Best Books on Sanctification
Sanctification is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit that progressively conforms believers to the image of Christ after they have been justified. In Reformed theology it is distinct from justification, a lifelong process of mortifying sin and growing in holiness that flows out of, rather than earns, salvation. It involves both God's grace and the believer's active pursuit of obedience.
Start Here
basic
The Pursuit of Holiness
Top pickJerry Bridges · 1978
The classic starting point on personal responsibility in the pursuit of holiness.
The Practice of Godliness
Jerry Bridges · 1983
A sequel to Pursuit of Holiness focused on specific Christian character traits.
Respectable Sins
Jerry Bridges · 2007
Confronts the sins believers often excuse, like pride, envy, and anger.
Holiness
J.C. Ryle · 1877
A nineteenth-century evangelical classic urging real, practical holiness of life.
Transforming Grace
Jerry Bridges · 1991
Reminds believers that even growth in holiness rests on God's grace, not performance.
Go Deeper
intermediate
Devoted to God: Blueprints for Sanctification
Top pickSinclair Ferguson · 2016
A rich, exegetically grounded survey of the New Testament's teaching on holiness.
The Mortification of Sin
John Owen · 1656
Owen's Puritan classic on killing indwelling sin through the Spirit's power.
Holiness by Grace
Bryan Chapell · 2001
Shows how grace, not willpower, is the engine of true obedience.
The Discipline of Grace
Jerry Bridges · 1994
Explores God's and the believer's roles together in the pursuit of holiness.
Overcoming Sin and Temptation
John Owen · 1656
Three of Owen's classic treatises on sin and temptation in accessible modern English.
For Study
advanced
The Doctrine of the Christian Life
Top pickJohn M. Frame · 2008
An exhaustive Reformed treatment of biblical ethics and the shape of holy living.
Reformed Dogmatics, Vol. 4: Holy Spirit, Church, and New Creation
Herman Bavinck · 2008
Bavinck's systematic treatment of the Spirit's work in sanctifying believers.
Systematic Theology
Louis Berkhof · 1996
The standard seminary-level Reformed systematic theology, including sanctification.
The Christian's Reasonable Service
Wilhelmus a Brakel · 1700
A monumental Dutch Puritan systematic and practical theology on the Christian life.
A Body of Divinity
Thomas Watson · 1692
A Puritan systematic theology built on the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
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A tiered reading guide of the best books on Sanctification.