read is it was read as a weekly group study.
October 24, 2021
Somehow I found myself with two copies of this book without having read either one. I should have read at least one of them a long time ago. They both deserve a spot on the shelf next to Dallas Willard, Richard Foster, and Sinclair Ferguson.
“Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.”
“Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.”
May 14, 2025
Gosh I have a feeling this is one of my favorite books to date. Bridges does an incredible job calling us to take part in pursuing holiness alongside the Spirit in our lives. While yes the Lord is the one that provides the growth we must remember the gospel informs our everyday life, actively fling and fight off sin, rightly prioritize what honors God, to then become more like him. Each chapter is full of Scripture and practical examples in how to pursue holiness in this life.
So spurred on by this book. I also read it with 2 girls for discipleship and I 20/10 recommend this as a great resource. Brough up so much good conversation and confession and turning from “respectable sins” in our lives. (Also another great book by Bridges I 20/10 recommend. I might even read again).
So spurred on by this book. I also read it with 2 girls for discipleship and I 20/10 recommend this as a great resource. Brough up so much good conversation and confession and turning from “respectable sins” in our lives. (Also another great book by Bridges I 20/10 recommend. I might even read again).
March 10, 2018
This book was alright... I loved the original concept that Bridges details as the relationship between Grace and Holiness. He says something like Grace gives us the joy and inspiration to live lives of holiness. That's a good way to see the tension between the two, and I'm glad that he decided to write this book as a follow-up to his other book, the Discipline of Holiness.
June 12, 2023
Amazing, as Bridges usually is.
Especially useful to those, who, after reading some other books on practical holiness by Bridges, start to think that he has forgotten grace. Well, he hasn't. He explains the balance of grace and our response (in action) to it in this book.
Especially useful to those, who, after reading some other books on practical holiness by Bridges, start to think that he has forgotten grace. Well, he hasn't. He explains the balance of grace and our response (in action) to it in this book.
March 15, 2025
Fantastic. A Scripture-filled book that teaches how to pursue holiness and yet how to protect oneself from sliding into legalism. Highly recommend, especially for those like myself who have grown up in the church and for whom the temptation to legalism and self-righteousness is much stronger.
January 13, 2025
#readingchallenge2025
June 10, 2025
!!! Favorite Jerry Bridges book I have read so far, which is saying a lot since all of his have been 5 star reads.
This book explored the relationship between grace and discipline, and showed how they are intertwined in the Christian life. This book had such a great balance of comfort and encouragement in the truths of God’s grace, alongside practical help toward obedience and holiness.
“The very same grace that brings salvation also trains us to live lives that are pleasing to God” (p. 72)
High key already wanting to re-read this and go through the study guide in the back of the book to go deeper.
This book explored the relationship between grace and discipline, and showed how they are intertwined in the Christian life. This book had such a great balance of comfort and encouragement in the truths of God’s grace, alongside practical help toward obedience and holiness.
“The very same grace that brings salvation also trains us to live lives that are pleasing to God” (p. 72)
High key already wanting to re-read this and go through the study guide in the back of the book to go deeper.
March 11, 2021
Best book I've read on the tension between dependance on God's grace, and our response of obedience in discipline. You want to know how to become godly, walk in integrity and humility? Read!
November 23, 2023
5/5. Everything comes back to the gospel baby. Very clear, sobering presentation of the centrality of the gospel.
August 14, 2022
I kept on losing focus when I was listening to this so I’m going to read it again 👍🏻
November 23, 2023
As a prod to be more vigorous in both putting off the old man and putting on the new, it serves the reader well.
April 4, 2025
Must-read for believers. Jerry Bridges thoughtfully grounds this book in the gospel, emphasizing that it is grace that compels and sustains us to pursue discipline.
His clear and no-nonsense writing style makes each chapter both insightful and applicable to everyday life. Will re-read!
His clear and no-nonsense writing style makes each chapter both insightful and applicable to everyday life. Will re-read!
August 6, 2021
Amazing! Really clearly breaks down the balance between living in the grace of God and the personal pursuit of holiness. Would 100% recommend to everyone to read!
June 15, 2025
Super grateful for this book and how God used it to help me understand his grace more— this was challenging and encouraging in my walk with Jesus!!
January 5, 2010
If there is a modern day Puritan, Jerry Bridges would be that Puritan. I shall rush to affirm that I say that in a very positive manner. Bridges seeks to strike the appropriate balance between the work of God within man and man's working out his own salvation. That was of great importance to the Puritans. So, too, was the understanding that doing so would lead to joy.
Bridges is one who is very consistent in his application of Scripture to the issue of grace and sanctification. Holiness is expected of God's people. By grace God works in His people to bring them to holiness. God has provided us all that we need to be holy, and we only become holy by His working within us.
That being said, Bridges hastens to assure us that we cannot simply “let go and let God”. We must heed the call to work out our own salvation, because God is working in us. There is no dichotomy between the inward workings of grace and our submission to grace. Holiness, Bridges affirms, is not keeping a list of rules and regulations, but submitting to the Word of God and learning to love God and our neighbor as the Spirit teaches us in the Word.
Grace is at work to make us better disciples, thus there are disciplines. We must apply ourselves to the Word of God, prayer, meditation upon the Word, and seeking to apply the Word. These are the disciplines of grace. We do not do these things in order to be accepted by God. We submit to the disciplines of grace because we have already been accepted by God, and He is active in conforming us to the image of His Son.
We need this message today. On one hand there is the bondage of legalism, and on the other the bondage of license in the name of grace. We must strive against both by the disciplines of grace that we might be true followers of Christ.
As usual, Bridges provides us with an easy read, yet one that is convicting and very helpful.
Bridges is one who is very consistent in his application of Scripture to the issue of grace and sanctification. Holiness is expected of God's people. By grace God works in His people to bring them to holiness. God has provided us all that we need to be holy, and we only become holy by His working within us.
That being said, Bridges hastens to assure us that we cannot simply “let go and let God”. We must heed the call to work out our own salvation, because God is working in us. There is no dichotomy between the inward workings of grace and our submission to grace. Holiness, Bridges affirms, is not keeping a list of rules and regulations, but submitting to the Word of God and learning to love God and our neighbor as the Spirit teaches us in the Word.
Grace is at work to make us better disciples, thus there are disciplines. We must apply ourselves to the Word of God, prayer, meditation upon the Word, and seeking to apply the Word. These are the disciplines of grace. We do not do these things in order to be accepted by God. We submit to the disciplines of grace because we have already been accepted by God, and He is active in conforming us to the image of His Son.
We need this message today. On one hand there is the bondage of legalism, and on the other the bondage of license in the name of grace. We must strive against both by the disciplines of grace that we might be true followers of Christ.
As usual, Bridges provides us with an easy read, yet one that is convicting and very helpful.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 382 reviews