The Hole in Our Holiness: Filling the Gap between Gospel Passion and the Pursuit of Godliness (Paperback Edition)

This is the second book I've read recently on holiness. The other being John Eldredge's new one: "The Utter Relief of Holiness" Both come from the same precepts: why did Jesus come to save us? and why isn't holiness talked about more in Christian circles? Both are excellent and should both be read. The two authors have their own unique styles that make each book compelling reading. DeYoung is a pastor so has a very biblically-based message. However, it is also extremely practical and instilled in me a firm desire to seek after God's presence. I mentioned the topic of holiness to a good Christian friend the other day who suggested I not be raising it with too many others as people are simply not ready to hear it. This saddened me and I soon realised that in fact this was more than likely the enemy talking through my friend. Surely, holiness is a key part of the Gospel message? But one aspect that we have perhaps de-emphasised in modern society. But it was interesting that my friend's perspective was more about the fact that we don't talk much about holiness because it makes us feel guilty that we're not indeed measuring up to God's desire for us to be like Christ. It humbles us and perhaps frightens us so we steer clear of it. This book in fact, does the opposite, and makes the topic of holiness very approachable and desirable. There's some tremendous writing on our sex-charged society and the importance of repentance. I particularly liked how DeYoung wrapped it up. "... it's more important where you're going than where you are. Direction matters more than position." Yes, we can feel guilty and discouraged due a lack of holiness, however, "holiness is not measured by 'one great heroic act of mighty martyrdom ... it is of small things that a great life is made up." It's the small decisions we make all day every day as we seek to keep our eyes firmly set on Jesus. His desire is for us to be holy and if we can keep focusing on Him, then each decision, act, word spoken or thought can help us move a little closer to Him. Highly recommended. Only 160 pages but be prepared to be challenged whilst gaining great encouragement.

Point: The pursuit of godliness is made possible by God’s grace and made practical by our obedience. Path: DeYoung takes time to explain the empty phrases we often throw around when it comes to our personal walk with Christ. We can be lured into thinking that all that is expected of me is to “rest in grace,” “give myself over to him,” etc. Here are summarizations of each chapter. Chapter One: the gap in our holiness between where we seem to be content to sit, and where Christ wants us to be. Chapter Two: Why were we redeemed? In order to be holy. Chapter Three: What does holiness actually look like? Chapter Four: If God does not expect any effort toward holiness on our part, why all the imperatives? Chapter Five: Holiness is possible, and that spurs us on. Chapter Six: The Holy Spirit enables, the Gospel pushes us forward, and faith is why we stick with it. Chapter Seven: Your union with Christ means you are a new creation. Act that way. Chapter Eight: God wants us to be holy, even with our sexuality. Chapter Nine: Union with Christ ought to spur us on to communion with Christ through Prayer, the Word, the Church, the Sacraments. Chapter Ten: Holiness is a process, keep growing. Sources: The author rights on the same topic as men such as Bridges, Sproul, and Packer, so naturally he references them. He also looks back regularly to the Puritans. Agreement: I appreciated the author’s work for several reasons: He kept the book readable. He pushed for a more balanced approach, not a unique approach He explained his critiques He supported his observations and teaching with ample Bible references His Bible references were throughout the chapter, not tucked away in endnotes There were study questions at the end to work through by one’s self, or in a group Disagreement: I would disagree partially with his view of the Law, but that is relatively minor in the argument of the book as a whole. Personal App: I can obey because he made me new. I will obey because he told me to. Favorite Quote: “Then there’s the reality that holiness is plain hard work, and we’re often lazy. We like our sins, and dying to them is painful. Almost everything is easier than growing in godliness. So we try and fail, try and fail, and then give up.” “…Worldliness is whatever makes sin look normal and righteousness look strange.” “Defeatist Christians who do not fight against sins because they figure they were “born this way” or “will never change” or “don’t have enough faith” are not being humble. They dishonor the Holy Spirit who strengthens us with supernatural power.” “Sanctification is not by surrender, but by divinely enabled toil and effort.” It would be worth another read and I would recommend it to someone who: - wonders if they can ever beat a sinful habit. - has no idea what God expects of them. - tells me, “Just let go, and let God, brother.” - wants to know why sexual purity is such a big deal. - wants to better understand union with Christ. Other books along the same theme that I would recommend are: Bridges, Jerry. The Pursuit of Holiness. Colorado Springs: Navpress, 1978. ———. The Transforming Power of the Gospel. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2012. ———. Transforming Grace: Living Confidently in God’s Unfailing Love. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1991. Mahaney, C.J., and Rovin Boisvert. How Can I Change?: Victory in the Struggle Against Sin. Edited by Greg Somerville. The Pursuit of Godliness. Gaithersburg, Maryland: Sovereign Grace Ministries, 1993. Piper, John, and David Mathis. Acting the Miracle: God’s Work and Ours in the Mystery of Sanctification, 2013.

In 2012, when this book came out, I greatly appreciated everything I gleamed from reading it, seeing how the author helps us to understand the enormous principle behind this deep biblical foundation that nonetheless seems to be so misunderstood. I am delighted that it is now available for the French speaking community! I hope that you will fully take advantage of the many blessings that are recalled in this book, small in the number of pages yet immensely large in its content. DeYoung helps us to clarify this road that is not often traveled on: holiness! By the Word of God he helps us find a balance between law and grace. In fact, what does sanctification mean in the everyday life of those who profess knowing God as their personal Savior? Does sanctification mean abstinence by following a list of rules, of things to avoid? And yet we have all these commandments of God that teach us that by this we know that we will have come to know him, if we keep His commandments. (1Jean 2.3) “From top to bottom the Bible is full of commands. They aren’t meant to stifle a relationship with God, but to protect it, seal it, and define it.” 1 The author develops one aspect that I really like, that we don’t often hear about: God has saved us not only for his glory and because he loved us, but also for holiness. Yes, God has saved us so that we may be sanctified and holy! Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. Ephesians 1.3,4 Despite the fact that this is a subject that is complex and that, most assuredly, many have different opinions or positions on the subject, I appreciate how DeYoung opens the door of the Scripture and paints a portrait of holiness. He says: “Let me be clear about something from the very beginning: stressing the necessity of personal holiness should not undermine in anyway our confidence in justification by faith alone. The best theologians and the best theological statements have always emphasized the scandalous nature of gospel grace and the indispensable need for personal holiness. Faith and good works are both necessary. But one is the root and the other the fruit. God declares us just solely on account of the righteousness of Christ credited (imputed) to us (2 Cor. 5.21) Our innocence in God’s sight is in no way grounded in works of love or acts of charity.” 2 Holiness is a lot more than making sure you're following all the rules and that’s what DeYoung is clearly showing in this book. The accent is placed on the faith of the believer who desires to obey the commandments of his God by love and not by obligation. That is his driving force to live a life sanctified, that which he is called to live by the power of the Spirit that lives within him. (Philippians 2.13-14) It is not a duty but a pure joy, an honor, an offering that is pleasing to God! I also enjoyed how the author makes this subject accessible and exposes justification and sanctification, thus helping us to see that “God doesn’t ask us to attain to what we’re not. He only calls us to accomplish what already is. The pursuit of holiness is not a quixotic effort to do just what Jesus did. It’s the fight to live out the life that has already been made alive in Christ.”3 This book deserves all our attention and a profound reading. It warns us on how easy it is to go from one end of the pendulum to the other, under the assumption that we live under grace: - I live in a legalistic manner in doing works in order to feel holier, - I live freely, because of grace I need to do nothing, no works One thing is certain, you will be aligned with the truth of the Scriptures with Kevin DeYoung, and this book will serve you for many years, either for you or as a tool of reference. It will not be left unused, that is for sure, since many Christians are perplex on this subject of holiness/sanctification. I know that I have greatly appreciated and grown more in my biblical convictions while reading this gem. Enjoy your reading, Ann L Beaulieu 1 The Hole in our Holiness, DeYoung Kevin, Crossway, 2012, p. 45 2 The Hole in our Holiness, DeYoung Kevin, Crossway, 2012, p. 28 3 The Hole in our Holiness, DeYoung Kevin, Crossway, 2012, p. 100

Wir sind nicht mit dem Bedürfnis nach Heiligung auf die Welt gekommen und auch nicht damit aufgewachsen. Es geht uns vielmehr wie beim Camping während einer Schlechtwetterphase: Wir bedauern unsere Kinder, die wir im geheizten Wagen hinbringen und sind heilfroh, wenn wir wieder in unsere trockenen Häuser zurückgehen können. Kevin DeYoung stellt in seiner gewohnt frischen Art und Weise die Behauptung auf: Wir sprechen weder in unseren Predigten, noch bei den Leitern der Kirche noch in der Evangelisation richtig über die Heiligung. Oder welche Kirchgemeinde ist etwa bekannt dafür, dass sie besonders nach Gehorsam gegenüber Jesus strebt? Es geht also darum – wie es der Untertitel des Buches sagt -, die Lücke zwischen der Begeisterung für das Evangelium und dem Jagen nach Heiligkeit zu schliessen. Im ersten Teil des Buches betont deYoung den Zusammenhang zwischen Errettung und Heiligung. Gott hat uns errettet, damit wir heilig seien (24). Im Umkehrschluss müssen wir deshalb befürchten, dass manche Menschen aufgrund des fehlenden Strebens wohl gar nicht errettet sind. Der Glaube, der uns vor Gott gerecht hinstellt, buchstabiert forthin sich in der Liebe aus (Gal 5,6). Es gibt aber keinen „Shortcut“ für Heiligung. Sie bleibt Herausforderung bis zum letzten Atemzug. Weltlichkeit beschreibt das, was die Sünde normal und die Gerechtigkeit seltsam aussehen lässt. Wenn du aber wissen willst, wie Heiligkeit aussieht, dann blicke auf Gott! Der die Gute Nachricht verkündigen lässt, verbindet dies mit einer gnädigen Unterweisung, damit wir ihm gehorchen können. Sein Gesetz zu hassen bedeutet deswegen Gott selbst zu hassen. Die Substanz des Buches liegt in acht kurzen, gebündelten Kapiteln. Warum hat Gott dich errettet? Damit du heilig seist. Was ist Heiligung nicht? (Zum Beispiel, dein wahres inneres Selbst zu finden.) Wie hängen Gottes Gesetz und Gehorsam zusammen? Das Evangelium führt zur Freude an Gottes Gesetz. Heiligung wird möglich durch andauernden Kampf. Der Heilige Geist offenbart Sünde, erleuchtet das göttliche Wort, dass wir es verstehen, und enthüllt die Herrlichkeit Christi. Die Einheit mit Christus wird selten gepredigt und steht im Zentrum der Heiligung. Erst jetzt äussert sich deYoung zur sexuellen Reinheit. Und ja, er spart nicht mit konkreten Hinweisen. Er aber daran, dass wir nicht nur geheiligt werden, sondern den Heiligen selbst sehen wollen. DeYoung spricht eine einprägsame, zeitgemässe Sprache. Er schöpft auf dem reichen Fundus reformierter Autoren und übersetzt es in die Situation vor allem der 20- bis 40-jährigen. Die Kapitel haben mit 10 – 15 Seiten eine optimale Länge. Sie sind deshalb für eine Strassenbahnfahrt geeignet. Dass deYoung auch eigenes Versagen thematisiert, macht das Geschriebene noch glaubwürdiger. Bei der Heiligung geht es um viel mehr als um Mittelstand-Werte (134). Kampf ist angesagt. Beispiel: Nach welcher Unterhaltung gehen wir anschliessend auf die Knie, um Christus zu danken? DeYoung fordert heraus: „Wenn der Kampf gegen die Armut erstrebenswert erscheint, wie viel mehr der Kampf gegen die Sünde!“ (22)

This book helped me to understand why I shouldn't excuse sins in name of grace and God's love, without being harsh on myself. Every chapter takes you to greater understanding on the topic of holiness. My favourite chapter if you ask its "saints and sexual immorality". I will be going back again after hopping on to the next one. I love Kevin DeYoung's way of writing, crystal clear and to the point. Please read it if you haven't already and do suggest it to others.

Loved it. A compact little gem (for whatever reason most books on the topic of holiness are normally significantly larger, J.C Ryle, for instance) but for all its brevity it is full of great thinking and reflection on the subject. best lines: "the sky is not falling, and wont until Jesus fall from it first" "wondrously angry" "Union with Christ may be the most important doctrine you've never heard of"

I bought this book looking for something on the subject. I will keep it close and use it over and over to guide my scriptural study (since it is packed full of scripture). I don't think any book has stopped me in my tracks and challenged me so much before. Read it.