It might be good if we stopped using the terms ‘victory’ and ‘defeat’ to describe our progress in holiness. Rather we should use the terms ‘obedience’ and ‘disobedience.’ When I say I am defeated by some sin, I am unconsciously slipping out from under my responsibility. I am saying something outside of me has defeated me. But when I say I am disobedient, that places the responsibility for my sin squarely on me. We may, in fact, be defeated, but the reason we are defeated is because we have chosen to disobey.-Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness, pp. 80-81
(HT: Ray Fowler)
2 comments:
Love, love, love this. Thanks for the reminder.
Funny, I've been reading Robert Stein's, "The Method and Message of Jesus' Teachings" (for NT220)and came across this quote yesterday:
"Believers are therefore encouraged by both defeat and success alike. Success provides a glimpse of the consummated kingdom that is to be revealed and heightens its anticipation. Defeat causes a greater longing for the full revelation of the kingdom, when instead of seeing "in a mirror dimly...we will see face to face" (1 Cor 13:12). (p81)
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