Customer Reviews

Keep in Step With the Spirit

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4 star:		(1)
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Dr. Packer lives up to his name and "packs" this book full of important information about the biblical teachings on Person and Work of the Holy Spirit, along with a healthy dose of history and a fair, yet critical, look at modern trends regarding the Holy Spirit. Most helpful of all is his chapter outlining the basics of biblical holiness. His main points are as follows:

1. The Nature of Holiness is Transformation through Consecration 2. The Context of Holiness is Justification through Jesus Christ 3. The Root of Holiness is Cocrucifixion and Coresurrection with the Lord Jesus Christ 4. The Agent of Holiness is the Holy Spirit 5. The Experience of Holiness is one of Conflict 6. The Rule of Holiness is God's Revealed Law 7. The Heart of Holiness is the Spirit of Love

His exposition of those points is worth its weight in gold. Then his application of those principles to the various schools of thought regarding sanctification (Augustinian, Wesleyan Perfectionism, and Keswick "Higher Life") is perceptive and accurate.

Chapters 5 and 6 focus on the charismatic movement, in which Packer ventures both positive and negative comments. His critique is helpful, though maybe not as stout as some Reformed types would like. His attitude remains benevolent throughout.

All in all, this is a good book and worthy of being read by the thoughtful, Biblically-based reader. I would recommend that it be balanced with some other conservative treatments on the Holy Spirit.

This is a book I'd like to recomend for three reasons.

1. It has deepend my knowledg about The Holy Spirit; Who He is and what He does.

2. It has given me a desire to live a holy life. It is not a teoretical book about the issue. Packer writes as a mentor!

3. It has ballanced my views about some cotroversial issues such as baptism in The Spirit, the second blessing, 'The "Wretched Man" in Romans 7'.

John Stotts book "Baptism an fullnes" is also a very good book I would like to recomend!

Dr. J.I. Packer is known as a remarkable theologian. Some of his books have impacted my life in powerful ways like his classic's KNOWING GOD or EVANGELISM & THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD. KEEPING IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT is no different! It is a remarkable look at the person and work of the Holy Spirit while Dr. Packer gives a graceful look at various other Christian views on the Holy Spirit and His works.

If for no other reason, I would urge Christians to purchase this book for chapter 4: Versions of Holiness. This chapter alone is worth the read. Dr. Packer dives into various Christian views of how Christians are to live holy lives. He then proceeds to offer the positives and negatives of other views. He ends by leading the disciple to a deeper understand of what it truly means to keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).

I'm so glad this is still in print. It is simply the best and most balanced book on the Holy Spirit I've ever read. Packer's critique of the Charismatic movement is especially balanced and perceptive. I will pound the table and recommend this book for any serious Christian.

(The first chapter is a bit dated though, if my recall is right. If it has not been revised, it may be safely skimmed.)

Mark Marshall
author, God Knows What It's Like to be a Teenager