The Hole in Our Holiness: Filling the Gap between Gospel Passion and the Pursuit of Godliness by Kevin DeYoung
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Kevin DeYoung is a balanced, Biblical, lively and pointed writer.
He nails the balance between receiving grace and striving for obedience, between declarations of grace to us and decrees for us. He roots our holiness in Gospel grace, union with Christ, and gratitude.
He references a lot of Scripture, and it is always used appropriately, to make his point, which is that Scripture's point, too. This is rare, these days!
He is interesting. From camping to Star Wars to donuts, DeYoung can show that he is normal, AND pursuing holiness. This is important. Too often we think holiness is just for super Christians like missionaries and pastors. But every believer is to pursue godliness. People who like Superman ice cream can be holy? Yes!
He is specific. He doesn't leave things at the general platitude level, but gets down to brass tacks. The chapter on sexual morality was especially good, without being salacious.
It helps that he's a Michigan RCA guy, as I used to be!
I would have liked to see a bit more church-oriented chapter. He addresses fellowship and sacraments as means of grace, but teasing out how fellowship prods us on to holiness is needed these days.
Also, there was surprisingly little on our desire for holiness, which he says up front is the hole in our holiness. Still, an excellent reminder of what God saved us FOR.
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