If you were asked to name some serious sins, you would probably think of things like murder, rape, or adultery. Those are all serious sins. Yet you and I would quite possibly overlook a number of “smaller” sins, which, coincidentally, happen to be some that we commit on a somewhat frequent basis. Well-known author Jerry Bridges brings us a hard-hitting work which one described as the most convicting book he has read, other than the Bible. Bridges states “ …conservative evangelicals may have become so preoccupied with some of the major sins of society around us that we have lost sight of the need to deal with our own more ‘refined’ or subtle sins.” Bridges starts, as is customary for him, with the Gospel. He reminds us “Every true believer has been separated or set apart by God for God. Paul, in one place, described our Lord Jesus Christ as the One who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works (see Titus 2:14).”

I love how the author brings together a number of passages to remind us of our identity. We must know who we are. When we remember our identity, it will change our activity. “Paul begins his first letter to the Corinthian church by addressing them as ‘those sanctified [set apart by God] in Christ Jesus, called to be saints [set-apart ones].’ Then he spends the remainder of his letter vigorously exhorting them to act like saints.”

Application: I far too often forget that I am already a saint. I forget that I am called out, set apart, separated from sin, and separated to God.

Bridges goes on to speak of numerous “respectable sins”: 

• Ungodliness
• Anxiety and Frustration
• Discontentment
• Unthankfulness
• Pride
• Selfishness
• Lack of Self-Control
• Impatience and Irritability
• Anger
• The Weeds of Anger
• Judgmentalism
• Envy, Jealousy, and Related Sins
• Sins of the Tongue
• Worldliness

He explains that the first of these is what he considers to be the root. He defines ungodliness as “living one’s everyday life with little or no thought of God, or of God’s will, or of God’s glory, or of one’s dependence on God.” Bridges identifies another serious yet hidden sin including four types of pride, and they are all hideous. However, the goal of this book is not mere reformation. He says “The goal of this study is to know God’s heart and character in a way that leads to transformation from the inside out.” I love that, because I want to change, and that is the only way. 

Application: I would hate to be considered an ungodly person, but if Bridges is right, I often fall into that category. Bridges himself shares the practical steps to dismantling the “respectable sins”. I am resolved to do the same:

• Applying the gospel
• Depending upon the Holy Spirit
• Taking personal responsibility
• Identifying specific sins
• Memorizing/applying Scriptures
• Cultivating an active prayer life
• Welcoming accountability with other believers