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Who Gives a R.I.P. About Sin?: Breaking Sin's Death Grip on Your Life
Like death and taxes, sin is something you're sure to face.Can you recognize sin when it attacks?Do you know what to do to combat sin and win?In Who Gives a R.I.P. About Sin? Dr. Norm Wakefield gives you a clear and solid biblical strategy for dealing sin a deathblow in your life. Presenting seven principles drawn straight from Scripture, he exposes the true nature of sin and shows how God battles and conquers sin. Then, illustrating each principle from his own experience as a pastor, Christian counselor and fellow struggler with sin, Wakefield shows how to apply these principles to defeat sin whenever it strikes."Father," he sobbed, "How can you stand me after what I've done? Oh, my God, how desperately I want to know that you still love me!" If you have ever felt like King David (Psalm 51), read this book!
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First published August 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 7, 2022
Really good overview of how to enjoy your relationship with Jesus which will subsequently cause sin's influence in your life to diminish. Basically, greater intimacy with God at an affection level = increased freedom from sin.
December 29, 2015
Wakefield is pastoral and helpful in his approach and offers some good, practical advice for addressing sin in the life of the Christian. He emphasizes God's love and grace and encourages returning to God in repentance, as well as confessing sin to others (e.g., accountability partners). Further, he highlights the deception and tyranny of sin. This book reflects a careful study of Romans 6-8.
However, some of Wakefield's theology is suspect. In particular, he appears to present the Keswick view of sanctification, a "Let go and let God" approach to how Christians grow in holiness. He asserts that Christians cannot fight sin in their lives unless they take an extra step to conscientiously yield to God as their Master and the one who has the power to fight sin. In fact, Wakefield says, "we are encroaching on our Lord's territory when we try to manage sin in our lives" (p. 108), though later he encourages the memorization of Bible verses to stop sin. The latter and other precautions (like recognizing the nature of sin and what leads to it) can then be our cooperation with God; but his advice here seems contradictory to his earlier statements. He even portrays Adam and Eve as entirely helpless and defenseless when they faced temptation to sin, as they (and we) "were created to be led" (p. 109). (But then why did God hold them morally accountable for their sin? Plus, Ecclesiastes 7:29 suggests that God made human beings righteous -- but Wakefield presents Adam and Eve merely as "innocent.") While I admit that human beings need the work of God (especially the Holy Spirit) in their lives in order to fight sin, I think that that work begins at regeneration, not at some later time in the Christian life. 1 John 3:9 and 2 Corinthians 5:17 point to a radical change for believers; the power of sin in their lives is broken at regeneration, not at some later date in the Christian life. Regeneration marks the start of the process of sanctification. In contrast, Wakefield says, "Our Lord does something in us to break sin's grip, but we have to claim the rights this change provides" (p. 112). So while Wakefield's book can be helpful in one's struggle with sin, I suggest further study in what God does in regeneration and sanctification. Consider all that the Bible has to say on these matters. Perhaps Wakefield needed to look beyond Romans 6-8.
However, some of Wakefield's theology is suspect. In particular, he appears to present the Keswick view of sanctification, a "Let go and let God" approach to how Christians grow in holiness. He asserts that Christians cannot fight sin in their lives unless they take an extra step to conscientiously yield to God as their Master and the one who has the power to fight sin. In fact, Wakefield says, "we are encroaching on our Lord's territory when we try to manage sin in our lives" (p. 108), though later he encourages the memorization of Bible verses to stop sin. The latter and other precautions (like recognizing the nature of sin and what leads to it) can then be our cooperation with God; but his advice here seems contradictory to his earlier statements. He even portrays Adam and Eve as entirely helpless and defenseless when they faced temptation to sin, as they (and we) "were created to be led" (p. 109). (But then why did God hold them morally accountable for their sin? Plus, Ecclesiastes 7:29 suggests that God made human beings righteous -- but Wakefield presents Adam and Eve merely as "innocent.") While I admit that human beings need the work of God (especially the Holy Spirit) in their lives in order to fight sin, I think that that work begins at regeneration, not at some later time in the Christian life. 1 John 3:9 and 2 Corinthians 5:17 point to a radical change for believers; the power of sin in their lives is broken at regeneration, not at some later date in the Christian life. Regeneration marks the start of the process of sanctification. In contrast, Wakefield says, "Our Lord does something in us to break sin's grip, but we have to claim the rights this change provides" (p. 112). So while Wakefield's book can be helpful in one's struggle with sin, I suggest further study in what God does in regeneration and sanctification. Consider all that the Bible has to say on these matters. Perhaps Wakefield needed to look beyond Romans 6-8.
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