Jerry Bridges said: “We are 100 percent responsible for the pursuit of holiness, but at the same time we are 100 percent dependent upon the Holy Spirit to enable us in that pursuit. The pursuit of holiness is not a pull-yourself-up-by-your-own-bootstraps approach to the Christian life.” What is Creator’s perspective?

This is a quite perceptive analysis because it reflects the ideal we have so often presented and discussed with you, of divine partnership, the need for you to seek and cultivate a divine partnership with us to expand and amplify all you do to help you stay on track, in alignment, and have the fuel you need in terms of divine inspiration and guidance, as well as encouragement and the deeper wherewithal to not lose sight of what is possible and settle for less, but to keep before you that image of that ultimate holiness that seems so lofty and beyond human reach. But we would say you are drawing the exactly wrong conclusion from making that comparison. When you see a shortfall on your end of things compared to the lofty notion of God and all it represents to you, that is not a condemnation of you as a lesser being that is flawed and meager, and thus of much, much lesser value. The way to look at the contrast is to show you how much growth, expansion, achievement, and attainment are still possible for you to acquire and bring about through your involvement, determination, and effort to work on that goal. We are not promoting a fanatical perfectionism, but only pointing out the reality you are not done yet in terms of what is possible. We would say you are more just getting started. There is much more to do, but with that will be the rewards that there is much more to learn and much more growth that will result. As you learn and grow and expand your horizons, all you do, all you become, and all you are, as a consequence, will be greater and will be more holy as well because it will be closer to our level than before. So we would agree you have a responsibility for the pursuit of holiness, but you need not do that all on your own, that would not even be possible. For one thing, you must be in alignment with us to advance. So what that means is, for your journey to advance and succeed, you need to become closer to us, to be more like us, and have more of what you see is valuable, that holiness that represents an ultimate state of completion and excellence. You are a work in progress and so are we, only we are further along than you; that can bring you much encouragement, and that is what is meant to happen when we remind you of the divine, what it can be, and our perspective about things as we answer your questions, it is always to encourage, instill hope, and inspire you to the greatness you yourselves can create and bring into your world.