Is it possible to adequately cover the enormous doctrine of sanctification in just over 100 pages? Having read this slim volume I must reply unequivocally, ‘Yes.’
The book begins with a most helpful brief introduction explaining the book’s subtitle, Transformed Life. The opening chapter sets out the Bible’s teaching on sanctification as it connects with other major theological truths. The remaining 12 chapters act as a guided tour of the life of sanctification as it works out practically in the believer.
The book is highly commended, especially for young believers, as it deals with every aspect of holiness and how believers are to pursue it. In 13 brief chapters we are given nearly 240 Bible references on which the writer bases his teaching, showing how pervasive this theme of holiness is. The author helpfully addresses some divergent views of sanctification in a lucid, convincing, and winsome way.
This is my first acquaintance with the Banner of Truth ‘mini guides’, which aim to encourage Christians who read little to read more. Probably the strength of this book is that it says what needs to be said but encourages further reading. This is done on the last two pages, which give 4 titles under each of the categories of ‘Where to start’, ‘In more detail’, and ‘The bigger picture’.
This book is both searching and encouraging. It is a model of how to communicate the truth of God’s Word, a ‘must-read’ for believers, young and old alike, and it deserves a very wide readership.
Andrew Swanson
