Recommended: Holiness and Sanctification
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These are some of my favorite books on holiness and sanctification. Each one keeps the gospel at the center—emphasizing both our position in Christ (holy, justified, adopted) and our progressive growth in holiness through the Spirit. None of them reduce sanctification to mere moral performance, nor do they cheapen grace by denying the call to obedience.
The Bible speaks of sanctification in two ways. First, there is positional sanctification—the holiness we receive the moment we are united to Christ. Because of His finished work, every believer is already set apart, justified, and adopted as God’s own (1 Cor. 1:2; Heb. 10:10; 1 Cor. 6:11). Second, there is progressive sanctification—the Spirit’s ongoing work of conforming us to Christ, marked by struggle, repentance, and steady growth in holiness that will not be complete until glorification (Phil. 2:12–13; 2 Cor. 3:18; 1 Thess. 4:3; Heb. 12:14). Both are gifts of grace. Both are essential to the Christian life.
Across church history and even in recent memory, Christians have sometimes veered off course here. Some have spoken of holiness in ways that felt like crushing legalism, as though God’s favor rose and fell with our performance. Others have so emphasized grace that the call to pursue holiness nearly disappeared. Both distortions miss the biblical balance: Christ has secured our holiness, and the Spirit is faithfully shaping us in that holiness until the day we see Him face to face. The books below are chosen with that balance in view.
NOTE: This is a work in progress, started in the fall of 2025. Please check back soon for a more thorough list.
Getting Started
Clear, faithful introductions for those exploring a topic for the first time. These books are accessible, trustworthy, and designed to help laypeople, newer believers, or curious readers build a strong foundation without getting overwhelmed.
The Hole in Our Holiness – Kevin DeYoung
DeYoung makes the case that holiness is not optional, but the joyful fruit of the gospel. Winsome and clear, this short book encourages believers to see holiness not as a burden but as part of the good news of belonging to Christ.
Rediscovering Holiness – J.I. Packer
Packer gives a pastoral, biblically rich introduction to what it means to be holy. With characteristic clarity, he anchors holiness in God’s own character and shows how it takes shape in the lives of believers united to Christ.
Habits of Grace – David Mathis
Mathis commends the “means of grace”—the Word, prayer, and fellowship—as God’s appointed pathways for growth in holiness. Practical without being moralistic, this book helps believers cultivate rhythms that keep them close to Christ.
How Does Sanctification Work? – David Powlison
Powlison offers a concise, wise, and pastorally sensitive account of sanctification. Rather than reducing growth to a formula, he shows the many ways God works through his Word, Spirit, and people to transform lives over time.
Jesus, Continued… – J.D. Greear
Greear reminds believers that the Christian life is not lived by sheer effort but by the presence of the Spirit. With clarity and warmth, he shows how the Spirit applies the finished work of Christ to our daily lives, empowering obedience and fueling growth in holiness without slipping into either legalism or passivity.
Going Deeper
Thoughtful works for pastors, teachers, and serious students eager to explore Scripture and theology at greater depth. These books assume some familiarity and invite readers into the rich, layered beauty of God’s truth.
Holiness – J.C. Ryle
A classic evangelical treatment of sanctification, first published in 1877. Ryle insists on the necessity of holiness, rooted in justification, and fueled by grace. His exposition of sin, sanctification, and spiritual growth remains enduring and deeply biblical.
Romans 1–7 For You / Romans 8–16 For You – Timothy Keller
Keller guides readers through Paul’s letter to the Romans, showing how the gospel not only justifies but also sanctifies. With clarity and pastoral warmth, he explains how union with Christ and the power of the Spirit shape the believer’s growth in holiness. These volumes are accessible devotionals but invite deep reflection, making them especially valuable for serious students and teachers.
The Mortification of Sin – John Owen
Owen’s most famous work calls Christians to “be killing sin, or sin will be killing you.” While demanding, it is also profoundly gospel-centered, grounding mortification in union with Christ and the power of the Spirit.
The Discipline of Grace – Jerry Bridges
Bridges brings together two themes often torn apart: the ongoing need for grace and the ongoing call to pursue holiness. He shows how the gospel not only saves but sustains, motivating daily obedience without drifting into legalism.
Transforming Grace – Jerry Bridges
Here Bridges emphasizes how God’s grace fuels our growth, freeing us from performance-driven religion. It is a wise corrective to both self-reliance and spiritual passivity, urging believers to depend wholly on Christ as they mature.
Sin and Temptation – John Owen (abridged by Kelly Kapic & Justin Taylor)
A more accessible companion to Owen’s works on sin, temptation, and mortification. This edition distills his rich theology of sanctification for modern readers without losing the gospel-driven seriousness of his original writings.
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Disclaimer: The resources listed here have been selected because they offer particular value for Christian growth and understanding. Their inclusion does not imply full agreement with every statement or position taken by the authors. As with any book outside of Scripture, readers should exercise discernment, testing all things by the Word of God (Acts 17:11).