Pursuing Holiness – Part 2

A few weeks ago I shared (read the post here) that I am reading through The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges. It’s been quite a journey these past few weeks as I’ve encountered truths about sin, holiness and the struggle we each face inside. I’d like to share with you one of the lessons I’ve learned just this week.

In chapter five of the book, Bridges discusses the power that sin has over us. He talks about the “dominion of sin” and reminds readers that once we are saved, sin’s hold us on is broken. Now, I’ve heard this said over the years and while I believe it to be true, I have always wondered what, then, is wrong with me? Why do I still struggle with sin? In fact, I’ve often thought to myself, “I must not be a very good Christian if I’m still struggling with such-and such. I’m sure so-and-so doesn’t struggle like I do.”

Over and over I’ve barraged myself with thoughts like these until I truly believed there was something wrong with me – that somehow sin DID still have power over me.

Thankfully, Bridges shares a story in this book that helped me understand why we still encounter the struggles with sin that we face:

An illustration from warfare can help us see how this is true. In a particular nation two competing factions were fighting for control of the country. Eventually, with the help of an outside army, one faction won the war and assumed control of the nation’s government. But the losing side did not stop fighting. They simply changed their tactics to guerrilla warfare and continued to fight. In fact, they were so successful that they country supplying the outside help could not withdraw its troops.

So it is with us. Our enemy has been defeated, but we continue to fight an unseen war – our enemy now using guerrilla tactics now since sin no longer controls us.

Galatians 5:17 confirms this: “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want to do.”

But, praise God, there is hope! We can trust that God has truly defeated sin our our behalf and that we are free from sin (Romans 6:18). We can rely on God to work within us (Philippians 2:13). And we can offer ourselves to God to be “used in doing good.” (Romans 6:13b)

I know that I have so much more to learn! Stay tuned for Part 3 coming soon. And please comment and let me know how God is working within you on this topic!