Free to Be Holy: A Biblical Theology of Sanctification

by Matt O'Reilly

Much of the gospel you may have heard centers around hope for the next life, freedom from guilt and condemnation, and forgiveness of sin. But what does the Bible teach us about freedom from sin? Or deliverance from the things that produce guilt rather than the guilt itself? Free to Be Holy illuminates the other half of the gospel and explores an element of the biblical story that is often forgotten—holiness for this life. For Christians, the word holy carries weight. It is a touchstone for daily life, a reminder to center around Jesus rather than the world. Striving for a holy life can feel like a constant chase toward something unattainable, but there is another way to approach holiness. In this book, Dr. O’Reilly uses Scripture to guide readers through what God wants for perfect love and becoming fully human. Along the way, he shows that holiness has more to do with embodying God’s character in order to faithfully represent him in mission to the world. Each chapter ends with intentional questions for reflection and discussion, allowing the reader to engage deeper with themselves and in fellowship.

144 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 6, 2024

Reviews

[Lesley Burnette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This been really made me think about sanctification/holiness/perfection/perfect love, and is challenging my thinking about entire sanctification. I haven’t considered before that becoming more holy means becoming more fully human, because I’ve always thought of being human as involving sinning, or being at its root sinful. Plenty to think about and discuss and study as we study this book in small group soon. I hope this thinking catches fire in our church and we embody God’s character so we can fulfill our mission. And also it’s made me want to go back and reread Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges - when I read that book I remember thinking how impossible holiness would be for me; Free to Be Holy has encouraged me that it’s not.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Understanding Holiness

This is an excellent, readable explanation of what holiness really is -- not following a list of do's and don't's, but filled with God's perfect love. Through a survey of biblical passages from Genesis to John's letters, O'Reilly explains what scriptural holiness really is, living life as God intended and made us to live it. Each chapter has discussion questions that help in applying this understanding to everyday life. I highly recommend this as a study resource for small groups.

[James-Michael Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful point of entry into the Wesleyan view of sanctification for those to whom it is unfamiliar. Great for use as a small group study.

[Robert Conder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on understanding holiness. It is not the end but the beginning. Also, the writer explains sanctification where it is easy to understand. Easy reading and easy to understand.