Holiness by J.C Ryle

 Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots is perhaps J. C. Ryle’s best-known and, arguably, best-loved book. C Ryle wrote this timeless classic on holiness over a hundred years ago, yet how poignant his words still are for us today. Sadly, we all know how easy it is to appear godly in public, while behind closed doors to continue in our own sin. Ryle’s timeless wisdom reminds us that holiness shouldn’t be cold, distant and unobtainable, but that Christ himself is the root of our godliness. Be exhorted not to simply settle for half hearted holiness, but to strive to be holy in every area of our lives. Holiness, Ryle argued, was not simply a matter of believing and feeling, but of doing.`

It is hard to put into words the weight, value, and necessity of this book to your soul. Ryle will make a profound impact on your life because he wrote as if he were standing right in front of you squeezing your shoulders in the hopes of helping you see the vital importance of understanding the exceeding sinfulness of sin as well as the humbling line of Scripture that tells us that without holiness no one will see the Lord.

He never falters in explaining how holiness is effected by the sanctifying power of the holy spirit after His regenerating work and even goes so far as to explain the difference between justification and sanctification in the life of a believer, a critical distinction.

Every Christian needs to read this book, or if nothing else, at least the first two chapters on Sin and Holiness, though every page is rife with profound insight and deep, biblical wisdom.