Here’s a short little book, only 70 pages, that is filled with truths from the Bible regarding how we grow in holiness. As new creatures in Jesus Christ we are called to grow in holiness (Lev. 19:2, Matt. 5:48), but yet we still sin. As J.V. Fesko says, “no true Christian wants to keep on sinning, yet the battle seems unwinnable.”

We continue to sin in this life in thought, word, and deed. Many books, articles, and blogs have been written giving lots of varied opinions and advice on how to conquer sin, or have victory over “the sin” in your life.

Yet this advice, even in so called “Christian” books often amounts to some form of “try harder and do more,” or “be true to yourself,” or “don’t worry about your sin because Christ has forgiven you.” This is not what the Bible teaches.

So in this book by Fesko, who just spoke at Omaha Bible Church this past October at our Fall Church Conference, he clearly shows us from God’s Word how we grow as Christians. The word the Bible uses to describe this process of spiritual growth in the Christian is sanctification.

Fesko does this in only three chapters. The first chapter is titled Sanctification Defined. Fesko defines it as “the process of the new believer’s gradual transformation from his sin fallen condition to the perfect, holy, and righteous image of Christ.”

He goes on in this first chapter to describe how this “process whereby a person sins less and less and obeys God’s law more” is accomplished in our lives. In doing this he touches on the essential elements of the gospel, our union with Christ, and how we are declared righteous by God in Christ (justification).

In the second chapter, Sanctification Applied, Fesko teaches us using the book of Romans and the Psalms that while our effort is essential, the work of growing us into the image of Christ and redeeming us is “from beginning to end, a work of the triune God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Fesko goes on to explain the role of the church in our lives as vital to our sanctification.

The final chapter is called Sanctification Undermined. Here Fesko warns us of the various pitfalls that await us as the world, Satan, and our own flesh seek to provide idolatrous substitutes for true biblical spiritual growth rooted in faith alone in Christ alone.

I highly recommend this book. I have grown in my understanding of growing in holiness and have applied the lessons learned in practical ways. I think you will too.