Happy New Year, everyone.

On this final day of 2021, we end our ninth full year of podcasting and we end it talking

about holiness and the pursuit of perfection.

Here's the email.

Pastor John, hello.

My name is Christopher and I live in Louisville, Kentucky.

I've been listening to APJ for a little over a year now.

First, thank you so much for the incredible wealth of knowledge you've given to me and

all your listeners through this podcast over the years.

I've heard you on many occasions mention the danger of perfectionism as a Christian.

I am guilty of this.

After thinking a great deal about sanctification and listening to APJ 1663 about pursuing holiness,

it only gets worse.

I recognize that we are not justified by works, but also that the pursuit to live

holy lives is the evidence that we are saved.

I feel like this makes it very hard for me to come to terms with my own failure and

instead of running back to Christ when I sin, I spiral down into thoughts like, well,

maybe I was never truly saved.

It's almost as though I condemn myself into depression, even though Christ brings no

condemnation and it often takes days to work through it.

How do I find the balance between pursuing holiness and moving past my failure to be holy?

Is pursuing holiness the same as pursuing perfection?

...