Customer Reviews

The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification

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I do not know of any other books which can properly claim to be equal to this one. Written in 1692, this book plainly shows what real salvation is all about and how to walk in it.
First, Marshall support everything he says directly with Scripture.
Second, against the timeless 'antinomian' error he shows that a faith that does not include faith for sanctification is not a saving faith.
Third he shows in detail the difference between works and faith. He goes deeply into the psychology that entraps so many people, especially of 'holiness' type traditions, from actually receiving the transforming power.
In essence, he shows what the Gospel is and what it is not, in the most convincing way. The church, especially the charismatic church (I'm a charismatic), would benefit greatly by learning more deeply the truths in this book, and in fact many do teach them, but few with the depth and insight that Marshall does here. Moreover, Marshall leads you to Christ through His Word-- all other ground being truly sinking sand.
This book is difficult to read however. Though it is small, the print is tiny, and the material is dense, and the presentation plain. The langauge itself however, is not a barrier.
It was this book that was instrumental in the young life of A.B. Simpson founder of the Christian Missionary Alliance

Jack Miller learned from this book and Dr. John Murray called it the best book ever written on sanctification. It is deep and challenging to read, because it was written long ago in a language style that is a bit hard for us moderns. But it is a deep lake of delightful waters of grace leading to holiness. Though we commonly think that we must produce a holy frame in ourselves, the mystery is that it is all of Christ and all of grace. Bryan Chapell's Holiness by Grace is not as deep, but teaches and applies the same ideas quite well. Many might prefer to begin by digesting Chapell before wrestling with Marshall.

The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification is a MUST read. It is the single BEST book written on sanctification and the Christian life. I cannot encourage people enough to get this book and read it. I have read both the original and Bruce McRae's updated version into Modern English. Read both. Both are excellent. Every believer should read this book at least 10 times before reading another book on sanctification and the Christian life. There is simply nothing like it in modern Evangelicalism. Get this book. Read it. Think about it. Study it. Digest it and then read it again. Your life will NEVER be the same! I rate this book 5 to the billionth power and more!

The material in this book is great. The author advocates the Reformation view of justification by free grace, against the preparationism which was popular in his own time (and in ours). In reaction against antinomianism, even Protestant ministers were advocating that a person must repudiate his sin before coming to Christ for redemption. As Marshall correctly replies, this is putting the effect before the cause, or horse before the cart, if you will. It is impossible for a heart to be changed before the Holy Spirit regenerates it and Christ sustains it (John 15:5).

However, while the substance of the book is excellent, the form given it is very difficult. This edition is a translation from the original Latin. It is full of run-on sentences, very complex sentence structure, and very long paragraphs. I have a graduate-level reading skill, yet I frequently had to re-read sentences two or even three times to understand them. In addition, there are too many typos, especially dropped punctuation, but also misspelled or run-together words, which increase the difficulty in reading.

The intentions of this writer are the same as Edward Fisher in Marrow of Modern Divinity. While that book is also extremely verbose, the arguments are much easier to follow. I recommend that book instead, preferably an edition with the footnotes by Thomas Boston.

Marshall's work shows us that sanctification is essential to spiritual life and inseparable from union with Christ, that union with Christ means that justification and sanctification are inseparable, that holiness involves both the mind and soul of the believer, and that Christians must aim for spiritual holiness and balance in all of life. A biographical and theological introduction by Joel Beeke is included.