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The Hole in Our Holiness: Filling the Gap between Gospel Passion and the Pursuit of Godliness
What does it mean to be holy? Why should we care? And how can we change? The hole in our holiness is that we don’t care much about holiness. Or, at the very least, we don’t understand it. This is a book for those of us who are ready to take holiness seriously, ready to be more like Jesus, ready to live in light of the grace that produces godliness. This is a book about God’s power to help us grow in personal holiness and to enjoy the process of transformation.
160 pages, Paperback
First published August 7, 2012
521 people are currently reading
6410 people want to read
About the author
Kevin DeYoung
113 books1,239 followersKevin DeYoung is the Senior Pastor at University Reformed Church (RCA) in East Lansing, Michigan, right across the street from Michigan State University.
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September 18, 2012
J. I. Packer recently said in an interview with Desiring God,
That quote kept coming back to me as I listened* to Kevin DeYoung's book The Hole in Our Holiness . This is a timely book targeting a large group of American Christians who, in their rush to embrace grace and avoid legalism, have swung the pendulum a bit too far. DeYoung is calling people in his own (YRR) movement to take the Bible seriously—not only in its invitations to revel in God's grace but in its commands to mimic God's holiness. In my view, DeYoung did an excellent job targeting my own heart and bringing his reader back to the scriptural "plumb."
DeYoung's thesis is simple: "A concern for holiness is not obvious in our lives like it is obvious in the pages of Scripture." If you don't think such a book is for you, if it sounds legalistic, then ask yourself DeYoung's three diagnostic questions:
• Paul commends the Roman believers by saying "your obedience is known to all". Could that be said about us?
• Is your heaven a holy place? Or is it a place of perpetual divine affirmation for us? Some Christians have never been taught that sorcerers, adulterers, and everyone who loves falsehood will be left outside the gates of heaven.
• In our evangelism are we teaching people to do all that the Lord commanded?
For some Christians, DeYoung says, holiness is a lot like camping. It's great for those people who for some reason want to make life harder on themselves, but it's unclear why I should feel any obligation to try it. But you won't find such a view of holiness in the Bible, as DeYoung's book abundantly proves.
And his book is full of Bible, full of good theology applied searchingly to you and me. If DeYoung's exhortations sound more than a little fundamentalist, the problem doesn't lie with him. With some careful work through conservative doctrinal themes—union with Christ preeminent among them—DeYoung faithfully expounds the Bible's teaching on holiness.
But as Packer said, many people know these doctrines and can explain them accurately. What DeYoung adds is skilfull, heart-felt writing. He has many well-formed phrases that, for me, stuck.
One of the most helpful things DeYoung did for me was to note that Jesus is a great physician who can writes different prescriptions for different maladies or different patients. Gratitude and duty are not the only appropriate motivations for holiness. Sometimes people are told to do right simply because it is right—for example, Ephesians 6:1. But compare Ephesians 4:32. "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." DeYoung put together a whole list of verses offering different motivations to do right. This was excessively valuable, because we all need as many inducements to holiness as we could possibly and righteously and biblically get.
The Situational Perspective
One reviewer of DeYoung's book on The Gospel Coalition blog issued a mild criticism of it, saying that while some people may be too liberated by their (mis)understandings of grace, he still knows plenty of people who need to catch the gospel-centered wave. I could echo this criticism, but I wouldn't call it a criticism, only a suggestion to book-recommenders. This may not be the book to give to a legalist (try Milton Vincen'ts Gospel Primer for that), and that's okay. DeYoung witnessed a problem in his circles, one I've seen in my own heart, and he offered the Bible's answer to it. The question of legalism, though DeYoung does bring it up several times and though it is a significant problem, simply wasn't the situation DeYoung was addressing.
The holiness DeYoung is urging on his readers is one that makes worldly entertainment a serious issue. It's one that isn't flippant about dating standards (and here DeYoung gives a memorable personal illustration). And it's a holiness for which there are no performance-enhancing drugs. He argues that "the only way to extraordinary holiness is through ordinary means:" church, prayer, Bible reading, the ordinances.
His book is one of those means. It is an example of a Christian teacher exercising his gifts for the good of the whole body of Christ (Eph. 4:11ff.). And in the end it does not pit grace against holiness. Both the indicatives of scripture and its imperatives are from God for our good, given in grace, DeYoung says.
*I received this review book from Christian Audio, but was not required to say anything positive. Because I listened to the book rather than reading it, direct quotations may vary slightly in punctuation from the printed book.
There are writers who think that simply by crisp, orthodox formulations of Bible truth and wisdom—without any searching application to the reader—they are fulfilling the full role of a Christian writer and that nothing more is required of them.... There are enough people around already who can verbalize orthodoxy on paper. What we haven't got is writers who can join truth and wisdom about God from the Scriptures with personal communication; that is, communication that hits the heart, that makes you realize that this writer is a person talking to other persons and that this writer is trying to search me in order to help me and I must let him do it... There is a certain art and craft in writing in such a way that it gets to the reader's heart.
That quote kept coming back to me as I listened* to Kevin DeYoung's book The Hole in Our Holiness . This is a timely book targeting a large group of American Christians who, in their rush to embrace grace and avoid legalism, have swung the pendulum a bit too far. DeYoung is calling people in his own (YRR) movement to take the Bible seriously—not only in its invitations to revel in God's grace but in its commands to mimic God's holiness. In my view, DeYoung did an excellent job targeting my own heart and bringing his reader back to the scriptural "plumb."
DeYoung's thesis is simple: "A concern for holiness is not obvious in our lives like it is obvious in the pages of Scripture." If you don't think such a book is for you, if it sounds legalistic, then ask yourself DeYoung's three diagnostic questions:
• Paul commends the Roman believers by saying "your obedience is known to all". Could that be said about us?
• Is your heaven a holy place? Or is it a place of perpetual divine affirmation for us? Some Christians have never been taught that sorcerers, adulterers, and everyone who loves falsehood will be left outside the gates of heaven.
• In our evangelism are we teaching people to do all that the Lord commanded?
For some Christians, DeYoung says, holiness is a lot like camping. It's great for those people who for some reason want to make life harder on themselves, but it's unclear why I should feel any obligation to try it. But you won't find such a view of holiness in the Bible, as DeYoung's book abundantly proves.
And his book is full of Bible, full of good theology applied searchingly to you and me. If DeYoung's exhortations sound more than a little fundamentalist, the problem doesn't lie with him. With some careful work through conservative doctrinal themes—union with Christ preeminent among them—DeYoung faithfully expounds the Bible's teaching on holiness.
But as Packer said, many people know these doctrines and can explain them accurately. What DeYoung adds is skilfull, heart-felt writing. He has many well-formed phrases that, for me, stuck.
• "When it comes to growth in godliness, trusting does not put an end to trying."
• "It's one thing to graduate from college ready to change the world; it's another thing to be resolute in praying that God would change you."
• "There is a gap between our love for the Gospel and our love for godliness. This must change. It's not pietism, legalism, or fundamentalism to take holiness seriously. it's the way of all those who have been called to a holy calling by a holy God."
• "To find acquittal from God at the last day, there must be evidence flowing out of us that grace has flowed into us."
• "Don't be so scared of works righteousness that you make pale what the Bible writes in bold colors. We are saved by grace through faith—Ephesians 2:8–9. We were created in Christ Jesus for good works—verse 10. Any gospel which purports to save people without changing them is inviting easy-believism."
• "[Sometimes biblical] imperatives hit us like a ton of study Bibles."
One of the most helpful things DeYoung did for me was to note that Jesus is a great physician who can writes different prescriptions for different maladies or different patients. Gratitude and duty are not the only appropriate motivations for holiness. Sometimes people are told to do right simply because it is right—for example, Ephesians 6:1. But compare Ephesians 4:32. "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." DeYoung put together a whole list of verses offering different motivations to do right. This was excessively valuable, because we all need as many inducements to holiness as we could possibly and righteously and biblically get.
The Situational Perspective
One reviewer of DeYoung's book on The Gospel Coalition blog issued a mild criticism of it, saying that while some people may be too liberated by their (mis)understandings of grace, he still knows plenty of people who need to catch the gospel-centered wave. I could echo this criticism, but I wouldn't call it a criticism, only a suggestion to book-recommenders. This may not be the book to give to a legalist (try Milton Vincen'ts Gospel Primer for that), and that's okay. DeYoung witnessed a problem in his circles, one I've seen in my own heart, and he offered the Bible's answer to it. The question of legalism, though DeYoung does bring it up several times and though it is a significant problem, simply wasn't the situation DeYoung was addressing.
The holiness DeYoung is urging on his readers is one that makes worldly entertainment a serious issue. It's one that isn't flippant about dating standards (and here DeYoung gives a memorable personal illustration). And it's a holiness for which there are no performance-enhancing drugs. He argues that "the only way to extraordinary holiness is through ordinary means:" church, prayer, Bible reading, the ordinances.
His book is one of those means. It is an example of a Christian teacher exercising his gifts for the good of the whole body of Christ (Eph. 4:11ff.). And in the end it does not pit grace against holiness. Both the indicatives of scripture and its imperatives are from God for our good, given in grace, DeYoung says.
*I received this review book from Christian Audio, but was not required to say anything positive. Because I listened to the book rather than reading it, direct quotations may vary slightly in punctuation from the printed book.
January 12, 2021
Do you ever wonder that if God desires us to be holy, what this looks like? Or what the difference is between progressive sanctification and definitive sanctification? Or does an emphasis on holiness lead to pietism, legalism, or fundamentalism? Kevin DeYoung covers these topics and more in his new book, The Hole In Our Holiness.
Pastor DeYoung makes an important point when he states that we must confirm that holiness is possible. And if it is possible, and not optional, then how do we do it? He has a helpful distinction here in speaking of salvation and works as the "root" and the "fruit"; that in Christ every believer has "positional" (definitive) holiness that can never change, and from this place of new identity every Christian is commanded to grow in the "process" (progressive) of holiness. He writes, "My fear is that...we focus on what Christ saved us from but not what He saved us to."
Some practical advice he has is that "the simplest way to judge gray areas like movies, television, and music is to ask one simple question: can I thank God for this?" While I appreciate this suggestion, I don't think it is as clear as a few defined questions can be. For instance, I think it would be better to ask: 1) Is sin glorified? i.e., made to look cool or desirable, and 2) does this inflame your sinful tendencies or vulnerabilities? His statement that "worldliness is whatever makes sin look normal and righteousness look strange" is much appreciated in this context.
DeYoung's book is pastoral in approach and grounded in historic, confessional Reformed teaching. It will stand solidly next to Sproul's Holiness of God and Bridges's The Pursuit of Holiness as an excellent work in the business of godliness.
Pastor DeYoung makes an important point when he states that we must confirm that holiness is possible. And if it is possible, and not optional, then how do we do it? He has a helpful distinction here in speaking of salvation and works as the "root" and the "fruit"; that in Christ every believer has "positional" (definitive) holiness that can never change, and from this place of new identity every Christian is commanded to grow in the "process" (progressive) of holiness. He writes, "My fear is that...we focus on what Christ saved us from but not what He saved us to."
Some practical advice he has is that "the simplest way to judge gray areas like movies, television, and music is to ask one simple question: can I thank God for this?" While I appreciate this suggestion, I don't think it is as clear as a few defined questions can be. For instance, I think it would be better to ask: 1) Is sin glorified? i.e., made to look cool or desirable, and 2) does this inflame your sinful tendencies or vulnerabilities? His statement that "worldliness is whatever makes sin look normal and righteousness look strange" is much appreciated in this context.
DeYoung's book is pastoral in approach and grounded in historic, confessional Reformed teaching. It will stand solidly next to Sproul's Holiness of God and Bridges's The Pursuit of Holiness as an excellent work in the business of godliness.
September 14, 2021
Great book on sanctification for those who aren’t taught in it or need a convicting reminder. DeYoung reminds you of what holiness it, the importance of it, how Union with Christ relates, and what repentance is.
December 4, 2024
Kevin Deyoung is becoming a go to author for me on how to live the Christian life well without falling into legalism, or antinomianism. This book is primarily addressed to believers who in their effort to be gospel centered disregard God’s commands to live a holy life. Deyoung is helpful and generous with his assement of people who fall into this category without being condescending. This book is a must read for anyone who desires to lead a gospel centered and holy life without pitting the two aims against each other, but rather seeing them as a comprehensive view of the Christian life.
September 16, 2025
In this moment, I would say this book changed my life. While every chapter focused on a certain aspect, it all came down to highlighting the importance of holiness in our spiritual lives. Every chapter left an imprint on me but I will say the last chapter was made for me in my current circumstance.
“To err is human, to make progress is divine.”
Sanctification is a beautiful process but it’s not a day-by-day checklist. It’s all in the ebbs and flows of life and we need to check with ourselves and others that we trust if they see progress in our lives whether that’s over the past couple months or even years.
The distinction between regret and repentance was eye-opening of how there are many things that we regret, but most of that stems from preserving our self-image or perception. Repentance is truly seeing sin as evil and turning away because we serve a Holy God.
In addition, the contrast between godly grief and worldly grief relates to regret and repentance. Worldly grief keeps us idle. Godly grief pulls us towards God to ask for His mercy and grace. Pretty neat if you ask me.
This book also has discussion questions at the end of each chapter and those have been helpful for me (:
Highly recommend!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
“To err is human, to make progress is divine.”
Sanctification is a beautiful process but it’s not a day-by-day checklist. It’s all in the ebbs and flows of life and we need to check with ourselves and others that we trust if they see progress in our lives whether that’s over the past couple months or even years.
The distinction between regret and repentance was eye-opening of how there are many things that we regret, but most of that stems from preserving our self-image or perception. Repentance is truly seeing sin as evil and turning away because we serve a Holy God.
In addition, the contrast between godly grief and worldly grief relates to regret and repentance. Worldly grief keeps us idle. Godly grief pulls us towards God to ask for His mercy and grace. Pretty neat if you ask me.
This book also has discussion questions at the end of each chapter and those have been helpful for me (:
Highly recommend!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
February 10, 2024
Really loved this book. DeYoung writes about holiness in a way that is informed by scripture and the truth of the gospel, while also addressing our responsibility + the Holy Spirit’s role in sanctification. Lots of applicable information & misconceptions on holiness addressed!
“Apart from our union with Christ every effort to imitate Christ, no matter how noble and inspired at the outset, inevitably leads to legalism and spiritual defeat. But once you understand that doctrine of union with Christ, you see that God doesn’t ask us to attain what we’re not. He only calls us to accomplish what already is. The pursuit of holiness is not a quixotic effort to do just what Jesus did. It’s the fight to live out the life that has already been made alive in Christ.”
“Apart from our union with Christ every effort to imitate Christ, no matter how noble and inspired at the outset, inevitably leads to legalism and spiritual defeat. But once you understand that doctrine of union with Christ, you see that God doesn’t ask us to attain what we’re not. He only calls us to accomplish what already is. The pursuit of holiness is not a quixotic effort to do just what Jesus did. It’s the fight to live out the life that has already been made alive in Christ.”
December 14, 2022
4.5 stars
"There is a gap between our love for the Gospel and our love for godliness. This must change. It's not pietism, legalism, or fundamentalism to take holiness seriously. It's the way of all those who have been called to a holy calling by a holy God."
Great reminder and exhortation to avoid worldliness and pursue the holiness that is lacking in our lives.
“It sounds really spiritual to say God is interested in a relationship, not in rules. But it's not biblical. From top to bottom, the Bible is full of commands. They aren't meant to stifle a relationship with God, but to protect it, seal it, and define it. Never forget: first God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, then He gave them the law. God's people were not redeemed by observing the law. But they were redeemed so that they might obey the law.”
“There is an eternal difference between regret and repentance. Regret feels bad about past sins. Repentance turns away from past sins. Regret looks to our own circumstances. Repentance looks to God. Most of us are content with regret. We just want to feel bad for awhile, have a good cry, enjoy the cathartic experience, bewail our sin, and talk about how sorry we are. But we don’t want to change. We don’t want to deal with God.”
"There is a gap between our love for the Gospel and our love for godliness. This must change. It's not pietism, legalism, or fundamentalism to take holiness seriously. It's the way of all those who have been called to a holy calling by a holy God."
Great reminder and exhortation to avoid worldliness and pursue the holiness that is lacking in our lives.
“It sounds really spiritual to say God is interested in a relationship, not in rules. But it's not biblical. From top to bottom, the Bible is full of commands. They aren't meant to stifle a relationship with God, but to protect it, seal it, and define it. Never forget: first God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, then He gave them the law. God's people were not redeemed by observing the law. But they were redeemed so that they might obey the law.”
“There is an eternal difference between regret and repentance. Regret feels bad about past sins. Repentance turns away from past sins. Regret looks to our own circumstances. Repentance looks to God. Most of us are content with regret. We just want to feel bad for awhile, have a good cry, enjoy the cathartic experience, bewail our sin, and talk about how sorry we are. But we don’t want to change. We don’t want to deal with God.”
April 4, 2018
This is the best book I have read in awhile in relation to my walk with God! Deyoung is incredibly relatable and equally inspiring to the reader- encouraging them to grow in holiness. I now recognize the NEED to do so and how God commands and wishes us to have a holy life. I HIGHLY suggest this book!
January 21, 2023
In true, DeYoung style, a succinct, effective, Biblical look at an important yet basic Christian topic. I learned a lot about many facets of holiness that I hadn’t considered before! Especially regarding prayer, union with Christ and communion with God. The path to holiness is simple, yet profound and DeYoung shares this well. I especially enjoyed how he drew from scripture (obviously) as well as Christian writers of old.
April 26, 2021
Kevin DeYoung aborda un tema difícil como el de la santidad de manera práctica y bíblica. Nos recuerda la importancia de la santidad y la esperanza que tenemos de poder caminar en ella, con los ojos en Cristo. Una belleza de libro.
May 1, 2020
Ya sé qué libro voy a recomendar cuando alguien tenga dudas sobre la santificación.
September 28, 2024
“Quite often, God uses suffering to smooth out our rough edges and break down our streak of independence. We may not be aware of any particular patterns that have led us to Christ, but over the years we may find that indeed our love for Jesus is stronger, our relationship with him is firmer, and our sense of his presence is stronger. Even in the dark times and dry seasons, we will find that God has been working all along. In thinking about our fellowship with Christ we must never imagine that Christ is hiding in a corner, waiting for us to break through his hard exterior, just hoping we'll pay attention to him. He is constantly reaching out, wooing, speaking, entreating, moving, and standing at the door to knock (Rev. 3:20).”
Leaving it at the large paragraph of a quote above to summarize my five stars.
Leaving it at the large paragraph of a quote above to summarize my five stars.
February 15, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this one - both convicting and encouraging. DeYoung emphasizes that holiness is possible through our union in Christ, but it takes spiritual warfare, hard mental energy, and focused effort to daily deny our flesh. I especially appreciated his chapter on communion with Christ and how Christian liberty plays a role in that as we are now free and able to please Him. Although our union with Christ is an irrevocable gift of the Spirit, our fellowship and communion with Christ is affected by sin. Will be referencing this book in my Bisson essay ✨
January 3, 2025
4.5! i loved this book, especially the last few chapters! i’ve always struggled with fearing man instead of fearing God and this really deepened my understanding of sanctification and the necessity of being a holy representative of Christ. i’ve probably never been more convicted while reading a book- it really made me consider what i’m consuming and unhealthy habits that i’ve began in recent months. but it’s so comforting to know that God is with me and communion with Him is one of the simplest ways to become more holy like God
December 29, 2025
This was encouraging and convicting all in one. A great way to end the year and prepare for the year ahead. I’d highly recommend this book to any believer, at any age or stage.
March 8, 2013
This is a much needed corrective to many, especially younger "gospel-centered" evangelicals (like myself!). DeYoung is thoroughly biblical and convincing in showing how the pursuit of holiness should not breed guilt or shame, but delight. Especially helpful was the distinction between *union with Christ* and *communion with Christ*; varying degrees of sin; and how if we "flatten" all sin, we actually do ourselves a disservice in how we think about growing in godliness.
From a technical note, I'm glad that DeYoung has written a book that is both accessible (short, readable, and funny) but still talks about very "big" ideas. The Hole In Our Holiness is bite sized Puritan spirituality seasoned with 21st century wit!
I'm teaching some college students on mortifying sin in a few weeks and will be giving some copies of this away -- it really is that helpful.
From a technical note, I'm glad that DeYoung has written a book that is both accessible (short, readable, and funny) but still talks about very "big" ideas. The Hole In Our Holiness is bite sized Puritan spirituality seasoned with 21st century wit!
I'm teaching some college students on mortifying sin in a few weeks and will be giving some copies of this away -- it really is that helpful.
May 16, 2024
Julia’s pope seldom fails.
This read was so encouraging to me. It’s easy for me to get caught up in making sure I’m doing the right things that I lose sight of what matters, which is loving Christ. This book balances the importance of living a holy life while also reminding us that this is accomplished IN Christ.
Something that has been on my mind since first reading this book is to be more conscious about what entertainment/media I consume. DeYoung suggests asking ourselves “Can I thank God for this good gift?” When it comes to entertainment, and I’ve been asking myself this often.
I think everyone should read this. I ended the read with gratitude for Christ’s forgiveness and mercy and the motivation to be more like Jesus.
This read was so encouraging to me. It’s easy for me to get caught up in making sure I’m doing the right things that I lose sight of what matters, which is loving Christ. This book balances the importance of living a holy life while also reminding us that this is accomplished IN Christ.
Something that has been on my mind since first reading this book is to be more conscious about what entertainment/media I consume. DeYoung suggests asking ourselves “Can I thank God for this good gift?” When it comes to entertainment, and I’ve been asking myself this often.
I think everyone should read this. I ended the read with gratitude for Christ’s forgiveness and mercy and the motivation to be more like Jesus.
August 27, 2012
This was a very well written and convicting book! The amazing thing was that even when reading such a deep and important book there were also some incredibly funny laugh out loud moments! One of the points I liked a lot was that the pursuit of holiness is not so much a pursuit of a heart change but the pursuit of the the person of Jesus himself. In todays era of books from blogs and what is popular are books that basically have crossed the line of transparency into Love me love my sin this book was a breath of fresh air and a serious reminder to the standard to which we as Christians are called!
December 24, 2018
Un libro muy sencillo de leer.
Con apenas 200 páginas Kevin Deyoung expone de manera excepcional el tema de la santidad en el creyente.
Deyoung confronta con la Palabra pero sin acusar, se hace vulnerable al compartir de manera amena sus luchas y lleva al lector a reflexionar en qué tanta importancia le damos a vivir de manera santa.
Un libro práctico, sencillo de leer pero lleno de enseñanza teológica para no frenar en esta carrera cristiana y aprender cómo día a día se puede vivir como Cristo a través de la unión con Él. Sé santo, Dios te eligió para santificarte.
Con apenas 200 páginas Kevin Deyoung expone de manera excepcional el tema de la santidad en el creyente.
Deyoung confronta con la Palabra pero sin acusar, se hace vulnerable al compartir de manera amena sus luchas y lleva al lector a reflexionar en qué tanta importancia le damos a vivir de manera santa.
Un libro práctico, sencillo de leer pero lleno de enseñanza teológica para no frenar en esta carrera cristiana y aprender cómo día a día se puede vivir como Cristo a través de la unión con Él. Sé santo, Dios te eligió para santificarte.
August 13, 2019
I have read a few books on the subject of holiness at this point, so I approached this book wondering if there would be anything new here. As it turns out, DeYoung wrote a very readable and pastoral book on the subject that is thought provoking, convicting, and practical. While he didn't cover anything I had never heard before, I felt like he gleaned the best material and put it all between two covers. It was a pretty fast read once I got into it, but I know I will be coming back to certain parts of it soon...especially to help with some lessons for my church and youth group.
March 4, 2023
This is the first time I’ve read anything by Kevin DeYoung and he is now one of my favorite authors. The Hole in our Holiness is written eloquently. It is easy to understand, practical, and something you can not stop thinking about wether you’re in or out of the pages. I feel called to know scripture better with the new tools I’ve been given to do that. I am excited to commune with the Lord— more than I was before. So thankful for faithful men like DeYoung to push younger believers to know what I thought I couldn’t without years of education. I recommend this book to anyone.
April 14, 2023
One of the best books I’ve read in a while. Incredible book on what the pursuit of holiness practically looks like in my day to day life and very helpful as I’ve been navigating what aspects of my life are helpful and harmful in looking more Christ like in my life. Would recommend to any believer.
July 25, 2025
While I do believe that Kevin DeYoung is a Godly man and Christian, I have to say, I could not STAND this tiny book which is simply a rose (or in this case legalism) by any other name. My reasons below:
A) It is HORRIBLY written and positively brimming with cheap diction, mind-numbing analogies, and is garishly hokey. At one point he literally writes that "Union with Christ is like being placed on an NFL football team through no talent of your own. Though you didn't earn your way on to the team, now that you wear the jersey you want to play like a real football player." DeYoung, obviously feeling that you just don't understand him then doubles down on such tepid analogizing and offers this horrifying gem: "Union with Christ is like a ten-year-old refusing to be called a 'baby' by his friends. He knows he's not a baby anymore. He's a boy. So he starts acting more grown up." If, only Jesus' parabolic teachings had been so "down-to-earth" as opposed to all those weird stories about "chests of treasures", "prodigal sons" and "mustard seeds!"
B) DeYoung has plenty to say about why a Christian ought not to lead a life of unrepentant sin but seems to offer no definition of what sin IS and WHY it's an abomination. Porn, as you can imagine, is mentioned quite a bit but is simply labeled as falling under the umbrella of sexual immorality and sexual immortality is sin so just avoid it. But WHY? Actually discussing how pornography defiles the imago dei of others, has a tendency to rule over your time and talents, and is literally representative of an industry which is built off of men and women who experienced horrible abuse as children would give the reader a better understanding that God doesn't simply label this or that behavior a sin arbitrarily. In fact, nowhere that I can remember in this book is sin even remotely discussed in the abstract, let alone the doctrine of the fall. The fact that a book on holiness doesn't bother to explain the doctrine of sin is truly remarkable.
C) DeYoung decries the idea of holiness being more than "middle-class family values" while also stressing how holiness is not just what we avoid but what we do. Too bad that he is obsessed with outlining the most absurd "middle-class" peccadilloes in his life as illustrations and also builds his book entirely off of a "negative" conception of holiness (literally every example is something we shouldn't do as opposed to something we should do). For instance, DeYoung discusses how he was offended by a PG-13 film, felt that he and his fiancee maybe did a little too much "making out" when they were "courting", warns us against using the "f-word", and somehow puts this in the same category of Pauline exhortation. Sure, Paul was dealing with congregants who were having sex with their own mother-in-laws, pagans that practiced temple prostitution, truly aggressive prosecution that literally threatened the lives of parishioners, church goers who actually felt they were holier than others due to their supposed spiritual gifts, and even fellow apostles like Peter who believed that some members of the church were impure due to their status as gentiles. Is this to say that DeYoung has no point in calling out these issues? By no means. However, I feel like a holiness based off of "turning off the radio" and averting your eyes when you see a neighbor wearing an "immodest bathing suit" and not laughing at jokes when watching Indiana Jones, and not "getting drunk on Friday night" is the epitome of "Middle-class family values." The problems Paul was EXPLICIT about are problems we still have and they are devastating. Yes, you shouldn't leer at pretty girls, you shouldn't get wasted every weekend (although one wonders what DeYoung's definition of drunk is as he claims in a footnote that while he doesn't believe alcohol is sinful he has never had a taste because it "smells bad"), you shouldn't veg out in front of the TV, but you should also realize that SIN IS DEATH BECAUSE SIN IS DEADLY. Addiction is deadly, deploying abusive language is deadly, treating others as sexual objects is deadly, spending your days in pure idleness is deadly. People are actually murdered, they are actually abused, they are actually consumed by lust and rage. We aren't counted as "creatures of wrath" because we watched something rated R yet for DeYoung it seems that a "real" Christian would never do that so those who are regenerate should really just obsess about the movies they watch and the music they listen to. As Flannery O'Connor put it (a Catholic who somehow believed in Grace by Faith more than many Calvinists) "if you want to avoid Jesus, avoid sin." For me what is key with O'Connor is the term "avoid." DeYoung is ALL about avoiding these highly specific sins but not about embracing that true grace and sharing it as saints who love others.
D) What then does DeYoung say we should do? Why, pray, read the Bible, go to church, and take communion! Now, I actually agree that these are BEAUTIFUL parts of the Christian life which do INDEED bring us into ever greater communion with Jesus but DON'T on their own save us. The problem is DeYoung spends a huge chunk of the book attacking "professed Christians" who "aren't growing in holiness" (too many PG-13 movies, I guess) but think they are because they (you guessed it!) go to church, read the Bible, pray, and take communion. This of course is the game that Lordship Salvationists love to play–no you are NEVER saved by works but by FREE GRACE but if you aren't OBVIOUSLY DISPLAYING HOLINESS than you are NOT SAVED and don't ever assume that GOING TO CHURCH, READING THE BIBLE, PRAYING, AND TAKING THE LORD'S SUPPER MEAN YOU ARE SAVED….BUT YOU BETTER BE READING THE BIBLE, GOING TO CHURCH, AND APPROACHING THE TABLE! Am I against "Lordship Salvation?" Not really, but I think that it's more often than not used to beat people over the head than it is to exhort, edify, or enlighten. For one, I have yet to meet an actual "easy believest" Christian who acts as if they can do whatever they want. Their doctrine might claim that (and that's what they'll tell you if you ask) but in practice they, too, are seeking holiness, are desiring to put sin to death, are growing in faith, and posses a desire to love and display the law. Now, I don't necessarily agree with the "easy believest" position to the core either (I repeat a prayer and then remain a drug dealer doesn’t quite fit) but I also don't agree with this "display-based salvation" which memorizes Hebrews 10:26-27 but seems to disregard all of Romans 7. And how interesting that DeYoung merely mentions Romans 7 is passing but NEVER quotes it! How interesting he left out Paul claiming he is the chief sinner! IT'S ALMOST AS IF PAUL WASN'T "PERFECTLY HOLY LIKE HIS FATHER IN HEAVEN" DESPITE THE FACT THAT DEYOUNG IS CONVINCED WE CAN BE THAT IF WE JUST STOP WATCHING PG-13 MOVIES! Once again, I don't think the basic premise of "Lordship Salvation" is wrong, I'm just not sure how profitable it is when the real gospel misconceptions are seen EVERYDAY by "believers" who truly do feel that it's faith plus works, or truly do feel that they are spiritually superior because they were "slain in the spirit", or truly do feel they are saved because they were blessed with "health and wealth." That seems to be what's keeping "Christians" from understanding and accepting the gospel.
E) The chapter devoted to sexual immorality has a lot of truth in it BUT once again everything is reduced to "middle-class holiness." Yes, you shouldn't have sex before marriage, yes, you shouldn't watch porn, but the chapter seems to feel that a "real" Christian not only would never do this BUT a real Christian would NEVER have done anything worse than this. DeYoung, for instance, doesn't mention abortion ONCE in the book and I suspect that he truly feels a Christian could never actually commit such a sin because I suspect that DeYoung really feels that Christians aren't saved from life to death (from sinfulness to righteousness) but from nastiness to niceness.
F) I've already mentioned this but I feel compelled to repeat that DeYoung SEES THE LAW IN A TOTAL NEGATIVE LIGHT. Yes, he quotes tons of scripture which enjoin us to "love one another" and "serve one another" but while he can come up with dozens of "real-life examples" of what we should avoid, he has no corollary examples of what we should do (apart from reading the Bible, going to church, praying, and taking communion which, by the way, “aren't proof of anything and you're probably still not saved”).
G) Finally, DeYoung waits until the last chapter to discuss what I can't help but feel is the MOST important aspect of sanctification, namely repentance. Yes, he goes on and on and on about shoulds and oughts but doesn't even use the WORD until the very last chapter. And then he offers that typical "Lordship" version of repentance which is totally negative in character–repentance ISN'T feeling bad, it ISN'T feeling guilty, it ISN'T just wanting to change. So, what is it? DeYoung then states that repentance is ACTUALLY feeling not guilty and LOOKING toward God and TURNING from our sin. Is this not just another trap for truly Godly people? You aren't supposed to feel bad so you must look toward God but if you look toward God than you should "grieve over" and "hate your sin" but once again repentance is NOT a feeling and also you can't simply "trust in him" because you have to actually turn from your sin but you can't see repentance as being a "work." By the way, DeYoung anticipates a truly bizarre "attack" against repentance claiming that some readers might find it weird that he ends a book on holiness with repentance suggesting that these readers think repentance and holiness are mutually exclusive. Um, who in the world would think that??? I feel this speaks volumes about DeYoung's theological outlook as I would assume most pastors would think fellow Christians see holiness and repentance as sides of the same coin.
All in all I think Kevin DeYoung has the gospel right (for what little time he spends on it) and I do agree with the basic thesis--Christian life should lead to greater holiness, a Christian life that displays no fruit may be proof of a lack of regeneration, and Jesus does expect us to keep the law. Sadly that message is mired in truly insipid prose, offers no clear definitions of basic concepts like SIN, plays the hyper-Lordship game of Legalism by any other name, conceives of sin as being "bad behavior" like PG-13 films but also being "not bad behavior" like PG-13 films, gives no positive examples of the law but only negative ones, and offers meaningless tautologies to explain repentance.
A) It is HORRIBLY written and positively brimming with cheap diction, mind-numbing analogies, and is garishly hokey. At one point he literally writes that "Union with Christ is like being placed on an NFL football team through no talent of your own. Though you didn't earn your way on to the team, now that you wear the jersey you want to play like a real football player." DeYoung, obviously feeling that you just don't understand him then doubles down on such tepid analogizing and offers this horrifying gem: "Union with Christ is like a ten-year-old refusing to be called a 'baby' by his friends. He knows he's not a baby anymore. He's a boy. So he starts acting more grown up." If, only Jesus' parabolic teachings had been so "down-to-earth" as opposed to all those weird stories about "chests of treasures", "prodigal sons" and "mustard seeds!"
B) DeYoung has plenty to say about why a Christian ought not to lead a life of unrepentant sin but seems to offer no definition of what sin IS and WHY it's an abomination. Porn, as you can imagine, is mentioned quite a bit but is simply labeled as falling under the umbrella of sexual immorality and sexual immortality is sin so just avoid it. But WHY? Actually discussing how pornography defiles the imago dei of others, has a tendency to rule over your time and talents, and is literally representative of an industry which is built off of men and women who experienced horrible abuse as children would give the reader a better understanding that God doesn't simply label this or that behavior a sin arbitrarily. In fact, nowhere that I can remember in this book is sin even remotely discussed in the abstract, let alone the doctrine of the fall. The fact that a book on holiness doesn't bother to explain the doctrine of sin is truly remarkable.
C) DeYoung decries the idea of holiness being more than "middle-class family values" while also stressing how holiness is not just what we avoid but what we do. Too bad that he is obsessed with outlining the most absurd "middle-class" peccadilloes in his life as illustrations and also builds his book entirely off of a "negative" conception of holiness (literally every example is something we shouldn't do as opposed to something we should do). For instance, DeYoung discusses how he was offended by a PG-13 film, felt that he and his fiancee maybe did a little too much "making out" when they were "courting", warns us against using the "f-word", and somehow puts this in the same category of Pauline exhortation. Sure, Paul was dealing with congregants who were having sex with their own mother-in-laws, pagans that practiced temple prostitution, truly aggressive prosecution that literally threatened the lives of parishioners, church goers who actually felt they were holier than others due to their supposed spiritual gifts, and even fellow apostles like Peter who believed that some members of the church were impure due to their status as gentiles. Is this to say that DeYoung has no point in calling out these issues? By no means. However, I feel like a holiness based off of "turning off the radio" and averting your eyes when you see a neighbor wearing an "immodest bathing suit" and not laughing at jokes when watching Indiana Jones, and not "getting drunk on Friday night" is the epitome of "Middle-class family values." The problems Paul was EXPLICIT about are problems we still have and they are devastating. Yes, you shouldn't leer at pretty girls, you shouldn't get wasted every weekend (although one wonders what DeYoung's definition of drunk is as he claims in a footnote that while he doesn't believe alcohol is sinful he has never had a taste because it "smells bad"), you shouldn't veg out in front of the TV, but you should also realize that SIN IS DEATH BECAUSE SIN IS DEADLY. Addiction is deadly, deploying abusive language is deadly, treating others as sexual objects is deadly, spending your days in pure idleness is deadly. People are actually murdered, they are actually abused, they are actually consumed by lust and rage. We aren't counted as "creatures of wrath" because we watched something rated R yet for DeYoung it seems that a "real" Christian would never do that so those who are regenerate should really just obsess about the movies they watch and the music they listen to. As Flannery O'Connor put it (a Catholic who somehow believed in Grace by Faith more than many Calvinists) "if you want to avoid Jesus, avoid sin." For me what is key with O'Connor is the term "avoid." DeYoung is ALL about avoiding these highly specific sins but not about embracing that true grace and sharing it as saints who love others.
D) What then does DeYoung say we should do? Why, pray, read the Bible, go to church, and take communion! Now, I actually agree that these are BEAUTIFUL parts of the Christian life which do INDEED bring us into ever greater communion with Jesus but DON'T on their own save us. The problem is DeYoung spends a huge chunk of the book attacking "professed Christians" who "aren't growing in holiness" (too many PG-13 movies, I guess) but think they are because they (you guessed it!) go to church, read the Bible, pray, and take communion. This of course is the game that Lordship Salvationists love to play–no you are NEVER saved by works but by FREE GRACE but if you aren't OBVIOUSLY DISPLAYING HOLINESS than you are NOT SAVED and don't ever assume that GOING TO CHURCH, READING THE BIBLE, PRAYING, AND TAKING THE LORD'S SUPPER MEAN YOU ARE SAVED….BUT YOU BETTER BE READING THE BIBLE, GOING TO CHURCH, AND APPROACHING THE TABLE! Am I against "Lordship Salvation?" Not really, but I think that it's more often than not used to beat people over the head than it is to exhort, edify, or enlighten. For one, I have yet to meet an actual "easy believest" Christian who acts as if they can do whatever they want. Their doctrine might claim that (and that's what they'll tell you if you ask) but in practice they, too, are seeking holiness, are desiring to put sin to death, are growing in faith, and posses a desire to love and display the law. Now, I don't necessarily agree with the "easy believest" position to the core either (I repeat a prayer and then remain a drug dealer doesn’t quite fit) but I also don't agree with this "display-based salvation" which memorizes Hebrews 10:26-27 but seems to disregard all of Romans 7. And how interesting that DeYoung merely mentions Romans 7 is passing but NEVER quotes it! How interesting he left out Paul claiming he is the chief sinner! IT'S ALMOST AS IF PAUL WASN'T "PERFECTLY HOLY LIKE HIS FATHER IN HEAVEN" DESPITE THE FACT THAT DEYOUNG IS CONVINCED WE CAN BE THAT IF WE JUST STOP WATCHING PG-13 MOVIES! Once again, I don't think the basic premise of "Lordship Salvation" is wrong, I'm just not sure how profitable it is when the real gospel misconceptions are seen EVERYDAY by "believers" who truly do feel that it's faith plus works, or truly do feel that they are spiritually superior because they were "slain in the spirit", or truly do feel they are saved because they were blessed with "health and wealth." That seems to be what's keeping "Christians" from understanding and accepting the gospel.
E) The chapter devoted to sexual immorality has a lot of truth in it BUT once again everything is reduced to "middle-class holiness." Yes, you shouldn't have sex before marriage, yes, you shouldn't watch porn, but the chapter seems to feel that a "real" Christian not only would never do this BUT a real Christian would NEVER have done anything worse than this. DeYoung, for instance, doesn't mention abortion ONCE in the book and I suspect that he truly feels a Christian could never actually commit such a sin because I suspect that DeYoung really feels that Christians aren't saved from life to death (from sinfulness to righteousness) but from nastiness to niceness.
F) I've already mentioned this but I feel compelled to repeat that DeYoung SEES THE LAW IN A TOTAL NEGATIVE LIGHT. Yes, he quotes tons of scripture which enjoin us to "love one another" and "serve one another" but while he can come up with dozens of "real-life examples" of what we should avoid, he has no corollary examples of what we should do (apart from reading the Bible, going to church, praying, and taking communion which, by the way, “aren't proof of anything and you're probably still not saved”).
G) Finally, DeYoung waits until the last chapter to discuss what I can't help but feel is the MOST important aspect of sanctification, namely repentance. Yes, he goes on and on and on about shoulds and oughts but doesn't even use the WORD until the very last chapter. And then he offers that typical "Lordship" version of repentance which is totally negative in character–repentance ISN'T feeling bad, it ISN'T feeling guilty, it ISN'T just wanting to change. So, what is it? DeYoung then states that repentance is ACTUALLY feeling not guilty and LOOKING toward God and TURNING from our sin. Is this not just another trap for truly Godly people? You aren't supposed to feel bad so you must look toward God but if you look toward God than you should "grieve over" and "hate your sin" but once again repentance is NOT a feeling and also you can't simply "trust in him" because you have to actually turn from your sin but you can't see repentance as being a "work." By the way, DeYoung anticipates a truly bizarre "attack" against repentance claiming that some readers might find it weird that he ends a book on holiness with repentance suggesting that these readers think repentance and holiness are mutually exclusive. Um, who in the world would think that??? I feel this speaks volumes about DeYoung's theological outlook as I would assume most pastors would think fellow Christians see holiness and repentance as sides of the same coin.
All in all I think Kevin DeYoung has the gospel right (for what little time he spends on it) and I do agree with the basic thesis--Christian life should lead to greater holiness, a Christian life that displays no fruit may be proof of a lack of regeneration, and Jesus does expect us to keep the law. Sadly that message is mired in truly insipid prose, offers no clear definitions of basic concepts like SIN, plays the hyper-Lordship game of Legalism by any other name, conceives of sin as being "bad behavior" like PG-13 films but also being "not bad behavior" like PG-13 films, gives no positive examples of the law but only negative ones, and offers meaningless tautologies to explain repentance.
March 3, 2024
Kevin DeYoung holds an excellent balance between solid biblical theology and practical application. He writes in a simple enough way that any Christian can grasp what is being said and run with it. But there is also enough depth that no pastor or theologian will think it is too shallow or simplistic.
In this book, DeYoung turns our gaze on a topic that is not often enough taught. In ten chapters he examines the only thrice repeated attribute of God (holy) and how we can live it out in our daily lives. He pulls no punches in calling us higher but at the same time, there is no trace of legalism in his writing. An excellent examination of an overlooked topic.
Some quotes:
Most of us are content with regret. We just want to feel bad for a while, have a good cry, enjoy the cathartic experience, bewail our sin, and talk about how sorry we are. But we don't want to change. We don't want to deal with God.
When it comes to sanctification, it is more important where you are going than where you are.
In this book, DeYoung turns our gaze on a topic that is not often enough taught. In ten chapters he examines the only thrice repeated attribute of God (holy) and how we can live it out in our daily lives. He pulls no punches in calling us higher but at the same time, there is no trace of legalism in his writing. An excellent examination of an overlooked topic.
Some quotes:
Most of us are content with regret. We just want to feel bad for a while, have a good cry, enjoy the cathartic experience, bewail our sin, and talk about how sorry we are. But we don't want to change. We don't want to deal with God.
When it comes to sanctification, it is more important where you are going than where you are.
April 30, 2025
This book both addresses the “theory” of holiness and makes concrete sense of seemingly hand-wavy ideas like “running to Jesus” or “letting the Spirit work in us” or “union with Christ”. What do these even mean, and how would they materialize in my life? This book provides the Scripture-backed answers and a realistic way to view the pursuit of holiness.
February 17, 2025
(5/5) I loved this pastoral approach to holiness. It is convicting & practical without being shame bringing
Read
February 3, 2025Easy to digest yet lots of room for reflection. Really appreciated this read
September 8, 2012
Every young adult Christian must read this book. When I first turned the book over in my hand hot off the presses, I wondered to myself, "Why another book on holiness?" JC Ryle covers the subject pretty well in his book "Holiness," and after having read a great portion it, I couldn't imagine what else DeYoung could tell me on the subject.
So let me tell you what DeYoung does that Ryle does not and cannot do. DeYoung addresses the concerns/objections/excuses of today's Christian culture. He speaks our language, knows our hearts, but does not shrink back from the whole counsel of God. Jesus saved us to make us holy. And this isn't some horrible, ugly, punishment or trick. God making us holy is a beautiful thing, and when we lean into it, rather than resisting it, we experience his pleasure/joy (John 14:21; John 15:10-11).
With passion we often cry out that we want more of God, that we want to feel his presence, well growing in holiness is essentially enjoying God more fully, for He is the Holy One. Thus, there shouldn't be a gap between our passion of God and our zeal for his holiness.
Kevin does a great job of making that point clear. There is an excellent chapter on sexual immorality that seems random at first but very necessary in the end.
I give this a four because I could have used more ammo for the every day fight against sin. For that, I recommend John Piper's "Future Grace" or his "Battling Unbelief," which is the practical application chapters of "Future Grace."
So let me tell you what DeYoung does that Ryle does not and cannot do. DeYoung addresses the concerns/objections/excuses of today's Christian culture. He speaks our language, knows our hearts, but does not shrink back from the whole counsel of God. Jesus saved us to make us holy. And this isn't some horrible, ugly, punishment or trick. God making us holy is a beautiful thing, and when we lean into it, rather than resisting it, we experience his pleasure/joy (John 14:21; John 15:10-11).
With passion we often cry out that we want more of God, that we want to feel his presence, well growing in holiness is essentially enjoying God more fully, for He is the Holy One. Thus, there shouldn't be a gap between our passion of God and our zeal for his holiness.
Kevin does a great job of making that point clear. There is an excellent chapter on sexual immorality that seems random at first but very necessary in the end.
I give this a four because I could have used more ammo for the every day fight against sin. For that, I recommend John Piper's "Future Grace" or his "Battling Unbelief," which is the practical application chapters of "Future Grace."
June 15, 2021
This is my second time reading this book, and it was even better the second time through. DeYoung provides biblical encouragement for the soul that wants the reader to want to be holy out of a love for Christ. This book is also helpful in pointing out the blind spots in holiness that many American Christians may have because of the culture’s influence. I am currently going through this book with a couple of men and it is a great discipleship tool. The study questions in the back further drive home the book.
April 15, 2017
about halfway through, I was going to give this one about 2.5 stars (not possible, I know) but ended up thinking it was even worse. I didnt really understand the perspective the writer was coming from. I felt like he was trying to sell me on things I've already bought into (a long time ago) (although certainly not perfectly). I could see how this might be helpful if you are coming from a severe legalistic background, but for me, it just didn't click.
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