Growing in Holiness: Understanding God's Role and Yours

by R.C. Sproul

The Christian life is a process of growing in holiness, our natural response to the good news of our redemption in Christ. This kind of growth is gradual, and obstacles are plentiful. Thankfully, we don't have to go it alone. God has given us his Spirit so that we can overcome temptation and become more and more conformed to the image of Christ. But how does the Spirit work? What is the nature of our own personal involvement in the process? And how do we know if we are making progress?

Drawn from the lectures of beloved theologian R. C. Sproul, Growing in Holiness explores the doctrine of sanctification, offering insightful commentary on themes such as developing perseverance, overcoming barriers to growth, dealing with feelings of inadequacy, cultivating love for God and others, exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit, and much more. Whether you're a new believer who wants to understand what the Christian life is all about or you've been a Christian for some time but are frustrated by a lack of progress, this book is your guide to pursuing a holy life.

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

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

Dr. R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian discipleship organization located near Orlando, Fla. He was founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.

Ligonier Ministries began in 1971 as the Ligonier Valley Study Center in Ligonier, Pa. In an effort to respond more effectively to the growing demand for Dr. Sproul’s teachings and the ministry’s other educational resources, the general offices were moved to Orlando in 1984, and the ministry was renamed.

Dr. Sproul’s radio program, Renewing Your Mind, is still broadcast daily on hundreds of radio stations around the world and can also be heard online. Dr. Sproul produced hundreds of lecture series and recorded numerous video series on subjects such as the history of philosophy, theology, Bible study, apologetics, and Christian living.

He contributed dozens of articles to national evangelical publications, spoke at conferences, churches, and academic institutions around the world, and wrote more than one hundred books, including The Holiness of God, Chosen by God, and Everyone’s a Theologian. He signed the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy and wrote a commentary on that document. He also served as general editor of the Reformation Study Bible, previously known as the New Geneva Study Bible.

Dr. Sproul had a distinguished academic teaching career at various colleges and seminaries, including Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando and Jackson, Miss. He was ordained as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.

Reviews

[Stacy Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be purchasing this book so I can highlight everything!

[Amanda Geaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be a great gift to give a new believer. When I came to faith, I didn't have a mentor/mature Christian to advise me so I fell victim to theological and doctrinal errors. To have had holiness, salvation, sanctification, assurance of faith, and the signs of spiritual growth explained clearly—early in my walk–may have prevented some of my stumbling.

Much of what is presented in Growing in Holiness has been covered in Sproul's other writings. If you have read many, as I have, you may not find much in the way of new material in this book.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: Where we’re going is crucial, but so is knowing how to get there. When we embrace the Bible’s teaching that God created us so that we might praise Him through holy living, it is tempting to seek quick fixes and fast solutions.

It is January. It is perhaps too early to say that I've found my absolute favorite book of the year. Though I can say with confidence that it is absolutely my favorite read of January. I can say this book is all kinds of fabulous. It is a GREAT read.

Earlier this week I reviewed John MacArthur's Sanctification. It was a good book, a solidly good book. But this one was AMAZING. (TRUE, it was twice as long. If MacArthur's book had been equally long, close to two hundred pages, perhaps his book would be equally wonderful and gush-worthy.)

This book covers all aspects of sanctification, aka GROWING in HOLINESS. In other words, it tackles the question: how do I live a life that is pleasing to God?! Or...how do I live out the faith I profess? I believe. I've been baptized. Now what?!

Sproul urges throughout that there are no short cuts to holiness, to growth. That one doesn't just happen to grow, or accidentally becomes holy.

Sproul writes, "If we want to experience greater Christlikeness, we need to intentionally plan to grow. If we want to grow in holiness, we must begin with our Maker, Designer, and Sustainer. Knowing our destination shapes our journey along the way. To grow in holiness assumes a standard to live by. It also assumes One who requires such a standard. So we begin with God as both Creator and Redeemer."

I loved this book--every chapter, every page. It was EXCELLENT. It was OUTSTANDING. If you only read one book on holiness, read this one...

Favorite quotes:
"“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12–13). Those verses were weighty to me because I began to see that spiritual growth is something that, in the ultimate sense, rests in the grace of God. He is working in us, through us, and with us. But at the same time there is an admonition for us to work out our salvation. I understood even then that spiritual growth, this progress in the Christian life, is a matter of labor, of toil."
"I like to be able to see the finish line and give everything I have in a short burst of energy to make it to the end. But that’s not the way the Christian life works. The Christian life is a marathon. You have to learn perseverance. You have to keep on keeping on. You have to know how to press on with the work. The Greek word translated here as “press” indicates applying force, applying pressure (if I may borrow from the word itself). So how does that apply to us? We tend to live from spiritual high to spiritual high. We hope that we will be sanctified in large doses, all at once. We want to relax and celebrate the victory in the 100-yard dash. But the Christian life is different. You run a 100-yard dash. But as soon as you break the tape, you’re exhausted. You fall to the ground, panting and gasping for breath. But then the first thing you hear is, “On your mark, get set, go!” and you have to do it again. You have to press on. We don’t finish this race quickly and that can feel discouraging. But notice why Paul perseveres: “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14)."
"God is calling us, even now. We usually think He is calling us to do this or that task—to live in this or that city. And those realities are true. But even further, Christ is standing in heaven calling us to Himself. That’s where we have to keep our vision: on the goal line, on the end point, which is exactly where Paul’s vision was set. The reward for all the pain in our souls and for all our patient endurance is Christ Himself. He is the reason we press on toward the mark."
"The understanding that I encounter frequently in the church is that creation reaches its pinnacle on the sixth day. That is the day when the image-bearer of God is created and man is given dominion over all the earth. And certainly, in that ordering structure of Genesis, we do see such a rising crescendo that reaches a high point on the sixth day. But there is a great danger in looking at the sixth day as the pinnacle of creation, because the creation account does not stop at day six. There are not six days in creation. There are seven. And if we are moving in a rising crescendo, we must see that the pinnacle, the acme point, is not day six. It is day seven. The seventh day is the highest point of creation."
"We can’t stop on the sixth day. We must go to the seventh day and see that the goal of creation is Sabbath holiness to the glory of God."
"If we read the Old Testament carefully, we see that the goal of human life is to mirror and to reflect the very character of God. God is holy, and we are to reflect that holiness so that this whole work of growing in sanctification is a growing in holiness. It is a growing within us—not only of redemption, but of movement toward the fulfillment and consummation of the very purpose of our creation. We were made to glorify God and to bear witness to the whole cosmos of God’s character. He demands of His people, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:16, which quotes numerous Old Testament passages, such as Lev. 11:44–45)."
"Make it a practice every Sabbath to think about why it exists. Ask yourself, “What is this rest toward which my heart yearns?” The Sabbath points to the day when God will remove all our restlessness and when He will welcome us into His eternal rest. We will see Him as He is. We will be holy and blameless in His sight. We will praise Him for all eternity. So again, just as God aims to glorify Himself through our lives in redemption, so also do we see that same aim in creation."
"But there’s a certain sense in which God is much more concerned about what we are than about what we do. He looks for greater Christian character and godliness as we are being molded and conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29)."
"Unless I have the Word of God feeding my soul, I’m not going to make very much progress in reaching my purpose of sanctification in this world. Another vital means of grace is prayer. I know that my spiritual development will be stunted radically if my prayer life is weak, so one of my objectives is to be more fervent and active in prayer in order to grow spiritually. Similarly, I need to be involved in worship in the church on Sunday morning. These are various means of grace, and we can state them as objectives in the Christian life. But how do we translate such values into specific, concrete goals?"
"The greatest problem in our theology today is that God has been created in a human image. That is why we said earlier that people have been created with a unique capacity to reflect and to mirror God’s character. That means that you, as a human being, have been so constituted, so made, so endowed by your Creator with certain faculties that you therefore have a capacity in creation to reflect or to mirror the holiness of God. You are not holy in and of yourself. But God is holy in and of Himself, and He has called you as His creation to bear witness to Him—to reflect to the rest of the world His very character. Is that not what Christ does in His life of perfect obedience? Does He not fulfill the purpose and the destiny for which humanity was created?"
"Oh, what great glory we lost when we sinned. Will it always be this way? The best part of the gospel is that we can confidently answer, “No!” In his first epistle, John tells us, See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:1–2)"
"We shall see God as He is. Not as He is reflected. Not as He is mirrored by the glory of His creation. Not even by the image of His people whom He has made. But we will see Him as He is in Himself. We will look directly into the unveiled face of God, and in that moment the whole fullness of our human spirit will be satisfied as the whole fullness of His beauty will be glorified."
"The goal of our lives is to be conformed to the image of Christ. To fulfill the original purpose for which we were created; namely, to reflect the very character of God to the world around us. The first catechism question I learned as a child was from the Westminster Shorter Catechism: “What is man’s chief end?” or “What is man’s principal purpose?” or “What is the goal of the human race?” And the answer I was taught to recite is, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” I was never able to put those together in my youth because I didn’t think glorifying God could be enjoyable. However, I have since learned that my greatest joy is God’s highest glory. We were made for this very purpose: to glorify the Creator of the universe. We were made for holiness. And when we reject it, we suffer a deprivation—a deep-rooted sense of lostness and restlessness because we are out of sync with the nature for which we were made. But when our souls prize the glory of God, we have the motivation we need to press on toward the goal of living holy lives. The end fuels the means."
"If nature takes its course in a Christian’s life, that Christian’s spiritual power would atrophy in five minutes or less. Easy-believism is so destructive."
"The great Reformer Martin Luther said that the three principal obstacles to Christian growth are the world, the flesh, and the devil. I’m guessing you’ve heard it put that way before. But have you ever thought about how the world stands as an obstacle to your spiritual growth, how the flesh stands as an obstacle to your spiritual growth, or how the devil stands as an obstacle to your spiritual growth?"
"Sadly, the question in our society is not, “What does God require of me?” The question is, “What is everybody else in the culture doing?”"
"But the idea of contending for truth has been one of the noblest virtues of all Christian history. Yet in our day it’s considered a vice—not because God says it’s a vice but because the culture says it is."
"One of the tests of our sanctification is how willing we are to be hated, to be persecuted, to be led as lambs to the slaughter in order to stand for the truth of God. But if the world tells me—indeed, if my church tells me—that such stands are taboo, do you see how hard it is? It’s hard enough even when it’s considered a virtue. The world erodes our resolve to be faithful defenders of Christ and instead entices us to imitate its patterns. If we are going to get past these obstacles of the world, we have to fill our minds with the norms, the standards, and the rules of conduct that come from God."
"The biggest obstacle I have to my sanctification is my heart of flesh that still clings to wicked desires and evil yearnings. I am still tempted by the idea that sin will make me happy. We sin because we want to sin, and we want to sin because we believe that committing the sin will make us happy. It won’t make us happy; it will give us pleasure, but there is a difference between pleasure and happiness."
"If you want to grow in your spiritual life, two things have to happen according to the New Testament. The first is obvious. The old man or the flesh must be put to death. Second, the new man must be nurtured and strengthened. In simple terms, it means that the flesh has to be weakened and the spirit has to be strengthened. We must be strengthened and fortified through the grace of God. And we begin to kill the old man by dying daily."
"There’s a sense in which we need to read the Bible with new eyes and hear it with new ears. We must not replace the values of Christ with values that creep in from the culture in which we live."
"When we stand before God, we will either stand naked, trusting in our own works and our own filthy rags, or we will stand clothed in the righteousness of Christ, which is given to all who truly put their faith in Him. The worst folly you could ever commit is to assume for a moment that you can stand before a holy God on the basis of your own performance, your own merit, your own works, or your own righteousness. The only righteousness that is holy enough to satisfy the demands of God’s law is the righteousness of Christ. The only way you can have that is by genuine faith."
"People may be enamored by a phony Jesus, a plastic Jesus, a Jesus who doesn’t exist. There are those who say, “Yes, I love God,” and then they define God as love and mercy without any demands. I say, “Do you love the holiness of God, or do you get angry when we talk about the holiness of God? Do you love the sovereignty of God, or does that cause you to turn away? Do you love the righteousness of Jesus? Do you acknowledge the fact that He is altogether lovely? Do you want to love Him more?” You can’t truly have that desire unless the love of God is already in your heart—unless you were already made alive by God the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5; Eph. 2:5)."
"The search for God begins at conversion, but it doesn’t end there. Until people are converted, they are not seeking after God. In fact, the normal image that we find in the Scriptures about our natural fallen state is not that we are searching every nook and cranny of the universe to find some clue to the existence of God. Rather, we are fugitives. We are fleeing from God, just as Adam and Eve fled from the presence of God in paradise (Gen. 3:8). Because of their sin, they went into hiding. They tried to evade the presence of God. And now, while mankind certainly desires God’s benefits—peace, security, forgiveness—we don’t desire God Himself."
"Do you love the biblical Christ? Or is the Christ you love merely a cultural Christ? A Christ who never exercises judgment? A Christ who doesn’t call you to commit your life to Him? A Christ who doesn’t call you to repent of your sins? Maybe your view is of a Jesus who is gentle, meek, and mild. He exists to solve all your problems, to answer all your requests, and to give you health and wealth. That’s why it is distressing to hear about the health-and-wealth prosperity gospel. Under that system people can be converted to the promise of prosperity, but they miss the living Christ. What we are called to do is come to the real Christ. Jesus is a real, historical person with a real mission, and He has performed a real act of redemption. And it is Jesus—His person and His work—that must be the object of our saving faith."
"The good news is that justification is not the end of the Christian life. It’s the beginning of it. Justification is the beginning of sanctification. It’s not the result of sanctification. We don’

[Alessio Bernardelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book. Helpful thought on growing in holiness, with a clear focus on the enabling and sustaining power of the Holy Spirit.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Compiled from the author's lectures, the book offers both theological basis and practical help for the believer for growing in Christ-likeness.

This is one of those books I wish I had fifty years ago. I knew what it meant to become a Christian, but had no notion of what it meant to be a Christian. How should I live after I've believed? How do I overcome sin? How can I be assured of my salvation? How does Christ form his character in me? R. C. Sproul addresses all these questions and more in this book, which is a compilation of his lectures on growing in holiness, or our sanctification.

He begins by giving a very clear articulation of the goal of our life in Christ: "The goal of human life is to mirror and to reflect the very character of God." Sproul acknowledges that coming to Christ can make more complicated as we are more aware of the gap between how we live, and the life to which we are called in Christ. Believing doesn't make life easier, but rather we face opposition from the world, the flesh, and the devil and our own powerlessness apart from God and the support of his people. Sproul talks about the call to righteousness as the inevitable fruit of Christ's saving work, and yet the truth that our salvation is grounded in the righteousness of Christ, and not our imperfect efforts.

Sproul contends that we may enjoy the assurance of our salvation. This is not faith in faith, the church, or experience but comes out of the trust that obeys Christ, repents from sin, and lodges one's hope in the finished work of Christ. Such assurance is great encouragement in continuing to press on to become more and more like Christ. Our confidence in Christ moves us to profess Christ with others, deepening our own assurance. 

The next two chapters focus on the virtues also called "the fruit of the Spirit." Sproul focuses a whole chapter on the first and greatest of these, love--love that is long suffering, characterized by kindness, humility, and self-control. He walks through the remaining fruit of the Spirit, explaining what each of these looks like in the life of the believer. Finally, he returns to the ultimate goal of becoming like God, like Christ in our character. This comes as we focus on Christ, trust and obey him implicitly like children, and over time, grow up to maturity as we diligently, year in and year out, diligently pursue the means of grace.

Sproul helps us understand both how our sanctification depends on the provision of Christ, but also that we must persist in laying hold of that provision, settling for nothing less than growing up to be like Jesus in character. In the words of Philippians 2:12-13, we work out the salvation that God is working in us. Sproul neither lowers the standard nor makes it simply an accomplishment of human effort. He consistently throughout this work points us to the goal of growing to be more and more like Christ, and encourages us that in one day we will indeed be glorified, that Christ will accomplish his goal for us.

R. C. Sproul went to be with the Lord in 2017. We are fortunate for the efforts of the Ligonier Library and Baker to compile his lectures offering theologically rich and practical to the chief end of our lives.
________________________________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

God is holy, and we are to reflect that holiness so that this whole work of growing in sanctification is a growing in holiness. It is a growing within us-not only of redemption, but of movement toward the fulfillment and consummation of the very purpose of our creation. We were made to glorify God and to bear witness to the whole cosmos of God's character.

Understanding who God is and our relationship with God is the beginning to understanding God's role in our sanctification. It is a slow process, it is intentional, and it leads to spiritual maturity that we are able to love others freely and God purely. RC Sproul teaches with authority and clarity that I am not left with a list of do's and don'ts but who God is. We must look at our sanctification from God's holiness. A key word of the bible is holy. Set apart. Take notice.

The text starts with the beginning in the Garden of Eden. The first 3 chapters is loaded with God's character and how we are easily deceived. But it does'nt stop without the hope of a promise. Because of the love of God, we have hope and because we have hope, we can work out our salvation. Growing in holiness. To reflect God's glory. Even though I am far from it, I have hope that God who began a good work will finish it in me.

The text also addresses our need to justify ourselves just as the rich man did. It is important to see his motivation as we will see our own in him. Jesus always get to the motivation of our hearts to set us apart for holiness. The christian tension that never ends but at the same time brings me to the cross.

If you are looking for good solid teaching that is not overwhelming in content but deep in context, I recommend this teaching to you on growing in holiness.

A Special Thank you to Baker Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me personally, nothing stood out as anything I hadn’t thought about or heard before. However, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t good. It was still a very solid, biblically based, theologically grounded, convicting read. We often don’t need new teaching, but need to be brought back to the Bible and be reminded of solid truths we already know.

[Dan Wolgemuth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was disappointed when I came to the last page of this book. I wanted the richness and powerful insights to continue. I wanted to sit and talk with R.C. Sproul.

His Biblical clarity and theological prowess don’t mask the approachability of the message. This is my first Sproul book and I’m already looking forward to the next.

[Paul Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really solid book, and I one I wish that I had read earlier in college. R.C. gives a lot of encouragement and wisdom on what it looks like to grow in your faith and what it should look like.

[Hanna Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know that I can give a comprehensive summary, while the book did all flow together each chapter seemed to work in a way as it’s own section. Overall I was encouraged and convicted that the sanctification process is long and takes diligent pursuit using the means of grace but that God has given us the Spirit and we are not alone.

[Aaron Hatfield]

Sproul’s writing and breakdown of Christ, holiness & sanctification are phenomenal.

One of my favorite teachers & theologians. Fundamentally influenced (s) my “pilgrimage” with Christ.

[Bethany Cropsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great follow-up to The Holiness of God. Convicting and thought provoking!

[James E · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Daily Devotional is a staple in the lives of many Christians. Set aside 15 minutes, read a short inspirational or thoughtful thing about God, think about it briefly, pray, and then go on with your day. Once you decide to do this, the first challenge is to find a good devotional booklet.



R. C. Sproul was a natural in this genre. He perfected it in a radio program and a zillion books. To take one example, three years before he died in 2017, he published Everyone’s a Theologian: An Introduction to Systematic Theology, which you would be excused for imagining is a work with long, intricate chapters exploring theology in a systematic fashion. Instead, the book has sixty chapters, each one about five pages long. Two months of daily devotionals in one book!

One of the interesting things about having an industry built around you is that your death does not end your publishing career. Growing in Holiness: Understanding God’s Role and Yours has the odd feature of looking like a book Sproul wrote, but the back cover notes that it is “drawn from lectures of beloved theologian R. C. Sproul,” which makes one wonder what “drawn from” means and who did the drawing, or more accurately editing, of this book.

The book is in the genre of “half-time pep talk.” It is an earnest: “You are doing great! Don’t lose hope now! Just keep working hard and you will succeed!”

The content is a bit repetitive, not surprising in a mysteriously edited book drawn from lectures. We have a chapter on how 1 Corinthians 13 (the love chapter) is parallel to the Galatians passage on the fruit of the spirit, immediately followed by a chapter on the Galatians passage on the fruit of the spirit. The chapter entitled “The Assurance of Salvation,” showing that assurance of salvation come from being confident in Christ, is immediately followed by the chapter “Confidence in Christ,” which explains how confidence in Christ gives us assurance of salvation.

The biggest problem with a book like this is reading it as if it is a book with a developing argument. It is better seen as a whole series of daily devotions strung together. If you are going to read it, don’t make the mistake of setting aside an evening and reading it straight through.

Insofar as there is an overarching theme in the book, it is, as the title suggests, growing in holiness, or, using a theological term Sproul really likes, “sanctification.” How do you become more holy? Slowly.

Remember there aren’t any shortcuts. You may find various resources at Christian bookstores on how to be a spiritual giant in in three easy lessons, but you are wasting time and money reading a book like that. Why? Because there are no such easy lessons with three quick steps. It’s work—pressing work, demanding work—and it requires a plan. Which is precisely why Jesus tells us there is a cost to discipleship.

To become more holy, you have to work at it, year after year after year. “Patiently pursue love” is Sproul’s pithy formulation. For a reader who is growing weary on the Christian walk, for a reader who is frustrated that perfection has not yet arrived, for a reader who is about to give up the struggle to be good because it seems so hopeless, Growing in Holiness says, “Don’t give up hope. Just take one more step. You can do this.”

What keeps the book from being a dull refrain is the endless set of asides or slightly different ways of framing the admonition to patiently pursue love. As befits a long series of short homilies, the quality of these framing devices varies hugely in quality. We could map them into the good, the bad, and the ugly. Let’s look at some examples.

The Good. In the section on the fruits of the Spirit, Sproul gets to “goodness.” What is goodness? When you say someone is a good person, what do you mean? It’s an odd word to define, but Sproul’s definition seems to come out of nowhere. “One of its dimensions in biblical terms is the ability to appreciate excellence. We have been born again with an ability to appreciate the good, the true, and the beautiful.” How does this manifest itself?

I love to walk into cathedrals. There is a sense of transcendence that I experience just by the very atmosphere the Gothic architecture communicates. I become pensive, contemplative. It centers on the exalted nature of God. I enjoy choral music by Handel, Mendelssohn, and Bach, where the finest artistry was done to the glory of God. Many people overlook that Bach was desperately opposed to the Enlightenment. He consciously intended his music as an apologetic for Christianity.

My first reaction on reading that was incredulousness. Is Sproul really saying that one of the fruits of the Spirit is that you like Bach? Don’t get me wrong, I love Bach. But, is that really what goodness means? Hard to believe it is.

Then I realized: I can say “Alyosha is a good person.” I can also say “Bach wrote good music.” Does “good” mean the same thing in those two sentences? What is the connection? Something worth pondering—which is exactly the point of an aside in a Daily Devotional. I doubt these thoughts will go where Sproul wants them to go—I have a very hard time believing that because of the work of the Holy Spirit Christians appreciate Bach more than non-Christians do—but, there is something there worth pondering.

The Bad. In the section on obstacles to overcome, Sproul tell us “This is so basic and central to Christianity that to deny it is basically to deny the essence of the faith itself.” What is this most central doctrine of the faith, this doctrine that to deny is the same thing as denying Christ Himself? The existence of a singular malevolent being, the devil named Satan. Most Christians accept the existence of Satan. But to elevate belief in Satan to the same level as belief in Christ, to say that thinking that there may not be a unique being called Satan is to “deny the essence of the faith itself,” is wildly too strong a claim.

What is Sproul’s evidence for the existence of Satan? Here is where it gets rather bad. The Lord’s Prayer. You know the line: “Deliver us from…” Is it “evil” or “the evil one”? Experts on Greek disagree which is right. But Sproul knows it is “the evil one” and he knows “the evil one” means Satan, so there is proof that doubting the existence of Satan is the same as denying the essence of the faith.

Not good. Not good at all.

The Ugly. At least the Satan passage could be excused as Sproul just fighting a linguistic war with other translators. Not so his ruminations on some aspects of growing in holiness. There is a bizarre Legalistic Calvinism lurking at the center of some of Sproul’s admonitions. This merits examination.

Sproul wants to give the readers assurance of their salvation. If you are saved and you know it, great. If you are not saved and you know it, also great (well not great that you are not saved, but great that you know you are not saved). But, there are two other categories. There are people who are saved and don’t know it and people who are not saved and don’t know it (they think they are saved). How do you find out if you are in one of those categories?

Well, Sproul argues, look at how you are behaving. If you aren’t following the rules, then you are like the Pharisees and not saved. Jesus chastises the Pharisees for tithing mint and dill but neglecting mercy and faithfulness. And, Sproul notes, lots of people in churches are not even doing as well as the Pharisees. “I’ve read studies that indicate only 4 percent of members of evangelical churches tithe today, which means that 96 percent of professing evangelical Christians systematically rob God of their tithes.”

Lest you think that is an isolated example

I think it’s theoretically possible for a regenerate Christian to fall into such slothfulness in his spiritual growth that he neglects the means of grace—the assembling together of the saints—and that he gets himself into a pattern where he doesn’t go to church except twice a year. That is conceivable, and it is possible if you are numbered among those people that you are still in fact a Christian.
But, dear friend, the odds against it are astronomical.

The odds are against it? Uh, are we playing the odds here? Is the test of faith simply going to church and giving 10% of your earnings (before or after tax?) to God? Sproul knows better than that. I know that isn’t what he really means. But it is what he is saying.

Reducing growing in holiness to the question of how much to give to your local church or how many times a month you attend church services cheapens the underlying message of the book. Patiently pursue love—that is excellent advice to growing in holiness. Make sure you tithe? That is awful advice to growing in holiness. The difference? The first is a change of heart, which will inevitably lead to better action. The second is a change in action, which may never result in a change in heart. Sproul would almost certainly agree with that, which is what makes parts of this book so incredibly disappointing.

[Bill Pence · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, drawn from his lectures, R.C. Sproul, who had a profound impact on my spiritual growth, looks at the process of sanctification, or making progress in our spiritual life. He writes that sanctification is not a casual endeavor, pointing out that the Apostle Paul tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.
He tells us that the Christian life is a marathon. We have to learn perseverance. We have to keep on keeping on. We have to know how to press on with the work. He tells us that for spiritual growth to take place, there has to be effort. There has to be discipline. There has to be a willingness to pay the price to overcome all kinds of adversity and obstacles in a very real struggle. He writes that the basic emphasis of the New Testament call to sanctification, to growth in Christ, is an emphasis on disciplined struggle.

The goal of our lives is to be conformed to the image of Christ. Yet, the author tells us that it would be dishonest of him to suggest that growth in the Christian life comes easily. Growth in Christ is not easy, and we have to know we are in for a struggle for the rest of our lives. He tells us that the goal of the Christian life is not spirituality, or piety, or morality. The goal of the Christian life is righteousness.
The author tells us that justification stands at the beginning of the Christian life, it’s the moment we truly believe in Christ. We don’t have to wait until we’re righteous for God to regard us as righteous. We are regarded by God as righteous once He transfers to our account the righteousness of Jesus. The rest of the salvation process on earth is called sanctification.
The author tells us that sanctification has an ultimate, terminal point in the work of grace called glorification. That is when all sin will be eradicated from our personality. We will live lives totally and completely in conformity to the will of God in perfect righteousness. He tells us that believers will be fully and finally sanctified, not in this life, but in heaven. God will complete this process. He will purify us perfectly.
He tells us that we won’t make progress in our Christian life until we get assurance of our salvation settled. Our assurance can only come when we trust in Christ alone for our justification.
The author looks at detail at 1 Corinthians 13 and the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5. Some of the topics covered in this helpful book are justification, sanctification, pride, humility, love, sin, justice, assurance of salvation, faith,
The book is an excellent introduction to the doctrine of sanctification, our growth in the Christian life. One of Sproul’s gifts was to be able to communicate theology in an understandable manner. That is what first attracted me to his ministry more than thirty years ago. This book is easy to understand and would be a good one to read and discuss with a new believer.
Below are 30 of my favorite quotes from the book:
1. God is holy, and we are to reflect that holiness so that this whole work of growing in sanctification is a growing in holiness.
2. Every time we choose to sin, at that moment we prefer sinning to obeying Christ. Our desire to commit the sin is more intense and greater than our desire to obey Christ.
3. To be Christ to your neighbor means that your life is so conformed to the will of God that when people look at you, they see the holiness of Christ reflected in your life.
4. When we pursue the glory of God in all of life, the unbelieving world will notice—they can’t help but notice.
5. We must first be holy in Christ before we can manifest Christ to the outside world. The primary way we fulfill our destiny to glorify God as those made in His image is through the practice of righteousness.
6. We must never rest upon our own merit to get us into the kingdom of God. It’s only by Christ’s righteousness that we can ever stand before Him.
7. The pursuit of holiness should be a response of love and obedience from those who have been freely forgiven.
8. One of the most important of all the means of grace is participation in the body of Christ.
9. Even though justification is by faith alone, it never remains alone. It produces love and good works.
10. We must make a profession of faith. But the mere profession does not guarantee salvation. Salvation comes through the possession of faith, not just the profession.
11. Biblical doctrine matters because it can give great comfort and healthy assurance.
12. If there’s true faith, then it yields true justification, and true justification yields the fruit of sanctification. Of that we may be sure.
13. Saving faith is intensely personal and individual, but it is never to remain private. Christ calls us to confess His name before the world. He calls us to give our testimony before people.
14. It is our duty not only to possess faith but also to profess it. Few things give us assurance of our salvation like sharing our faith with others.
15. We can gladly and patiently bear the sins of others, because God has been so gracious and patient with us.
16. Our horizontal relationships with people flow out of our vertical relationship with God.
17. When a Christian grows in grace, he begins to understand what brings true joy and happiness. When the fruit of the Spirit takes hold in his life, he truly knows the source of his good cheer.
18. The victory has been won. No matter what else goes wrong in the Christian’s life—real tragedy, pain, or sorrow—there still is that rock-bottom dimension of cheerfulness that should be there because of what Christ has done.
19. When you possess in your heart the peace of Christ, it gives you power for a peaceful disposition. It puts to death the spirit of strife and the quarrelsome personality that does not bring honor to Christ.
20. All Christian virtues are ultimately based on the character of God. The fruit of the Spirit is nothing more and nothing less than the holy and righteous character of God produced within us.
21. When we truly understand that we ourselves are the recipients of God’s kindness, we will be kind. We will want to show kindness.
22. One of the most dramatic changes that comes about through conversion is that we have a radically new inclination toward goodness. We want to do good, because we want to please God.
23. Part of our growth in sanctification is the ability to appreciate excellence wherever it manifests itself. We should appreciate beauty for what it is because it reflects the order and the harmony of the character of God Himself.
24. It is one thing to believe in God, and it is another thing to believe God.
25. When we grow spiritually, faith becomes increasingly fruitful. We have an increased capacity to believe God, and that has a direct impact on our struggle with sin.
26. As the fruit of faith grows within us, we not only become more trusting of other people, we also become more trustworthy. We become faithful to our vows, promises, and commitments.
27. If the fruit of the Spirit is to grow to its fullness—to maturity—it requires a mature understanding of the things of God.
28. You’ve got to have fellowship with other genuine Christians if you want to have fruit. You cannot walk the Christian life in isolation.
29. Don’t neglect the means of grace. Make diligent use of these things so that the fruit of Christ might be perfected in your life.
30. If we want to grow in Christlikeness, if we want to have confidence that we are in Him, then we will diligently pursue love.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently finished the newest book that was released from R.C. Sproul’s lectures and compiled into this book, Growing In Holiness ~ Understanding God’s Role and Yours. If you have never read a Sproul book, then let this be one of your first books. I have read several of his books, and every time, they challenge me and that is in a good way. Sproul, has a way with words and sharing the Bible. This book even though put out a couple of years after his death, is no different.

There are so many nuggets of truth and knowledge I gained from reading this, that I want to share, but it would take me writing a book to do that. However, let me try to give you a synopsis of why you should read this book. This book was beautifully put together, from the cover, to the various quotes illustrated within, to the message of this book and the Scripture put together to teach us what is holiness, how do I grow in holiness, why is it important, what it does and doesn’t do for me, how to combat the culture view of God and His church, where we get it wrong, what Jesus did for us, to growing in the fruits of the Spirit, and maturing in Christ.

You will learn some phrases in Latin and Greek, as Sproul often uses the original translations to make for a better understanding of what God’s Word is saying. You will learn more of the reformed theology and understanding the assurance of salvation in Christ that the Lord has given to His people, and what that means. “One of the marks of our growing spirituality is an increased awareness of our own fallen condition.” Sproul will help you to overcome the world, the flesh, and satan by showing why easy-believism is so destructive, how growth is not easy and we will struggle. We must learn to seek Christ and not the things in this world. To look at our desires and what it is the Lord desires are at opposites. How satan, the accuser, will tempt us and do his best to trip us up, and that we need to turn, run from sin. “We are lost and powerless to win this war in and of ourselves, but the good news is that we have God the Father, His Son, His Spirit, and His church to give us the victory.” You will learn the goal of the Christian life, which is righteousness, and not spirituality or piety or morality. Sproul asks this question, How many people do you know whose top priority is the pursuit of righteousness? So many of us are so concerned and asking what’s the will of God for my life? Sproul tackles this answer, as with all the questions, through Scripture. “The Bible teaches that we are justified by true faith in Jesus Christ, but we also understand that what follows justification is sanctification. Sanctification is a whole life process by which we are being changed to be made holy. We are growing in righteousness; we are becoming righteous.”
That is just a tiny part of what you learn in this book. I suggest reading it slowly, digesting it, reading it again, and discussing it with others.

I always find Sproul challenging, not because he writes in difficulty, because he doesn’t, his teachings are deep, but simple to understand. What makes it challenging is those moments you realize, you are learning something new (an ah-ha moment), an area I need to work on, or an area of sin in my life. I am excited to see how this book will be used in the Lord’s kingdom!

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the novelty of the new year passes and we head into the easy-going atmosphere of the spring season, it is tempting to relax into a state of spiritual apathy. R. C. Sproul challenges this mindset in the book Growing in Holiness.

While Sproul went to be with the Lord in 2017, this book was published by Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, and the R. C. Sproul Trust. Sproul speaks with boldness, clarity, and prophetic wisdom made all the more urgent this side of his passing.

Understanding God’s Role

In Chapter 1, Pressing Toward the Goal, Sproul takes us to the Biblical account of creation and shows us that the goal of human life is to mirror and to reflect the very character of God. Chapter 2 is about Overcoming the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. In courageous critique, he calls out the sin of abortion and how people follow the customs of their nation.

With Chapter 3, titled Doing the Right Thing, Sproul shows us how we must exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees. Shockingly, he says that the Pharisees were at least doing the right things, albeit for the wrong reasons, whereas many of us don’t even attempt to do the right thing and we still often have the wrong reasons. It is a humbling comparison and challenging motivation.

Understanding Your Role

Our Assurance of Salvation is brought to the forefront in Chapter 4, and Sproul speaks on the difficult topic of people who think they are saved but are actually spiritually dead. He takes us to 2 Peter 1:1-11 and gives us a genuine model of pursuing assurance of our salvation. With the following chapter, our Confidence in Christ is assessed, and we learn the importance of faith and fruit in our salvation. Both are necessary, and Sproul is direct in his writing.

Chapter 6 is titled The Priority of Love, and Sproul examines 1 Corinthians 13 and how we must exhibit the characteristics of love in our life. Memorably, he shows how God is patient towards us and this should be a motivator in our long-suffering love towards others. Connecting this with The Fruit of the Spirit, Sproul then goes into detail on how the Christian should exhibit these traits. This chapter shows Sproul’s ability to make memorable illustrations, as heavy-hitting as war and as mundane and trivial as the game of golf.

Pursuing a Holy Life

The book ends with a call to Maturing in Christ. Sproul takes the time to note the difference between a child-like faith and a childish faith. He concludes that we are to grow up in Christ, and the pursuit of love is of utmost importance.

For those new to R. C.’s work, you will be introduced to his brilliant yet clear thinking and straightforward writing style. Those familiar with R. C. Sproul will find his familiar voice to be comforting and challenging. I consider this an excellent book to read after Sproul’s renowned work, The Holiness of God. For me, this was just the book I needed to stimulate my spiritual growth.

I was provided a free copy of Growing in Holiness but was not required to write a positive review.

[Shirley Alarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The content of Growing in Holiness  - Understanding God's Role and Yours was taken from lectures of theologian R. C. Sproul, who passed away in 2017. Growing in Holiness is the first book by this author that I’ve read and I found it to be an extraordinary guide for living a Christian life.

The predominant current-day Christian motto is, “God is love.” It’s a far cry from “fire and brimstone” that was predominant in the recent past. And the truth really lies somewhere between. As our perfect Father, God IS true love but He also has expectations of how we’re to live as His children.

Author Sproul skillfully navigates both the loving aspect of God and the accountability aspect. None of the accountability is sugarcoated. He states that being a Christian is work. That we need to imitate Christ rather than follow the ways of the world. And one particularly sobering reminder to me – the gate to heaven is narrow.

Growing in Holiness tackles age-old questions, such as “How do I know God’s will for my life?” and “How do I ensure my salvation?” It covers the specific things we need to do to grow in the Lord. These are actionable items that many Christians probably know but don’t always execute.

And then there are the challenges Sproul lobs out. Are we complacent Christians? Are we sitting back and resting on our perceived Christianity? He states that many of us get lulled into a ‘works-oriented’ Christianity, but God cares about what we ARE more than what we DO. Sproul also says faith is not to remain private. Our duty is not to possess faith but to profess it.

Dr. Sproul’s points are made in reference to scripture and his explanations are easy to follow. The book delivers exactly what the title promises including discussion of the fruits of the Spirit. It has the potential to be a true game-changer for both new and seasoned Christians. There are few books I consider “must read”. This is one.

How this book affected me:
This book is everything. I found this book to be one of the most insightful and impactful explanations about what it means to really grow in holiness and how I can make changes in my heart and lifestyle to honor God in the way Christians are called to do. This book challenged me in many ways and motivated me in even more ways.

Who would enjoy this book:
Anyone looking to strengthen their relationship with God would benefit from Growing in Holiness.*(Affiliate link) Readers searching for what it means to really live as a Christian would gain immense insight from this book.

Our Christian Book Reviews:
The book reviews at Finding God Among Us focus on Christian books - adult and children, fiction and nonfiction. We're proud to be included in the Top 50 Christian Book Review Bloggers. I chose to read an ARC from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This review is my honest opinion.

[Doug · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some great insights, but very redundant with a notably Calvinist slant

In “Growing in Holiness: Understanding God’s Role and Yours,” posthumously published by Baker Books, the late R.C. Sproul’s 192-page book gives insights into maturing in sanctification that only the Lord can do in us through His Word when we willingly yield to His Spirit.

Sproul said, “If we want to grow in holiness, we must begin with our Maker, Designer and Sustainer (page 14),” adding, “Unless I have the Word of God feeding my soul, I’m not going to make much progress in reaching my purpose in sanctification in this world (page 22).”

What has always intrigued me about Sproul’s work is his undeniable love and passion for God and His Word. He had a depth and maturity that most preachers at today’s pulpits sorely lack. However, as much as I wanted to like this book, which provides some otherwise good insights into maturing in biblical sanctification, the text is very redundant with a notably Calvinist slant.

For example, when discussing creation, he uses the phrase “image-bearer,” which is a very Calvinist term (Page 15). He frequently quotes John Calvin, as well as Martin Luther (pages 50, 60, 70, 160), who many don’t know was vehemently anti-Semitic. Sproul refers to him as “the Great Reformer (page 36), also calling him and others “the Reformed forebears (page 35).” He also quotes Saint Augustine (page 84, 106), who was a known Catholic philosopher and heretic.

Moreover, Sproul uses the phrase, “beatific vision,” (page 28), which is another Calvinist term Sproul claimed is “the highest goal of the Christian…” Actually, the highest goal of the Christian is summed up in Ecclesiastes 12:13: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man (KJV).”

In addition, the book’s one-page, over-sized quotes should have been inserts woven into the text. Overall, while Sproul’s book was insightful, it was tainted by redundancy and Calvinism.

I gave his book a 2 out of 5 stars.

Full disclosure: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, I received an advanced copy of this book through the Baker Books Bloggers Program. My opinions are my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review.

© 2020 by Doug S., M.A.

[Joanne Viola · Rating 5 out of 5]

While R.C. Sproul is not a new name to me, Growing In Holiness is the first book I have read by this pastor and author.

Living out the life of a believer is a process of growth and is most often met with difficulties which challenge our growth in holiness.

This book presents the truth of this process of growth in holiness as a joint venture between God and man. We never go it alone. In eight relatively short chapters, R.C. Sproul lays out in a most understandable manner the process of sanctification, growing in holiness as we journey through life.

Whether a new or seasoned believer, this book is encouraging to everyone. The doctrines of justification and sanctification are explained so they are easily grasped and bring assurance. Through his gentle presentation, one will find themselves encouraged to persevere and overcome those things which seek to stand in the way of growth.

A few of my favorite thoughts were:

- “Sanctification is not a casual endeavor … but a pilgrimage that lasts our whole life.”
- “If we want to experience greater Christlikeness, we need to intentionally plan to grow.”
- Of the war inside of us – “It’s a war of the inclination of the heart.”
- “Between here and heaven is a never-ending war.”
- “You’re not a perfected person, but you are a changed person, and you are beginning to bring forth the fruits of righteousness.”
- “The moment we believe, God’s work of curing us and changing us into the image of Christ begins.”
- “As the fruit of the Spirit grows in us, our capacity grows for long-suffering, for patience, for putting up with the insult and the injury.”

Living in a world becoming increasingly contentious, we need the reminders which this books brings.

“To stand as a Christian in a non-Christian culture is to stand at the world’s center of controversy.”
– R.C. Sproul, page 148

“Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18, NLT)

“We are called to grow up into the fullness of Christ.”
– R.C. Sproul, page 175

As we depend on God and His Word, we will grow in holiness and Christ will be seen in our lives.

**I was provided a copy of each book by Baker Publishing Group. All opinions are honest and my own.

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic book. RC writes with his typical firm convictions filtered with humor and grace. He details the ideal situation while acknowledging that sin has negatively impacted all areas of life, leaving us to pursue holiness in the midst of a fallen world. I appreciate his candor and the gracious way that he articulates the many nuances of sanctification. RC writes with his usual humility leading the reader through various facets of the Christian life - perseverance, assurance of salvation, confidence in Christ, fruit of the Spirit, and maturing in Christ to name a few.

This book is convicting and encouraging to all believers - new and old alike. It’s a reminder that while justification is a one time occurrence, the process of sanctification lasts a lifetime.

I read this with my book club gals, but it would be great to read on your own, too.

Some of my favorite quotes:

Pg 32: However, I have since learned that my greatest joy is God’s highest glory. We were made for this very purpose: to glorify the Creator of the universe. We were made for holiness. ANd when we reject it, we suffer a deprivation — a deep-rooted sense of lost news and restlessness because we are out of sync with the nature for which we were made.

Pg 49: This means every time we choose to sin, at that moment we prefer sinning to obeying Christ.

Pgs 72-73: The worst folly you could ever commit is to assume for a moment that you can stand before a holy God on the basis of your own performance, your own merit, your own works, or your own righteousness. The only righteousness that is holy enough to satisfy the demands of God’s law is the righteousness of Christ. The only way you can have that is by genuine faith.

Pg 104: I couldn’t love the biblical Christ at all if God the Father had not changed my heart and caused me to be born of His Spirit.

Pg 174: Scripture’s basic message of salvation is simple. It can be understood by a child. But the depths and riches of God contained in the biblical revelation are so profound and deep that they can keep the most brilliant person occupied for a lifetime — and they still won’t have plumbed the depths of that revelation.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Growing in Holiness" talked about sanctification and justification. He started off with some basics, like how growing in holiness takes a lifetime. He suggested setting goals with deadlines; basically, a 'to do' list like: master the Scriptures, be more active in prayer, attend church regularly, etc., and that simply doing these "means of grace" will sanctify you and produce fruit. He talked about some struggles and obstacles that stand in the way of sanctification and how we should reflect God's character and imitate Christ. He made it clear that Christ's righteousness is what justifies us and saves us, and it's by faith in what Christ did that we are saved. He talked about how people can think they are saved when they are not and how to tell if you're saved. He talked about how God's love for us allows us to love others, the love chapter (1 Corinthians 13), and using the Fruit of the Spirit to measure our spiritual growth.

Throughout the book, he made the process of growing in holiness sound like a duty you do in gratitude and in your own strength. On only one occasion did he mention doing good works out of love for God. He also didn't discuss deepening your relationship with God, just obediently doing activities that will sanctify you along with following His commands. It seemed to me like he was missing a critical part of the process.

I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Joel Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Growing in Holiness” by R. C. Sproul offers the maturing Christian a wonderful glimpse into the process of sanctification offered to us through Christ Jesus. In a clear expression of Biblical theology, Sproul moves us from the moment of justification into the process of sanctification, challenging all those who follow Christ to pursue holiness diligently. In this pursuit, through the grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit we will come to reflect God as we are meant to. In Genesis, God declares that all of humanity is created in His image. This means that our duty is to point people toward worshipping/serving God. In our own corruption we fail to reflect God and fail to point people toward God. God sends Christ to restore us to this image. This image is best seen as we pursue righteousness. We pursue righteousness through loving God and loving other people in reflection of God. This small and accessible text beautifully presents this theology and challenges all those who follow Christ to allow His righteousness to shine through as we pursue a life lived in love.
I received this book as part of blogging program for Baker Publishing Group.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really good!

I bought it because amazon was running a buy 2 get 1 free sale on books, and I needed to choose a third book. I love Sproul, so I figured I'd check it out.

Then my friend and I, who do a weekly bible study, needed a book to study. We picked this one and it's led to some really good discussions!

I am glad I read it with someone else, because this is the kind of book I could easily blow through in my excitement and forget everything I just read. In addition to a solid, impactful overall message, this book had little gems of quotes throughout:

"Christ has possessed me that I might possess heaven"

"I'm sure of my salvation because I'm sure of my Savior"

"Christ has overcome the world. As that sinks into our minds and as the ramifications of the cosmic victory of Christ strike home in our hearts, it gives us the capacity to be joyful."

"If you're secure in your authority and position, you don't have to be constantly proving how much power you have. You can afford to be gracious... Confident people have a peaceful attitude... We are to walk through life with a spirit of quiet confidence within us, knowing from where our strength comes" ❤️

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book was a little harder for me to get through, I learned a lot from it. It really gives lots of practical advice on growing in Holiness. I'll admit I plodded through it, and while at times it seemed like I didn't like it, I really did like it, it's just not one of those easy to read, can't put it down books. There were chapters on assurance of salvation, maturing in Christ, and the Fruit of the Spirit just to name a few areas this book touches on. As Christians it's important that we grow to be more like Christ everyday, it's something we all should be working on each and every day since no one is perfect. There were several quotes that stood out to me in the book, here's one:

"The pursuit of righteousness is the main business of the Christian."

So overall, I do recommend this book because it's important that we all learn to grow in holiness as Christians. 

**I received this book from Bake Books for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t often finish a book by trying to develop a plan for when I am going to reread it. While I have listened to R.C. Sproul on the radio while growing up, I had never read one of his books before. That is a deficiency I plan to remedy as soon as possible.

Many books that fall into a Christian growth or theology category are written in a way that leaves the reader more overwhelmed by the author’s knowledge than by their need to better follow the path of their Savior. I did not find that in reading this work by R.C. Sproul. The writing was very down-to-earth and practical, allowing the reader to see the truth of what he saying.

Sproul focuses on what it means to truly become more like Christ. This includes a focus on the Fruit of the Spirit and what sanctification means in the life of a Christian. This is not a book of fluff, it contains real strategies for growing in your Christian walk.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.

[Ben Hegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic R.C. Sproul. No messing with stories or jokes, just sheer Bible. Any brief stories and analogies have a point, and most analogies are from Scripture as they should be. He takes the reader through the reality and the working out of sanctification in all of life, clearly showing that we are called to be mature in Christ. He fleshes it out from 1 Corinthians 13 and Galatians 5 (fruit of the Spirit). Very readable. Doctrinal, but in an accessible way without any dilution of the truth. He confronts the reality that most professing Christians are not mature in Christ and says that we are called to so much more. This is a must read book, it's that good. It's also rather short! Pick it up and read - it will have you running to Scripture and stopping to pray, leaving you in awe of the God who loves us enough to not leave us dead in our sin and under his wrath, but who has rescued us in Christ and transforms us! Highly recommended. Enjoy!

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts:
Do you understand what sanctification means?
God is working in a believer through the work of the Holy Spirit to cause Spiritual growth in holiness in order to be like Jesus. This is a lifelong process. It can be compared to running a marathon. It requires perseverance and with the eyes looking forward to the goal.
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14. ESV.
“God is holy, and we are to reflect that holiness so that this whole work of growing in sanctification is a growing in holiness. It is a growing within us-not only of redemption, but of movement toward the fulfillment and consummation of the very purpose of our creation. We were made to glorify God and to bear witness to the whole cosmos about His character.” Pages 17-18.
The above quote is Sproul’s definition of holiness. It is also an explanation of the ultimate reason and will for our lives. We were made to glorify God!
Growing in Holiness is written in a style that feels like Sproul is sitting next to me. He is a teacher and mentor, coming alongside of me in order to explain the Holy Spirit’s work in my life.
I love it that the book is applicable. It is strong teaching, but it also shares practical steps. For example: We must have Christ. “Apart from Him we can do nothing.” See John 15:5. ESV. We also must put to death the old life. Deny self. Our desire must be to obey God. The new self, our new life in Christ Jesus, must be “nurtured and strengthened.”
Pages 50-58 teaches a great problem in our lives, Satan.
One of my favorite chapters is three.
I love this quote:
“To be Christ to your neighbor means that your life is so conformed to the will of God that when people look at you, they see the holiness of Christ reflected in your life.” Page 60. People, both believers and unbelievers, are watching how we live out our lives, especially during hard times.

Source: I received a complimentary paperback copy from Baker Books, I was not required to write a positive review.

[Beverly Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a short read that is taken from the lectures of R. C. Sproul. I can't say that I liked this book as much as the last one of his that I read. It just seemed to have a slow start and there was a lot of unnecessary filler. There are a lot of full page quotes in the book that I felt were repetitive and maybe just put there to make the book seem longer. However, there are good things about this book as well. I really liked the cover. It's very eye-catching and relevant to the topic. I also really liked the chapter on love. That chapter resonated with me more than the others and it was the most memorable. Thank you so much to BakerBooks for the chance to read and review this book!

[Mary Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soundbite:
If we want to grow in holiness we must begin with our Maker, Designer and Sustainer… To grow in holiness assumes a standard to live by. It also assumes One who requires such a standard – God our Creator and Redeemer” (Growing in Holiness, R.C. Sproul, Baker Books, 2020, p. 14)

If you would like to see my full review, Click below:
https://marylousreviews.blogspot.com/...

[Tiffany Youtzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sproul gives many practical ways to grow in Christ. I particularly liked his explanation of sin found in our own flesh, the world, and the devil. This book studies key aspects to our sanctification such as the fruit of the spirit, and assurance of salvation and our confidence in Christ. A great book for a start of the new year or any believer looking for a fresh perspective on how they can continue to grow in their faith.