Articles and thoughts by Steve Green.

Renunciation and Reliance - Jerry Bridges

March 30th, 2009

“Faith involves both a renunciation and a reliance. First, we must renounce any trust in our own performance as the basis of our acceptance before God. 

We trust in our own performance when we believe we’ve earned God’s acceptance by our own good works.

But we also trust in our own performance when we believe we’ve lost God’s acceptance by our bad works–by our sin. So we must renounce any consideration of either our bad works or our good works as the means of relating to God.

Second, we must place our reliance entirely on the perfect obedience of the sin-bearing death of Christ as the sole basis of our standing before God–on our best days as well as our worst.”

-Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington, The Bookends of the Christian Life (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2009), 28. 

18 Comments »

  1. This reminded me of a quote that mentions we must distrust ourselves and trust in God. Also reminds me of Psalm 20:7. We cannot trust in our own sinful and imperfect nature, only in God’s hands by faith in His grace can we be changed, looking onto Him in gratitude and surrendering love. Psalm 23.

    Comment by Elena — March 31, 2009 @ 10:20 am

  2. So very, very true. Thanks Steve. For many of us, it is easy to know that God loved us and called us to salvation by His grace alone but easy to forget that this same grace and love is ever present amidst our many failures as Christians.

    Comment by Adam — March 31, 2009 @ 7:48 pm

  3. Steve, this is very interesting. I’m not sure I completely agree. In the 3rd paragraph the writer states “…or our good works…”. How do we reconcile that statement with “…Faith without works is dead…”? It seems the bible commands good works, true not as a means of salvation, but yet as a true witness to the Glory of God.

    Comment by Jeff Hooper — March 31, 2009 @ 8:29 pm

  4. Jeff, I believe Jerry was talking about ‘good works’ in our relating to God, as the means of our acceptance. If we ride the roller coaster of performance, then we feel confident when doing our best and insecure when we mess up. So, we cannot trust our good works to gain acceptance with God…he does not love us more when we try harder. He loves us because we are ‘in Christ’, the One who alone satisfied all the righteous requirements on our behalf. But also we must not despair when we sin as if we have lost God’s love and acceptance. Certainly we are called to new life in Christ and there is a new principle of life within that desires holiness. Yet in this life we are saints/sinners and will not be done with the struggle against sin or the process of sanctification till we get to heaven.

    In summary, I don’t think Jerry was negating the importance of works as evidence of faith, but rather pointing out the danger of relying on our works as the means of acceptance with God. Remember, it is not my worst that is the enemy of the cross, but my best. Paul said is was his own righteousness that he considered as filthy rags.

    Steve

    Comment by steve — April 1, 2009 @ 8:46 am

  5. Adam, thanks for the comment. I am reminded of a favorite Steve Brown quote. Steve was responding to someone who was in a pit of despair after ’stumbling’ in his spiritual walk. The guy was doing some sort of Christian penance, beating himself up and wanting to pay for his sin. Steve said to him, “Cheer up! You are worse than you think! But cheer up! You are more loved than you dare imagine!”

    Steve

    Comment by steve — April 1, 2009 @ 8:56 am

  6. Steve, I am so glad you posted your reply regarding “good works” in response to Jerry Bridges writings. This is such a crucial matter to understand. Bridges wrote another book entitled “Transforming Grace” in which he cleared up some of the confusion many of us experience regarding the purpose of works, God’s grace toward us, and His acceptance of us. The men in our church went through a 12-week study on the book by Bridges and it was so incredibly helpful.

    Thanks again for your timely response.

    Comment by Steve Smith — April 2, 2009 @ 4:39 pm

  7. Thanks, Steve. I’ll have to find that book. Sounds great.

    Steve

    Comment by steve — April 2, 2009 @ 7:26 pm

  8. Hi Steve,

    It’s a calm, delightful Sabbath evening and I’m here enjoying some of your quiet songs. What you said is so true. The struggle against self and sin will last for a life time, and will not cease until we get to heaven. This should help to keep us in humility before the Lord, and to realize our continued dependence on Him.

    The more I learn of Him, the more terrible I seem in my own eyes, the more painful my inadequacies. And the more terrible and inadequate I seem, the more dependent I feel on Him, and the more I love Him for stooping to love even me. I’m so amazed by His love and mercies! What wondrous love is this! I can hardly contain myself sometimes when I contemplate it! I want to cry and laugh all at once! May God keep us in His love, now and always, strengthening us to renounce all and to just rest in Him. God bless you in your ministry!

    Michelle

    Comment by Michelle Watson-Grant — April 3, 2009 @ 7:43 pm

  9. Thanks, Michelle. Someone once told me, “For every look you take at your own sin, take 100 looks at Christ.” It is His glory to cover us and accept us by His own sacrifice. Keep resting!

    Steve

    Comment by steve — April 5, 2009 @ 12:57 pm

  10. Steve,
    As I think about the only “good works” that were ever acceptable for my acceptance by the Father, by the only Good Worker, on the brink of holy week, I find that even my humility has an air of self righteousness.
    It’s truly the Cross that brings me freedom and acceptance from my “mountain of sin” as I heard you describe it once. Once I realize that God requires a shedding of my gods on Calvary’s altar do I truly feel liberated, accepted and loved. Thank you for the many ways you help point us to the righteousness of Christ and Christ alone.
    John Jacob

    Comment by John Jacob — April 5, 2009 @ 1:00 pm

  11. I like the title “Good Worker”. Thanks.

    Steve

    Comment by steve — April 5, 2009 @ 1:03 pm

  12. Steve,
    I am reminded of a verse I memorized years ago in sharing my faith with the Four Spiritual Laws…a unique tool for evangelism offered by Bill Bright.

    “For by grace you have been saved by faith. And this is not your own doing, it is the GIFT of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” and then my favorite verse that follows…my passion for counseling young people into understanding their giftings and calling..”For we are HIS WORKMANSHIP, created in Christ Jesus for GOOD WORKS, which God prepared beforehand, that we should WALK IN THEM
    (the good works).” Ephesians 2:8-10
    (ESV translation)
    It is so simple, but so complex in thought that our very faith is the gift we receive…the faith to believe that Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so…the faith to trust in that Old Rugged Cross. And then, by faith to trust in the Father to show us daily what work He has for us to do.
    Sounds like we should never be bored.
    Thanks for giving us much food for contemplation by Jerry Bridges.
    Sounds like a good diet to me.
    Joyfully,
    Natalie

    Comment by Natalie Kleefisch — April 5, 2009 @ 5:00 pm

  13. Thanks for that good perspective, Natalie.

    Steve

    Comment by steve — April 6, 2009 @ 4:19 pm

  14. Steve - I’ve been blessed to read the comments and responses to the message you’ve shared. Yes, I agree that my salvation is NOT EARNED by works but by the working of the Holy Spirit in my life and the sacrifice of Christ on my behalf. “Any strength I have / Any good I do / Comes from the life I found You / So in all I am / And in all I do / I give the Glory to You”. (from the album “Where Mercy Begins”)

    Only when I surrender to the LORD my human striving and meager efforts will I receive the fullness of His mercy and Grace. Romans 11:36 tells us: “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To God be the glory forever!”

    In Christ,

    Mark

    Comment by Mark La Flamme — April 12, 2009 @ 6:26 am

  15. Yes and Amen! The gospel really is a huge sigh of relief! Have a blessed Easter! He is risen!

    Steve

    Comment by steve — April 12, 2009 @ 6:44 am

  16. On this excerpt- Agreed.
    Easter, Today I am almost speechless. His loss was for my gain..our gain.

    Comment by Mary — April 12, 2009 @ 10:50 am

  17. 2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

    Nothing that we ever do can effect this transformation which comes to us by taking our place ‘in Christ’ by faith. God renews us in Christ and transforms us - from death to life, from despair to hope, from hopelessness to blessed hope. It takes a life time to see and enjoy the benefits of this transformation. As we offer ourselves a living sacrifice and spend time with God in His Word and prayer we are conformed to the image of Christ.

    Praise to God for redeeming us and enabling us by His Spirit to glorify Him. Thanking God for your ministry to the saints worldwide. I found articles on your journal to be beneficial. Thanks for publishing them for the benefit of others.

    - David

    Comment by David — April 18, 2009 @ 9:22 am

  18. David, thanks for the concise and clear explanation of the gospel. Because of our fallen memories and familiarity with sin we cant’ rehearse it or remind each other of the blessed good news too often.

    Steve

    Comment by steve — April 18, 2009 @ 2:01 pm

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