Focused on the Gospel

In this chapter Bridges talks about the Gospel and Sanctification. One thing he makes clear is that we must always keep focused on the gospel at all times. Horatius Bonar,who was a nineteenth-century Scottish pastor and author wrote this:

The secret of a believer's holy walk is his continual recurrence to the blood of the Surety, and his daily [communion] with a crucified and risen Lord. All divine life, and all precious fruits of it, pardon, peace, and holiness, spring from the cross. All fancied sanctification which does not arise wholly from the blood of the cross is nothing better than Pharisaism. If we would be holy, we must get to the cross, and dwell there; else, notwithstanding all our labour, diligence, fasting, praying and good works, we shall be yet void of real sanctification, destitute of those humble, gracious tempers which accompany a clear view of the cross.
False ideas of holiness are common, not only among those who profess false religions, but among those who profess the true. The love of God to us, and our love to Him, work together for producing holiness. Terror accomplishes no real obedience. Suspense brings forth no fruit unto holiness. No gloomy uncertainty as to God's favour can subdue one lust, or correct our crookedness of will. But the free pardon of the cross uproots sin, and withers all its branches. Only the certainty of love, forgiving love, can do this. . . .
Free and warm reception into the divine favour is the strongest of all motives in leading a man to seek conformity to Him who has thus freely forgiven him all trespasses.

The gospel, received in our hearts at salvation, guarantees definitive sanctification. And the gospel believed every day is the ONLY enduring motivation to pursue progressive sanctification. That is why we need to preach the gospel to ourselves every day.

Bridges reminds us that, "It is in the gospel that we find those unsearchable riches of Christ that produce not only justification but also sanctification."