A Radical, Comprehensive Call to Holiness

by Joel R. Beeke, Michael P.V. Barrett

A profound biblical examination of the divine work of sanctification.  The mandate for holiness is based in the very character and person of we are to be holy because God is holy. His grace never leaves a man where it finds him. Grace always transforms the sinner into a saint―a holy man. God’s will is for His people to be holy, and the explanations of why and how we become holy are throughout the Bible.  Explaining the tension between positional and progressive holiness, Joel Beeke and Michael Barrett expound the doctrine of sanctification and show that it is the application of the gospel to our daily lives. If you’ve ever considered why, if we are saved by grace alone, holiness matters, this book is for you. 

Genres: Theology, Christian Living

464 pages, Hardcover

Published January 8, 2021

About the author

Dr. Joel R. Beeke serves as President and Professor of Systematic Theology, Church History, and Homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. He has been in the ministry since 1978 and has served as a pastor of his current church, Heritage Reformed Congregation, since 1986. He is also editor of the Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth, editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books, president of Inheritance Publishers, and vice-president of the Dutch Reformed Translation Society. He has written, co-authored, or edited fifty books and contributed over fifteen hundred articles to Reformed books, journals, periodicals, and encyclopedias. His Ph.D. (1988) from Westminster Theological Seminary is in Reformation and Post-Reformation Theology. He is frequently called upon to lecture at Reformed seminaries and to speak at conferences around the world. He and his wife, Mary, have three children: Calvin, Esther, and Lydia.

Reviews

[curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tend to mislike practical books on holiness; in my experience they often come across either as anemic and avuncular--too afraid of discouraging prospective readers to really challenge--or virtually triumphalistic along the lines of a Wesleyan perfectionism. Happily, this book falls prey to neither extreme. Some might describe this book as 'balanced,' but I hate that analogy because it feels so timid and self-conscious. Instead, this book pursues both encouragement and exhortation to practical action with healthy vigor and a realistic appraisal of both the weakness of human nature and the difficulty of the struggle. It evokes the Puritans in all the very best ways and will both challenge and encourage the reader. Highest possible recommendation.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful writing. Excellent argumentation. Clear exegesis. Beeke's work on holiness is great all-around. It took some chapters to start boiling for me, but I especially liked his backsliding and heaven-focused chapters.

[Charles Ivey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Introduction
Anyone who has struggled with works righteousness should rest in the good news that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (see Ephesians 2:8-9.) At the same time, how are Christians to understand passages like Hebrews 12:14 which call us to seek holiness without which no one will see the Lord? Joel Beeke and Michael Barrett have given us a thorough examination of holiness from multiple angles.

Review
The book is made up of 29 chapters organized into 7 parts. The authors begin with Part 1 “Holiness Defined”, followed by a look at the relevant passages of Scripture in Part 2 “Holiness Exegeted.” Part 3 “Holiness Practiced”, transitions to practical application unpacking conversion, pursuing sanctification, and the law/ gospel distinction. Next, the spiritual disciplines are explored in Part 4 “Holiness Promoted” and Part 5 “Holiness Tested.” Part 6 “Holiness Distorted” is a historical theology of holiness examining errors and controversies. Finally, in Part 7 the authors look at perseverance, the Church as Bride of Christ, and Heaven in “Holiness Consummated.”

The authors begin by exploring the relationship between justification and sanctification. Expanding on the Westminster Confession of Faith, they affirm that “Justification is a forensic or legal act, a one-time event, by which God declares or pronounces the guilty sinner to be righteous. (19)” In contrast to justification, sanctification is both an act of God in the life of the believer as well as a response to God by the believer (20.) The authors reject stoic quietism, writing “If we remain passively inactive in the face of sin, waiting for God to do it all, we will be overrun. (20)” At the same time, Beeke and Barrett go on to warn against attempts to resist sin while ignoring the work God has already done. The whole of the biblical witness teaches that sanctification means the pursuit of holiness, being set apart by God for God.

The authors argue that the New Testament uses the root word for “to sanctify” in three distinct but connected ways (22-23.) First there is “positional sanctification” or the already accomplished holiness the believer enjoys in union with Christ. Next, there is “perfected sanctification” in which the believer experiences the glorified state at the end of life and into eternity. Finally, there is the more familiar “progressive sanctification” which the believer pursues and grows in holiness over the course of a lifetime.

Later in the book, Beeke and Barrett return to positional and progressive sanctification in their chapter on the Puritans’ contribution to this subject (269-285.) Citing the great Puritan Walter Marshall, they maintain that sanctification is both the definitive status of the Christian as well as the goal Christians progressively pursue (271.) Beeke (no stranger to the Puritans) helpfully points out that progressive sanctification is what the Puritans normally mean when they write about “holiness (271).” The authors conclude this section by referencing the Puritans’ call to purse putting to death indwelling sin or “mortification” as well as the quickening of the heart to obey and do the will of God or “vivification (284-285.)

Conclusion
“A Radical Comprehensive Call to Holiness” explores sanctification from the perspectives of systematic theology, historical theology, practical application, and most importantly exegesis of the text of Scripture. The book is packed with more than I can cover in this review but readers would do well to at least carefully read and digest the way the authors distinguish between positional and progressive sanctification. Christians should encouraged to recognize they are positionally sanctified from the start, perfectly sanctified at the end, and progressively sanctified on the way to the end. Highly recommended.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Andy Schreiber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read, a helpful book on an important and much-neglected topic. Some chapters are outstanding. The chapter on the fear of the Lord (ch. 3) was really helpful. My only slight criticism of this book is that at times it doesn't seem to read like a cohesive whole. That may be at least in part due to the fact that a number of the chapters consist at least in part of material previously published in the authors' other works. The material itself is good, though.

[Frank Sickel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

This was a slow read for me. I used it as a devotional sort of read. Fantastic insight. I plan on reading again…. Bible - Pilgrims Progress - and now this as regular reads.

[Michael Blythe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice blend of both a doctrinal and devotional treatment of sanctification. This is a book I will pull down and read from again.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t recommend this book enough! Should be required reading for new believers and for seasoned believers. If you don’t read non-fiction, break your rule for this one.

[Matthew Rawlings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will definitely return to this work often. Highly recommended.