Go and Sin No More: A Call to Holiness

by Michael L. Brown

Dr. Bill Bright called this book, "Magnificent. . . . One of those rare, life-changing books." The sad truth is that holiness is one of the most misunderstood topics in the Church today, with one side preaching legalistic bondage and the other side preaching false grace. In Go And Sin No More, Dr. Michael L. Brown strikes a biblical balance and points the way to a grace-filled, Spirit-e empowered holiness, revealing how you can overcome temptation and live a passionate life of holiness that will fill God's heart with joy. Drawing on years of Scripture study and and personal experience, Brown's book is filled with practical steps, biblical guidance, and inspirational quotes that will give you strength to boldly and aggressively overcome sin and walk in the liberty and freedom that Jesus purchased for you by His blood. Begin living a life that is pleasing in God's eyes and experience a deeper level of spiritual strength, hunger and effectiveness. It's time to experience the beauty of holiness today!

Genres: Christian, Theology, Christianity, Christian Living, Religion, Nonfiction

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Michael L. Brown (born March 16, 1955) is a Messianic Jewish Old Testament scholar, professor, activist, itinerant speaker, and author who has preached in numerous countries and written twenty books. He is the founder and president of ICN Ministries. His writings have been translated into more than a dozen languages. He was married to Nancy Gurian on March 14, 1976 and they have two daughters, Jennifer and Megan, and four grandchildren.

Reviews

[Catharine Davenport]

This was my second time through this book, and I think I would recommend everyone reading it every year or two. It’s principles are put so straightforwardly that they are easily understood, and trying to avoid or twist their meaning is nearly impossible. It cuts straight to the heart with rebuke, encouragement, correction, guidance, wisdom, fear, joy, caution, and love.

Please, please read this if you haven’t! And if you already have, I have rarely found a book so worth rereading.

[Grace Davenport]

This is truly an amazing book. Michael Brown does an incredible job of showing what is sin and what is not, and doesn’t leave any room for you to hide in the dark! It is so scary (but important) to be reminded of where sin will lead if encouraged or indulged. But then to see the grace God gives us if we will come to Him is amazing and just as important to remember! This book has been so helpful for me to read just as a constant reminder to stay on the straight and narrow path. Thank you Dr. Brown!

[Axel Guzman]

Mr. Brown does a good job at breaking down the wrong notion that holiness is not possible or too far fetched. He does this with the extensive use of the Word of God, examples from people he's attended to and even his own testimony, all with a tone of love.

I believe that God used this book to speak to me as it really ministered my life. This book helped me to see sin as seriously and severely, enslaving as it is but also showed me how wonderful and awe strikingly empowering the grace of God is.

My mind has been changed after reading this book. There is nothing else I want to go towards but towards God, in pursuit of Him, because now I know better.

He can also show you the same.

[Brian]

Every sin you commit grieves the heart of God and can prevent you from achieving the closeness to God you should desire. In Go And Sin No More, Dr. Michael L. Brown reveals how you can overcome temptation and live a passionate life of holiness that will fill your heart with joy and breed a desire to do the right things when temptation comes your way.
Drawing on scripture his own experience, Brown presents twenty reasons not to sin, any one of which are helpful to keep your pursuit of holiness strong until you're face to face with Jesus.
There are references to things of a charismatic nature in the book, I sensed (not always clearly stated) there may be some positions that Dr. Brown would take coming from the arminian/charismatic side that I'd differ on, but I was helped a lot by this book and will make it a book that stays on the night stand forever.

[Matthew Mauldin]

Convicting, Sound, Reasonable, Practical and Inspirational

Neither shallow nor too deep, this book is medicine for a Christian culture in the west that has become infected by the false belief that we cannot win nor should we strive for victory over sin. Even worse is the false concept that one who does strive is somehow "legalistic". I will place it on the shelf between John Owens' Of the Mortification of Sin in Believer's and Jerry Bridges' The Pursuit of Holiness.

[Micah Rydmark]

Bold, yet balanced and Biblical. It is rare to find holiness books written anymore. Dr. Brown does a great job addressing this much needed topic for the Church to hear.

[Thomas Brunt]

The Christian life is pregnant and pre-loaded with meaning, potential, action and expectation. The claim to be a Christian is not a casual one like any other claim. It's a claim of the divine, supernatural life of the one True Triune God of the universe. It's a claim to be intimately bound with and under Christ's Lordship when we make confession of His name. (Rom 10:13). It's a claim to belong entirely to Him. (1 Cor 6:20, Rom 12:1-2, 2 Cor 10:5). So, then for us Christ-Followers, much is already expected. "Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not practice what I tell you?" And he of course, calls us to Holiness (1 Pet 1:16, Luk 6:46) expects us to live up to our God given, Christ purchased potential, and from the world too. The world, though is more harsh and unforgiving, whether we realize it or not, examining us to see if what we say lines up with our conduct. Or are we all just hype? To be sure, no one is perfect, so the title of the book may at first be a little misleading in that regard, but then again, if you know the scriptures then you know the verse reference in the title. The thesis of the book is a needed message and reminder, for all Christians. The author, radio host and author, Michael L. Brown makes his case for an active salvation, in a faith that is not alone for believers made holy by Christ. (Jas 2:14-26). A changed life produces changed living. Just ask the recovering alcoholic! Yet, none would claim their progress thru any merit of their own, but attribute it to God's glory and grace. These things (faith and works) aren't at odds with one another. Brown does well in this book to make it clear throughout that salvation is a divine act of God ( Eph 2:8-9), while emphasizing the necessity and role of an active faith. This active faith is both possible and expected because of God's Holy Spirit and grace. That is a lot, when it comes to divine expectation, when you consider it.

[Brandon Carpenter]

Go and Sin No More is a strong, convicting call to holiness that I’d gladly rate four stars. Brown writes with passion and urgency about the seriousness of sin, but he does it in a way that consistently points you toward God’s grace and the possibility of real change, not just guilt. The “twenty reasons not to sin” framework is simple but surprisingly effective; each chapter gives you another angle on why holiness matters and how sin damages our fellowship with God and others.
What stands out is how practical the book is—full of Scripture, real-life examples, and concrete exhortations that push you past vague good intentions into actual repentance and habits of obedience. At the same time, Brown pushes back hard against both legalism and cheap grace, aiming for a Spirit-empowered pursuit of holiness that’s rooted in the cross and empowered by God’s presence. Occasionally the tone can feel a bit intense or repetitive, and readers from different theological camps may not agree with all of his emphases, which is why I’d place it at four rather than five stars. Still, as a heartfelt, biblically saturated wake-up call to take sin seriously, it’s a very worthwhile read.

[Parker Wagnon]

Must read and life changing. Wish I had read this as a new Christian long ago.

[Tim]

It was a great book about Holiness. A great book understanding the grace-filled approach to Holiness yet staying true to the Biblical approach to living Holy.

[Asnaldo Alvarez]

Este libro me atrapó y no lo pude soltar hasta haberlo terminado. Profundo, necesario y equilibrado en su mensaje. Lo recomiendo.

[Rachel Patton]

The basics well penned by michael brown. Always enjoy his stuff

[Deionte Meredith-Davis]

Not for the faint of heart. Excellent and easy to follow along. Highly challenging.

[Dave Jones]

Wow, What a book!

Normally, you don't consider books about holiness to be exciting. Preconceptions lead one to expect some kind of x steps to be holy or some kind of habits to adopt to lead to better behavior. Dr. Brown had me right off the bat when he opened the book with Twenty Reasons Not to Sin. Reading through this list stimulates the fear of God at the same time provoking a desire to be holy.

The desire to adopt a holier lifestyle often leads to the tightrope between the extremes of a self-condemnation resulting from one's inability to fight sin to a laissez-faire dismissal of the consequences of sin (God knows me and forgives me). Both are wrong. Brown examines both. These truths are transformational.

Dr. Brown teaching on God's Grace is the best I've encountered. Many Christians will define Grace as "unmerited favor" -- which is true! -- but fail to tap into the sin-avoiding Divine Power that Grace makes available.

This is a book that everybody should read and re-read. There's a lot of good stuff here that this pitiful review skimps over. I'm prayerfully hoping to see fruit from these teachings in my own walk.

Picked this up for a bargain about 3 years ago. Great investment!

[Tiffany]

One of my favorites!

[Joshua Foote]

Quick

too many quotes vs actual content read very quick because of that
not very many practical ways to avoid sin just bible quotes

[Reggie Byrum]

Oh my gosh! Awesome book! A real "eye-opener" and a "must-have" if you desire to live a life of holiness, walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Very motivating.

[Charles Moore]

What can I say? Awesome! A truly good work. I will be reading it again soon. Please do not forget to read through the references at the end of the book. The references are as good as the work!

[Nick Woodall]

A good book on trying not to sin. I wish I was capable of doing all of this!

[David Yoakley]

If the title puts you off a little (it did me) then fear not and forge ahead. Dr Brown was a cocaine and heroin addict at 16 before he came to know the Messiah. He went on to study Semitic languages and is now an author, professor and radio show host. Unique insight I thought. Especially liked the way he ended the book but I don't want to spoil it. Its a quick read. Enjoy!