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An Infinite Journey: Growing toward Christlikeness
After we’ve come to faith in Christ, God leaves us in this world for a very clear purpose: his own glory. But how are we to glorify God for the rest of our lives? The Bible reveals that God has laid before every Christian two infinite journeys which we are to travel every day: the internal journey of growth into Christlike maturity, and the external journey of worldwide evangelism and missions. This book is a road map for the internal journey, laying out how we are to grow in four major areas: knowledge, faith, character, and action. In this book, we’ll learn how God grows us in knowledge, faith, character, and action. We’ll also discover that spiritual knowledge constantly feeds our growing faith, faith will transform our character, our transformed character will result in an array of actions more and more glorifying to God, and our actions will feed our spiritual knowledge. This upward spiral will lead us to become more and more like Jesus Christ in holiness. And not only will this book help us understand Christian growth in detail, it will also give us a passion to grow every day for his glory.
482 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 15, 2013
108 people are currently reading
589 people want to read
About the author
Andrew M. Davis
35 books53 followersAndrew M. Davis is pastor of First Baptist Church of Durham, North Carolina, and a visiting professor of church history at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Chairman of the governance committee of the Gospel Coalition, Davis has written articles for TGC's popular website and has spoken in plenary and breakout sessions at TGC's national conference. He is the author of An Infinite Journey, named by Tim Challies as one of the top ten books of 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
June 21, 2017
A top notch work on sanctification, rooted in Scripture and overflowing with grace. One of the better works on sanctification I've read.
April 23, 2014
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I have no idea how to describe it, except as a sort of "road map" to sanctification. If you read it through to the end (and it is a long one) and take good notes, you will not be disappointed. Top book of the year for me (so far).
January 31, 2022
3.9 Stars
"An Infinite Journey" by Andrew Davis is a book on Christian sanctification. Davis presents the Christian process of sanctification as an infinite journey, that involves the inward growth of greater Christlikeness, and the outward growth of God's kingdom expanding to the ends of the earth. Davis presents sanctification of following a process of Knowledge, Faith, Character, and Action, which he names the K-F-C-A cycle. Christian sanctification occurs when Knowledge, Faith, Character, and Action feed each other in an upward spiral of greater conformity to Christ.
The strength of this book is that it offers a comprehensive roadmap to sanctification. Davis skillfully helps us to understand how Christian growth works. He helps us to see both what is our responsibility in sanctification, and what belongs to God. As well, Davis connects every aspect of Knowledge, Faith, Character, and Action and shows how they all work together in harmony for our growth as believers. Lastly, Davis' book is full of grand gospel reminders, Scriptural encouragements, and sound warnings. Davis rightly begins with detailing out what Christ has accomplished for us in salvation, and that sanctification is grounded on faith in Christ's finished work. But also, he reminds us that sanctification requires our pursuit of knowledge, faith, character, and action while relying on the Spirit.
I felt like this book was so gospel-centered and helpful that I wanted to give it a higher score, but there were a few things that I thought were unhelpful and a detriment to the book. The biggest one was that the book was very long, longer than it should have been. It was the length of a highly academic book but read more like an accessible popular theology book. Because of the length, I often got lost in the weeds and felt like Davis would go off subject at times detailing out the doctrine of some area of sanctification for pages on end when it simply could have been mentioned in a sentence.
Overall, this was a great book, Davis' argument is sound, and he offers many helpful points on the doctrine of sanctification and our role in it. Yet, because of its length, it may be less accessible to the popular theology crowd that it was written for. Yet I think this book is worth a good skim read.
"An Infinite Journey" by Andrew Davis is a book on Christian sanctification. Davis presents the Christian process of sanctification as an infinite journey, that involves the inward growth of greater Christlikeness, and the outward growth of God's kingdom expanding to the ends of the earth. Davis presents sanctification of following a process of Knowledge, Faith, Character, and Action, which he names the K-F-C-A cycle. Christian sanctification occurs when Knowledge, Faith, Character, and Action feed each other in an upward spiral of greater conformity to Christ.
The strength of this book is that it offers a comprehensive roadmap to sanctification. Davis skillfully helps us to understand how Christian growth works. He helps us to see both what is our responsibility in sanctification, and what belongs to God. As well, Davis connects every aspect of Knowledge, Faith, Character, and Action and shows how they all work together in harmony for our growth as believers. Lastly, Davis' book is full of grand gospel reminders, Scriptural encouragements, and sound warnings. Davis rightly begins with detailing out what Christ has accomplished for us in salvation, and that sanctification is grounded on faith in Christ's finished work. But also, he reminds us that sanctification requires our pursuit of knowledge, faith, character, and action while relying on the Spirit.
I felt like this book was so gospel-centered and helpful that I wanted to give it a higher score, but there were a few things that I thought were unhelpful and a detriment to the book. The biggest one was that the book was very long, longer than it should have been. It was the length of a highly academic book but read more like an accessible popular theology book. Because of the length, I often got lost in the weeds and felt like Davis would go off subject at times detailing out the doctrine of some area of sanctification for pages on end when it simply could have been mentioned in a sentence.
Overall, this was a great book, Davis' argument is sound, and he offers many helpful points on the doctrine of sanctification and our role in it. Yet, because of its length, it may be less accessible to the popular theology crowd that it was written for. Yet I think this book is worth a good skim read.
September 23, 2025
The content of this book is excellent. The Knowledge Faith Character Action framework has already begun to shape how I view my own journey in sanctification, and I intend to use this as a resource for myself and others going forward.
I think some of the stories could have been omitted to make the book a quicker read - but the book is well formatted, so it's pretty easy to skim the less necessary parts.
I think some of the stories could have been omitted to make the book a quicker read - but the book is well formatted, so it's pretty easy to skim the less necessary parts.
December 16, 2014
An Infinite Journey: Growing Toward Christlikeness is the only book that Andy Davis has written (note: Davis has also written a brief booklet on An Approach to Extended Memorization of Scripture). The MIT trained engineer turned PhD in Church History has a sharp mind with an exceptionally accessible writing style. In recent months, the First Baptist Durham pastor has become one of my favorite preachers.
In this book, the former engineer attempts to map out the full scope of the Christian life and I think, succeeds in doing so. Davis organizes Christian Growth into four cyclical categories: Knowledge which leads to Faith which leads to Character which leads to Action which leads back to Knowledge. Davis creatively dubs this the KFCA cycle.
I found these categories helpful but what makes this book so exciting is its degree of Bible saturation. Davis has memorized 35 books of the Bible which means he has the Bible at his disposal in a way other authors simply do not. The number of Bible connections I made was thrilling. Even while reading on extremely familiar topics I was amazed to see how Davis would shed light on a topic not because of his insight per se, but due to how he grouped four or five text together.
There are too many strengths in this book to mention but I'll mention several.
1.) The City of Truth metaphor. Davis describes the Christian life as one where we are building, by faith, a city of truth. "God desires to build a City of Truth in the heart of all his children. This City of Truth will also be erected brick by brick; that is, line by line of Scripture, precept by precept, truth by truth, over years of time spent in his Word and his world." "We may not perceive how knowing the names of Issachar’s four sons could possibly make a difference in our lives, but yet we know God speaks no worthless words. From such facts as these, a limitless abundance of material is mined for the City of Truth."
2.) Faith - I'm suppose there are others who have explained Faith as well as Davis did but something clicked for me. More specifically is how Faith fits into this KFCA cycle. Faith is confidence in unseen spiritual realities. Faith is a life response of living in light of who God says He is, what he says he will do and what he says we should do.
3.) Resource for Teachers - Davis's lucidity makes this book a huge help for preachers and teachers. So often I found myself making mental notes, "next time I preach on _____ start here." By not making assumptions, he strengthened his arguments immensely.
Weaknesses:
The namesake metaphor of two Infinite Journeys is a little muddy in my mind. I get what he says, the external journey is the worldwide advance of the Gospel to all the nations and the internal journey is the journey of the individual Christian of going from spiritual death to glorification. I just don't find it that helpful. First of all, neither journeys are really
Length - I wasn't put off by the 480 pages but most people will be. This makes it quite a bit harder to recommend or read it in a discipleship context. I don't know much of what I would cut out (that's the editors' problem) but I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to use this as a discipleship resource.
I loved this book and would eagerly recommend it any anyone who will listen. It comes highly recommend this book. 5 of 5 Stars.
In this book, the former engineer attempts to map out the full scope of the Christian life and I think, succeeds in doing so. Davis organizes Christian Growth into four cyclical categories: Knowledge which leads to Faith which leads to Character which leads to Action which leads back to Knowledge. Davis creatively dubs this the KFCA cycle.
I found these categories helpful but what makes this book so exciting is its degree of Bible saturation. Davis has memorized 35 books of the Bible which means he has the Bible at his disposal in a way other authors simply do not. The number of Bible connections I made was thrilling. Even while reading on extremely familiar topics I was amazed to see how Davis would shed light on a topic not because of his insight per se, but due to how he grouped four or five text together.
There are too many strengths in this book to mention but I'll mention several.
1.) The City of Truth metaphor. Davis describes the Christian life as one where we are building, by faith, a city of truth. "God desires to build a City of Truth in the heart of all his children. This City of Truth will also be erected brick by brick; that is, line by line of Scripture, precept by precept, truth by truth, over years of time spent in his Word and his world." "We may not perceive how knowing the names of Issachar’s four sons could possibly make a difference in our lives, but yet we know God speaks no worthless words. From such facts as these, a limitless abundance of material is mined for the City of Truth."
2.) Faith - I'm suppose there are others who have explained Faith as well as Davis did but something clicked for me. More specifically is how Faith fits into this KFCA cycle. Faith is confidence in unseen spiritual realities. Faith is a life response of living in light of who God says He is, what he says he will do and what he says we should do.
3.) Resource for Teachers - Davis's lucidity makes this book a huge help for preachers and teachers. So often I found myself making mental notes, "next time I preach on _____ start here." By not making assumptions, he strengthened his arguments immensely.
Weaknesses:
The namesake metaphor of two Infinite Journeys is a little muddy in my mind. I get what he says, the external journey is the worldwide advance of the Gospel to all the nations and the internal journey is the journey of the individual Christian of going from spiritual death to glorification. I just don't find it that helpful. First of all, neither journeys are really
Length - I wasn't put off by the 480 pages but most people will be. This makes it quite a bit harder to recommend or read it in a discipleship context. I don't know much of what I would cut out (that's the editors' problem) but I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to use this as a discipleship resource.
I loved this book and would eagerly recommend it any anyone who will listen. It comes highly recommend this book. 5 of 5 Stars.
December 23, 2025
Super practical. Super prescriptive. Super comprehensive.
This book basically seeks to audit the entire Christian life in order to continue in sanctification. It is bound to bother most readers with its systematic approach, borderline proof-texting, and sense of certainty. But it will equally bother readers with its ability to probe at whatever part of one’s life is least surrendered (if, of course, surrender is one’s goal).
All in all, this book was awesome to read, especially in community. I needed it for two reasons:
1. It led to repentance and growth in my own life
2. It provided a nice balance to all of the fluffiness that often defines the “Christian living” genre (not thinking of any book in particular - just a general observation)
This book basically seeks to audit the entire Christian life in order to continue in sanctification. It is bound to bother most readers with its systematic approach, borderline proof-texting, and sense of certainty. But it will equally bother readers with its ability to probe at whatever part of one’s life is least surrendered (if, of course, surrender is one’s goal).
All in all, this book was awesome to read, especially in community. I needed it for two reasons:
1. It led to repentance and growth in my own life
2. It provided a nice balance to all of the fluffiness that often defines the “Christian living” genre (not thinking of any book in particular - just a general observation)
August 9, 2024
This is my favorite book on sanctification that I have read for four reasons:
#1: It’s Comprehensive. Davis shows how sanctification is a journey of the head, heart, and hands.
#2: It’s Biblical. Davis’ love for scripture bleeds onto every page.
#3: It’s Memorable. I will carry insights from this book with me for a long time.
#4: It’s Readable. Anyone can pick this book up and glean from it.
#1: It’s Comprehensive. Davis shows how sanctification is a journey of the head, heart, and hands.
#2: It’s Biblical. Davis’ love for scripture bleeds onto every page.
#3: It’s Memorable. I will carry insights from this book with me for a long time.
#4: It’s Readable. Anyone can pick this book up and glean from it.
February 8, 2020
3.5⭐️ Andy Davis has a pastor’s heart and a down-to-earth tone as he explains what sanctification is and how it is lived out practically. There was so much good content, but it definitely could have been edited down.
December 18, 2018
One of the best books I've ever read on sanctification. Thorough, and while a bit long, totally worth the read!
September 14, 2018
Aside from my Bible, of course, this book has been the richest treasure trove of truth and exhortation for my soul. We talk about “sanctification” and it’s importance often in the church but rarely do we break it down to understand the steps and minute processes that need to happen between our mind and heart and body and life to grow in Christ-likeness! Well thank God for engineer-turned-minister Andrew Davis who has written this wonderful book! Davis breaks down the TWO journeys of the Christian (an external journey for the advance of the kingdom and an internal journey of Christ-likeness) into a four-step cycle of Knowledge-Faith-Character-Action that propels our souls like a spiritual internal combustion engine along these journeys. He takes the time in this 470 page book to look at each of those steps and what they really look like and involve backing up each with numerous and beautifully deep Scripture studies. When you get to the end and you think it can’t get any more helpful Davis outlines helpful practical resolutions and steps for how to keep yourself and others you serve (including your kids) on the path of these two journeys.
This book is long and best read in little nuggets so that you can really absorb each aspect of what he is saying (I’ve been reading it since February) and it will definitely be read again and again!
This book is long and best read in little nuggets so that you can really absorb each aspect of what he is saying (I’ve been reading it since February) and it will definitely be read again and again!
February 15, 2015
One of the best books I've ever read. What Davis has done here is build an incredibly Scripture-anchored framework for Christian growth, and spend a lengthy number of pages expounding it. What does sanctification look like? Read this book. Systematic, brutally biblical, passionate, and practical. Leaves no stone unturned but leads to healthy self-examination, worship, and obedience.
June 9, 2020
This book looks at sanctification from a fifty foot view, mapping out the progress of Christians toward Christlikeness in all areas of life. It dealt with no specific area in great depth, but touched on knowledge, Faith, character and action all working together to increasingly conform a believer to the image of the Son. Davis’ visual roadmap of the Christian life, his analogies and stories do not distract from but only enhance his much more important emphasis on how the scriptures instruct us. This book is systematic, approachable and insightful and will only be a help to believers new or old to the faith. One passage from the book that will stay with me differentiates the human effort required of Christians in the distinct, different stages of salvation (justification, sanctification and glorification). I was helped by the simple summative statement that human effort achieves nothing positive in the regenerative work of justification, is essential in the stage of sanctification and is unnecessary in the stage of glorification. I highly recommend this book!
March 7, 2017
Dr. Davis provides a thorough handling and explanation of sanctification, growing in Christlikeness. As Christianity maturity is not light, easy nor trivial, this is an extensive and deeply scriptural work. He uses many helpful illustrations in describing his understanding and vision for how christians can grow. It all starts with knowledge, which informs faith, producing holy character, that manifests itself in godly actions. And these actions then provide experiential knowledge that helps depend faith etc. it is a cyclical growth in maturity and is to be taken seriously, and with much hope, knowing God will complete our perfection at the Day of Christ.
April 19, 2020
Written like a true engineer and therefore a kindred spirit, this is organized, systematic, structured, and to the point. Davis provides no frills, no beating around the bush. It's targetted to give a sweeping overview of all aspects of sanctification without going into great depth into any of them. I found it refreshing and thought provoking.
It's 480 or so pages long, but it's an easy read written to the layman. It will be a book that I recommend to anyone who is interested in understanding what the Bible has to say about how to live and think after being saved.
It's 480 or so pages long, but it's an easy read written to the layman. It will be a book that I recommend to anyone who is interested in understanding what the Bible has to say about how to live and think after being saved.
August 3, 2020
Andy Davis is an MIT graduate who regularly memorizes entire books of the Bible. Intimidated much? Don't be, because this book explores sanctification in a very accessable manner. He says it best toward the end of the book when he writes:. "I am very aware of how overwhelming this detailed look at all aspects of Christian maturity can be. . . .I desire this information to be set in front of the church as a goal for constant growth." Read this book slowly and there will be much to gain. I spent two and a half years working through all of the subcategories and I don't regret it for one minute.
June 14, 2024
The book is thick and upon first glance can seem intimidating to get through. But WOW, the amount of spiritual treasure you find makes it worth the dig. Davis makes a seamless connection between explaining scripture and practical application for growing in knowledge, faith, character, and action. Sanctification and spiritual maturity is certainly an infinite journey, and I’m glad this book is a part of mine.
October 1, 2024
I really really enjoyed this one. The only reason I docked it from 5 stars would be because I disagree in some ways about his thoughts on roles in marriage, but that is just one chapter of 31! This is a great, great read on sanctification (though it is longggg) I was constantly encouraged and reminded to look heavenward so often. My knowledge and affection increased so much with this one, I highly recommend!
March 19, 2017
Good, solid, thorough, all encompassing book on sanctification. Has lots of practical application and helpful advice. Fairly long, but then again the task is a fairly big one!
A well thought-through methodology too. Appreciated his challenge in necessary places.
A well thought-through methodology too. Appreciated his challenge in necessary places.
September 18, 2022
Good Roadmap for Holiness
Andrew Davis provides a good road for holiness in this book. He gives plenty of areas in this
book. One concern I have is that the reader could become overwhelmed with all the suggestions and exhortations he gives. Overall a helpful and encouraging book.
Andrew Davis provides a good road for holiness in this book. He gives plenty of areas in this
book. One concern I have is that the reader could become overwhelmed with all the suggestions and exhortations he gives. Overall a helpful and encouraging book.
January 1, 2024
Best read on sanctification. Concise, organized, and thorough in his explanations and how knowledge, faith, affections, and actions intersect. Highly recommend to anyone wanting a good “survey on sanctification”.
May 23, 2017
This might be well described as a "no-stone-left-unturned" roadmap of Christian growth. Comprehensive, clarifying and (very) convicting. Highly recommended.
March 31, 2018
Excellent practical guidance for godliness
This book is full of theology to explain the daily pursuit of godliness. Very practical instructions to grow in godliness daily.
This book is full of theology to explain the daily pursuit of godliness. Very practical instructions to grow in godliness daily.
May 3, 2019
Very practical and methodical approach to sanctification. Well thought out. I found the list of goals and prayers near the end very helpful and will refer to them in the future.
March 29, 2020
Excellent!!
September 26, 2023
One of the best books on the Christian life I've read. Very well thought out and practical.
Read
December 5, 2024Didn't finish - read the first 3 chapters.
February 19, 2014
Andrew Davis’ book, An Infinite Journey: Growing Toward Christlikeness, is a real diamond in the rough.
I received a free copy for review from the publisher, Ambassador International, and to say that I was pleasantly surprised would be a gross understatement.
Davis’ main premise is this: We are all on two infinite journeys – the external journey of the gospel’s advance to all nations, and the internal journey of sanctification (pp. 17-18). Davis points out that “these two journeys have one goal: ‘the praise of His glory’ (Ephesians 1:12, 14)” (p. 21).
Why are the two journeys called infinite? Not because they will never be accomplished, but because they both require the infinite power of God in order to take place.
An Infinite Journey is an attempt to organize the Bible’s teachings on sanctification. As outlined by the author, “… all of Christian maturity can be found under four major headings: Knowledge, Faith, Character, and Action” (p. 29).
Davis uses thorough precision to touch on a myriad of topics in each of these categories, and I found him to be a down-the-line, biblical thinker. It was refreshing to find a present-day author churning out such solid truth with equal conviction.
I was particularly challenged by this premise near the beginning of the book:
“The Church needs to reclaim a Bible-saturated, Spirit-drenched emphasis on both of these infinite journeys, learning that they are absolutely intertwined. It is impossible for the Church to make progress externally to the ends of the earth if there are no Christians mature enough to pay the price to go as missionaries and martyrs. And it is impossible to make genuine progress in sanctification if the people only read good Christian books and stay in classrooms, but refuse to get out into the world as witnesses. These journeys are mutually interdependent: without progress in one, there can be no progress made in the other” (p. 24).
A criticism I’ve read about the book is that its hefty length deters churches from being able to digest it piece by piece, as for a weekly Bible study. I understand how this could be a hindrance, but I don’t think that should be a reason for not using the book. To overcome this hurdle, perhaps one leader could read the whole book, highlight key premises for the group, and choose six or eight topics to focus on in depth for discussion purposes.
Another potential criticism could be a tendency to emphasize works over grace. Though the book is filled with things we are commanded by God to do, I believe the author would be the first to argue that none of these good works could ever be accomplished apart from the grace and strength of God. Towards the end of the book, I started to feel a bit heavy from the weight of all the requirements of Scripture on a believer, but then the Lord reminded me of Davis’ initial premise, that both of these infinite journeys require the infinite power of God.
An Infinite Journey is a book I would highly recommend not only to pastors and others in full-time ministry, but to laypeople as well. It is an extremely valuable resource, as it addresses nearly every conceivable component involved in the path of becoming more like Christ.
I would especially encourage missionaries, spiritual mentors and evangelists to obtain a copy, as it is a worthwhile tool for new believers seeking to navigate the forthcoming and lifelong journey of sanctification.
Though it is best read cover to cover, the book could also be useful as a topical reference to answer specific questions regarding certain aspects of the Christian life, such as emotions, self-reliance, or stewardship.
Thank you, Pastor Davis, for this gift to the Church at large. It is evident through your testimony that you are a man who walks the talk. May this book be used to encourage many in their growth toward Christlikeness, and may you see the fruit of your labor.
I received a free copy for review from the publisher, Ambassador International, and to say that I was pleasantly surprised would be a gross understatement.
Davis’ main premise is this: We are all on two infinite journeys – the external journey of the gospel’s advance to all nations, and the internal journey of sanctification (pp. 17-18). Davis points out that “these two journeys have one goal: ‘the praise of His glory’ (Ephesians 1:12, 14)” (p. 21).
Why are the two journeys called infinite? Not because they will never be accomplished, but because they both require the infinite power of God in order to take place.
An Infinite Journey is an attempt to organize the Bible’s teachings on sanctification. As outlined by the author, “… all of Christian maturity can be found under four major headings: Knowledge, Faith, Character, and Action” (p. 29).
Davis uses thorough precision to touch on a myriad of topics in each of these categories, and I found him to be a down-the-line, biblical thinker. It was refreshing to find a present-day author churning out such solid truth with equal conviction.
I was particularly challenged by this premise near the beginning of the book:
“The Church needs to reclaim a Bible-saturated, Spirit-drenched emphasis on both of these infinite journeys, learning that they are absolutely intertwined. It is impossible for the Church to make progress externally to the ends of the earth if there are no Christians mature enough to pay the price to go as missionaries and martyrs. And it is impossible to make genuine progress in sanctification if the people only read good Christian books and stay in classrooms, but refuse to get out into the world as witnesses. These journeys are mutually interdependent: without progress in one, there can be no progress made in the other” (p. 24).
A criticism I’ve read about the book is that its hefty length deters churches from being able to digest it piece by piece, as for a weekly Bible study. I understand how this could be a hindrance, but I don’t think that should be a reason for not using the book. To overcome this hurdle, perhaps one leader could read the whole book, highlight key premises for the group, and choose six or eight topics to focus on in depth for discussion purposes.
Another potential criticism could be a tendency to emphasize works over grace. Though the book is filled with things we are commanded by God to do, I believe the author would be the first to argue that none of these good works could ever be accomplished apart from the grace and strength of God. Towards the end of the book, I started to feel a bit heavy from the weight of all the requirements of Scripture on a believer, but then the Lord reminded me of Davis’ initial premise, that both of these infinite journeys require the infinite power of God.
An Infinite Journey is a book I would highly recommend not only to pastors and others in full-time ministry, but to laypeople as well. It is an extremely valuable resource, as it addresses nearly every conceivable component involved in the path of becoming more like Christ.
I would especially encourage missionaries, spiritual mentors and evangelists to obtain a copy, as it is a worthwhile tool for new believers seeking to navigate the forthcoming and lifelong journey of sanctification.
Though it is best read cover to cover, the book could also be useful as a topical reference to answer specific questions regarding certain aspects of the Christian life, such as emotions, self-reliance, or stewardship.
Thank you, Pastor Davis, for this gift to the Church at large. It is evident through your testimony that you are a man who walks the talk. May this book be used to encourage many in their growth toward Christlikeness, and may you see the fruit of your labor.
February 24, 2017
Handbook on sanctification. Good for believers (especially new ones) to begin to think through how knowledge, faith, character and action all work together to help us grow into the likeness of Christ. Bit too long and heady for my taste (I read it with devotions), but solid book overall.
February 4, 2021
Thorough examination of the practicalities of sanctification
An Infinite Journey is written by author and pastor Andrew Davis. Davis also heads up a ministry called Two Journeys, which focuses on the two journeys of the Christian life, which are the outward journey of the advancement of the gospel message and the inward journey toward sanctification. This book, obviously, focuses on this vital inward journey for every Christian.
Davis begins this book by making the case that sanctification is always tightly bound up with justification --- indeed, sanctification is only possible after we have been justified and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Then, the majority of the book covers the aspects of the believer that grow and mature in sanctification: knowledge, faith, character, and actions. As Davis delves into each of these aspects that set believers apart from the world, he draws upon his experiences and skills honed over years as a pastor and seminary professor. The result is a book on what could be an overwhelming subject to one that lovingly and encouragingly draws readers to better understand spiritual growth and then to actively desire it and pursue it.
It is sad that more churches do not make sanctification more of an emphasis and provide more specific directions and exhortations toward growth. But this book does a very admirable job in filling this gap and is approachable for any believer in any stage of their Christian walk. Highly recommended!!
An Infinite Journey is written by author and pastor Andrew Davis. Davis also heads up a ministry called Two Journeys, which focuses on the two journeys of the Christian life, which are the outward journey of the advancement of the gospel message and the inward journey toward sanctification. This book, obviously, focuses on this vital inward journey for every Christian.
Davis begins this book by making the case that sanctification is always tightly bound up with justification --- indeed, sanctification is only possible after we have been justified and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Then, the majority of the book covers the aspects of the believer that grow and mature in sanctification: knowledge, faith, character, and actions. As Davis delves into each of these aspects that set believers apart from the world, he draws upon his experiences and skills honed over years as a pastor and seminary professor. The result is a book on what could be an overwhelming subject to one that lovingly and encouragingly draws readers to better understand spiritual growth and then to actively desire it and pursue it.
It is sad that more churches do not make sanctification more of an emphasis and provide more specific directions and exhortations toward growth. But this book does a very admirable job in filling this gap and is approachable for any believer in any stage of their Christian walk. Highly recommended!!
December 13, 2016
This is an incredible book about the journey we are on after we accept Christ – the journey toward sanctification. Andrew Davis brings his engineering mind to the task of understanding how we grow in our faith. Throughout the book he cites scripture at every turn to explain the brilliant cycle that leads to becoming more like Christ. With diagrams to help us picture this, Davis shows that we progress in faith from factual and experiential KNOWLEDGE which leads to FAITH (assurance of and commitment to spiritual truth), which leads to CHARACTER (virtues conformed to Christ) which leads to ACTION (external life style and habitual obedience). Davis says, “Sanctification occurs in a cycle that follows this order: growing knowledge increases faith, increasing faith transforms character, transformed character produces action, and action feeds knowledge.” Pg 31 Through more than 400 pages Andrew Davis winsomely describes and elaborates on this journey to becoming more like Christ.
Although I realized the great value of this book, it was so deep and true that I found myself resisting it and racing through the book to finish it. I will need to reread it to absorb its wisdom. In other words this book will not entertain you. But it is a book to read and ponder and to read over again. It’s also a book to hold you accountable to growing.
Although I realized the great value of this book, it was so deep and true that I found myself resisting it and racing through the book to finish it. I will need to reread it to absorb its wisdom. In other words this book will not entertain you. But it is a book to read and ponder and to read over again. It’s also a book to hold you accountable to growing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews