Chapter 9: Dependent Responsibility
Last week got kind of busy so I am a week late on this post.
In this chapter Bridges talks about how Christians are to both work hard for God and trust fully in God. He uses Philippians 2:12-13 as his starting point… “work out you faith with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
Here are a few selections from the chapter that help to sum up his thoughts…
“The Puritans understood the concept of dependent responsibility. They used to say (and this is notan exact quote but captures their attitude), “Work as if it all depends on you, yet pray as if it all depends on God.” They labored diligently to become more like Christ, but they also prayed diligently because they knew they were dependent on the Holy Spirit to make their labor effective. This is the way we apply the principle of dependent responsibility.” p.107
He quotes the Puritan John Owen in this regard who said: But our duty and God’s grace are nowhere opposed in the matter of sanctification: for the one supposes the other. We cannot perform our duty without the grace of God (i.e. His enabling power), nor does God give us His grace to any other end than that we may rightly perform our duty.”
Next Week: Chapter 10
I'm Just Sayin'... 