God calls Christians to be holy, set apart. Spiritual growth and sanctification are a lifelong process: As God makes us holy, we are also growing in righteousness.
In just eight chapters, Growing in Holiness: Understanding God's Role and Yours by R.C. Sproul helps us to understand holiness, the confidence we have in Christ, the assurance of our salvation, and the command to love others.
Sproul writes, “The goal of human life is to mirror and to reflect the very character of God. God is holy, and we are to reflect that holiness so that this whole work of growing in sanctification is a growing in holiness. … We were made to glorify God and to bear witness to the whole cosmos about His character.”
Sproul describes the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 as the holy and righteous character of God being produced in us. Discussing 1 Corinthians 13, the well-known “love” passage often read at weddings, he writes, “When we love other people, we will not seek to exalt ourselves. Rather, we will seek to edify the other person. That’s what love is about.”
I read Growing in Holiness a few years ago but recently chose to re-read it. Because sanctification is a process, the book challenged and encouraged me in several ways both times. Growing in Holiness is a helpful book, either read individually or with other believers as we mature together in Christ.
“You’ve got to have fellowship with other genuine Christians if you want to have fruit. You cannot walk the Christian life in isolation. You need the body of Christ,” Sproul explains.
He concludes, “If we want to grow in Christlikeness, if we want to have confidence that we are in Him, then we will diligently pursue love. There is nothing greater.”
Katie has a background in digital marketing. She grew up at Faith Bible Church and serves in Aspiring Women and as a writer for Living Faith magazine.
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