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The reports about Andrew Brunson’s release are just another example of how little the media know about evangelical churches.
The author died on Sunday, March 6th. He was 86 years old. “Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace.”
Jerry Bridges talking at the Desiring God conference in 2014. 7 DG
Respected theologian and author Jerry Bridges died on Sunday, March 6th. He was 86 years old.
“He suffered cardiac arrest on Saturday morning en route to the emergency room at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs”, The Gospel Coalition website informed.
Bridges was born in Texas, in a context of Christian legalism, theologian José de Segovia explains. “He discovered grace in university, and later fought in the Korean war. Being in Japan, he contacted the Navigators, a ministry in which he served for many years. He also was in the leadership of a Presbyterian church”.
He helped many discover the profound meaning of biblical grace. Justin Taylor (author), wrote: “One of the great legacies of Jerry Bridges is that he combined—to borrow some titles from his books—the pursuit of holiness and godliness with an emphasis on transforming grace. He believed that trusting God not only involved believing what he had done for us in the past, but that the gospel empowers daily faith and is transformative for all of life.”
One of Bridges' books.“GOSPEL IS NOT JUST FOR UNBELIEVERS”
Bridges wrote more than 20 books and was an international speaker. In his memories “God took me by the hand” (2014), the author explained several lessons he learned:
- The Bible is meant to be applied to specific life situations.
- All who trust in Christ as Savior are united to Him in a loving way just as the branches are united to the vine.
- The pursuit of holiness and godly character is neither by self-effort nor simply letting Christ “live His life through you.”
- The sudden understanding of the doctrine of election was a watershed event for me that significantly affected my entire Christian life.
- The representative union of Christ and the believer means that all that Christ did in both His perfect obedience and His death for our sins is credited to us.
- The gospel is not just for unbelievers in their coming to Christ.
- We are dependent on the Holy Spirit to apply the life of Christ to our lives.
One of Bridges’ most repeated quotes is:
"Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace".
The Discipline of Grace: God’s Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness (2006)
For Christians the paradigmatic model of success served others and gave his life for our rescue.
Nominal Christianity, a mission field for the church
An interview with Lars Dahle, of the Steering Committee of the Lausanne Movement Global Consultation on Nominal Christianity held in Rome.
Ruth Valerio: A lifestyle that cares about creation
Are Christians called to make a difference in environmental care? What has creation care to do with "loving our neighbours"? An interview with the Global Advocacy and Influencing Director of Tearfund.
Kathy Bryan: Online sex trafficking in the USA
“Prostitution is nobody’s dream, it’s a very traumatic lifestyle”, says Kathy Bryan, director of the Elevate Academy. She mentors former victims.
Rallies in Bulgaria: “New bill on religion brings us back to Communism!”
Bulgarian evangelicals protested peacefully on November 11 against a draft law which could severely restrict religious freedom of faith minorities. Churches rallied in Sofia and other cities after the Sunday worship services.
Photos: #WalkForFreedom
Abolitionists marched through 400 cities in 51 countries. Pictures from Valencia (Spain), October 20.
Photos: Reaching people with disabilities
Seminars, an arts exhibition, discussion and testimonies. The European Disability Network met in Tallinn.
Photos: Hope for Europe
Unity in Diversity is the theme of the conference. Representatives of Evangelical Alliances and many other church leaders gathered in Tallinn (Estonia).
Biotechnology: “There is a difference between restoration and enhancement”
“We have to understand the times in which we live, and have discernment”, says Doctor Peter J. Saunders.
The Manzanas case
A short documentary about how retired pastors and widows of an evangelical denomination in Spain fight a legal battle for their pensions after the favourable ruling of the European Court of Human Rights.
‘Mediterráneo’
“Something will change if you have hunger and thirst for justice”, sings Spanish artist Eva Betoret in a song about the refugee crisis.
Opinions expressed are those of their respective contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of Evangelical Focus.
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