A Radical, Comprehensive Call to Holiness

Book Description:

A profound biblical examination of the divine work of sanctification.

The mandate for holiness is based in the very character and person of God: we are to be holy because God is holy. His grace never leaves a man where it finds him. Grace always transforms the sinner into a saint—a holy man. God’s will is for His people to be holy, and the explanations of why and how we become holy are throughout the Bible.

Explaining the tension between positional and progressive holiness, Joel Beeke and Michael Barrett expound the doctrine of sanctification and show that it is the application of the gospel to our daily lives. If you’ve ever considered why, if we are saved by grace alone, holiness matters, this book is for you.

Table of Contents:
Holiness Defined
  1. Grappling with Positional and Progressive Holiness
  2. Understanding Union with Christ
  3. The Fear of the Lord Holiness Exegeted
  4. Possessing Our Possessions: Lessons from Joshua
  5. Avoiding the Greatest Sin (Deuteronomy 6 and Mark 12)
  6. The Crisis of Unbelief: Lessons from the Border (Numbers 13-14)
  7. The Divine Order for Holiness (Romans 6:1-14)
  8. Living for Jesus (Romans 12:1-2)
  9. The ‘Dos’ and ‘Whys’ of the Transformed Life (1 Peter 1:13-21)
Holiness Practiced
  10. Experiencing the New Birth
  11. Cultivating Holiness
  12. Dead and Alive: Killing the Old Man and Animating the New Man (Colossians 3:1-17)
  13. Making Use of Law and Gospel
  14. Living Christ and Dying in Christ Holiness Promoted
  15. Studying the Word
  16. Putting on the Whole Armor of God (Ephesians 6:14-18)
  17. Conducting Family Worship
  18. Relishing the Love of God (1 John 4:8)
  19. Highlighting the Puritan Contribution Holiness Tested
  20. Fighting the ‘Wretched Man’ (Romans 7:22-25)
  21. Handling Affliction Christ-centeredly
  22. Overcoming the World by Faith (1 John 5:4-5)
  23. Allowing Zero Tolerance for Lust (Ephesians 5:3-4)
  24. Returning from Backsliding
Holiness Distorted
  25. Erroneous Beliefs on Holiness in Bible History
  26. Modern Controversies about Holiness
Holiness Consummated
  27. Persevering in Christ to the End (Hebrews 12:1-3)
  28. The Utopian Marriage of Christ and His Church (Revelation 19:7-9)
  29. The Love of God in Heaven

Author:

Joel R. Beeke is President and Professor of Systematic Theology and Homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and Pastor of the Heritage Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Michael P. V. Barrett is vice president for academic affairs, academic dean, and professor of Old Testament at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is a minister in the Heritage Reformed Congregations.

Endorsements:

"This book has come to you at this moment to help you magnificently to address your life, and increasingly so, to this incredible end of attaining more and more of the holiness of God. What a goal! What a heavenly purpose for daily living. Pursue it by His sufficient grace!"
--Geoff Thomas

"This is the perfect book for those who still think the message of sola gratia is a threat to living a holy life. This is also the perfect book for those who still think that calling for sanctification is a threat to preaching justification. But most of all this is the perfect book for anyone—young as well as more mature believers—longing to live a God-pleasing life. In brief, Drs. Beeke and Barrett have provided us a great tool to assist us in practicing biblical holiness." - Herman Selderhuis "The author of Hebrews is insistent: without holiness, no one will see the Lord. Drs. Beeke and Barrett will not settle for anything less than total commitment to pursue holiness, whatever the cost. If you can settle for less, then don’t read this book. But settling for less may cost you dearly."
--Derek W. H. Thomas