Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins we Tolerate
Title: Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate
Author: Jerry Bridges
Publisher: NavPress, 2007
181 pages
Begun: December 29, 2008
Finished: January 4, 2009
Rating: ***
"Respectable Sins" is a study on the subtle sins that God's people often overlook in their own lives. Bridges spends the first six chapters of the book unpacking the doctrine of sin in the Scriptures. He pretty well hits it on the head in Chapter Three in describing what sin is:
"Therefore, when we sin, when we violate the law of God in anyway, be it ever so small in our eyes, we rebel against the sovereign authority and transcendent majesty of God. To put it bluntly, our sin is an assault on the majesty and sovereign rule of God. It is indeed cosmic treason" (27).
In the very next chapter, Bridges articulates the remedy for sin:
"The remedy for our sin, whether scandalous or acceptable, is the gospel in its widest scope" (33).
In Chapters 5 and 6, Bridges summarizes the doctrine of sanctification by explaining the work of the Holy Spirit against the flesh. In this regards, he lays a principle which he calls the principle of dependent responsibility:
"We are responsible before God to obey His Word, to put to death the sins in our lives, both the so-called acceptable sins and the obviously not acceptable ones. At the same time, we do not have the ability within ourselves to carry out this responsibility. We are in fact totally dependent upon the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. In this sense, we are both responsible and dependent" (41)
Bridges in Chapter 6 again describes sin in light of the gospel:
"We should always address our sin in the context of the gospel" (47).
The remaining chapters of the book, Chapters 7-21, confront specific sins including ungodliness, anxiety, discontentment, unthankfulness, pride, selfishness, lack of self-control, impatience, anger, judgmentalism, envy, and worldliness. For each chapter, Bridges briefly surveys Scriptural teaching and examples on the specific sin he is dealing with. At the end of each chapter, he reminds his reader that that particular sin is an egregious offense against Christ and the gospel.
He closes in Chapter 21 reiterating that the gospel is the believer's greatest need in this earthly life:
"The way to grow in our new affection for Christ that Chalmers preached about is to grow in our awareness of Christ's love for us as revealed to us in the gospel. The apostle Paul wrote that it is Christ's love for us that constrains us to live for Him. Such love for Him that will drive out our love for the world can only be a response to the deep, heartfelt sense of His love for us" (178).
Be prepared to be convicted as you read "Respectable Sins." Bridges tends to be a bit formulaic at times in his approach to dealing with sin, but his overall emphasis on the gospel is appreciated. The end-result of reading this book should be a greater love and loyalty to the gospel. If that is the end-result, then a reading of "Respectable Sins" is worth it.
Posted for Brian (since Bob hasn't sent out the invites yet!)
Author: Jerry Bridges
Publisher: NavPress, 2007
181 pages
Begun: December 29, 2008
Finished: January 4, 2009
Rating: ***
"Respectable Sins" is a study on the subtle sins that God's people often overlook in their own lives. Bridges spends the first six chapters of the book unpacking the doctrine of sin in the Scriptures. He pretty well hits it on the head in Chapter Three in describing what sin is:
"Therefore, when we sin, when we violate the law of God in anyway, be it ever so small in our eyes, we rebel against the sovereign authority and transcendent majesty of God. To put it bluntly, our sin is an assault on the majesty and sovereign rule of God. It is indeed cosmic treason" (27).
In the very next chapter, Bridges articulates the remedy for sin:
"The remedy for our sin, whether scandalous or acceptable, is the gospel in its widest scope" (33).
In Chapters 5 and 6, Bridges summarizes the doctrine of sanctification by explaining the work of the Holy Spirit against the flesh. In this regards, he lays a principle which he calls the principle of dependent responsibility:
"We are responsible before God to obey His Word, to put to death the sins in our lives, both the so-called acceptable sins and the obviously not acceptable ones. At the same time, we do not have the ability within ourselves to carry out this responsibility. We are in fact totally dependent upon the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. In this sense, we are both responsible and dependent" (41)
Bridges in Chapter 6 again describes sin in light of the gospel:
"We should always address our sin in the context of the gospel" (47).
The remaining chapters of the book, Chapters 7-21, confront specific sins including ungodliness, anxiety, discontentment, unthankfulness, pride, selfishness, lack of self-control, impatience, anger, judgmentalism, envy, and worldliness. For each chapter, Bridges briefly surveys Scriptural teaching and examples on the specific sin he is dealing with. At the end of each chapter, he reminds his reader that that particular sin is an egregious offense against Christ and the gospel.
He closes in Chapter 21 reiterating that the gospel is the believer's greatest need in this earthly life:
"The way to grow in our new affection for Christ that Chalmers preached about is to grow in our awareness of Christ's love for us as revealed to us in the gospel. The apostle Paul wrote that it is Christ's love for us that constrains us to live for Him. Such love for Him that will drive out our love for the world can only be a response to the deep, heartfelt sense of His love for us" (178).
Be prepared to be convicted as you read "Respectable Sins." Bridges tends to be a bit formulaic at times in his approach to dealing with sin, but his overall emphasis on the gospel is appreciated. The end-result of reading this book should be a greater love and loyalty to the gospel. If that is the end-result, then a reading of "Respectable Sins" is worth it.
Posted for Brian (since Bob hasn't sent out the invites yet!)
Labels: Book contest, book reviews, Brian's reading
posted by Mom and Dad | 8:55 AM
6 Comments:
Thanks for the review Brian. I know Bob has enjoyed this book and we are using it for our Adult mid-week small groups this winter. I'm looking forward to reading it.
I'm reading a book called "The Gospel Primer" that the Casillases gave me for Christmas. It's ultimate purpose is to refresh and increase one's love of the Gospel and its effect on our daily lives. Your comments reminded me of that. Thanks!
Jennie, Bethany Baptist in Brevard was using this book in their Wednesday night groups as well, and I heard good things from them.
Brian, Thanks for the review. It makes me want to read it, but don't expect me to even look at it in 2009 since it won't get me any points. I guess I get to keep my respectable sins for one more year.
Donna, who's going to finish first? :)
Excellent review, Brian. Makes me want to read the book. Dad
No fair, I hardly read, and you're reading MY book? Remember, the intro said to read it sslloowwllyy if you are going to get out of it what is intended!
I just finished this book this weekend (I stole it off of Daniel's shelf).....EXCELLENT!!!
Several of the topics were so convicting and helpful to dwell on. I especially appreciated the author's humility in exposing his own struggles.
I'm interested how it worked for your small groups, Bob and Jennie, that's a neat idea.--Brenda
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