Our First Problem

Our first problem is that our attitude toward sin is more self-centered than God-centered. We are more concerned about our own “victory” over sin than we are about the fact that our sins grieve the heart of God. We cannot tolerate failure in our own struggle with sin chiefly because we are success-oriented, not because we know it is offensive to God.

God wants us to walk in obedience—not victory. Obedience is oriented toward God; victory is oriented toward self. This may seem to be merely splitting hairs over semantics, but there is a subtle, self-centered attitude at the root of many of our difficulties with sin. Until we face the is attitude and deal with it we will not consistently walk in holiness.

—Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness