The Holiness of God (Paperback)

by R. C. Sproul (Author) "I was compelled to leave the room..." (more)
Key Phrases: holy justice, holy space, Old Testament, New Testament, Allowing God's Holiness (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Revised in 1997, The Holiness of God has sold almost 200,000 copies since it was first released in the 1980s. An instant classic on the awesome nature of God, this new paperback edition (of the 1997 revision) will keep ministering to people for many years to come.

About the Author
Dr. R. C. Sproul is chairman and president of Ligonier Ministries, an organization that provides biblical and theological training for laypeople. He is the Minister of Preaching and Teaching at Saint Andrews Chapel in Sanford, Florida and has served as a professor at Reformed Theological Seminary, Knox Seminary, Westminster Seminary California, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. The author of many books on the Bible and Christian doctrine, including the award-winning The Holiness of God, he also hosts the international radio program "Renewing Your Mind," heard in over 120 countries.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (July 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0842339655
• ISBN-13: 978-0842339650
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #10,499 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Will Forever Change Your Life, August 17, 2000

By	T. B. Vick "Learn 2 Discern" (The Lone Star State) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is the best book that R.C. Sproul has written (and I have read dozens of his works). Sproul probes into the depths and riches of the Holiness of God, but he does so with great reverence, respect, and honor. His theology is very sound and his illustrations are excellent. Not only does Sproul portray the true character of God but he also describes what that means to us as Christians. This book will cause you to fall on your knees and cry out to a most Holy, Holy, Holy God. Some of the better chapters are two, "Holy, Holy, Holy" where Sproul delineates just how Holy God is and describes those people in the Bible who have encountered this great Holiness and how that has effected them (i.e. Isaiah crying out that he is "undone."). Another great chapter is "The Insanity of Luther." Here Sproul describes a man who was devoted to making himself holy and desiring to be purged of any sin that would cause him to stray from any form of purity and holiness. In this attempt to do the impossible, Luther is confronted with the only Holy, namely God. Then Sproul describes the changes that Luther went through upon the discovery of true holiness and justification before God (i.e. that this can be obtained ONLY through Christ's righteousness being imputed to us). Overall, this book is in my top twenty all-time favorite Christian works. If I were you I would buy many copies of this book, because you will probably wear them all out one by one as you continue to read this classic work through the years.

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "One Sitting" Book, January 23, 2005

By	Jessica S. "pilgrimsprogress dot net" (California) - See all my reviews

This is a "one sitting" book that kept me turning the pages until wee hours of the morning. Few authors possess the keen ability to help readers come into a grasp of the nature of God's holiness, but through this book Dr. Sproul (along with his wits and unique sense of humor) is able to help us understand better and transport the reader into the presence of God.

We often hear many talk about how God is love, yet why do fewer ever speak of His holiness and justice? The Holiness of God reminds me yet again that my salvation (through Christ's propitiatory death) is an act of mercy and grace by God (not an obligation), since His absolute holiness demands only justice for my sins. Dr. Sproul helps readers dig deeper beneath a superficial surface of what it means that God is holy--bringing us into a deeper understanding and love of who God is, a greater awe for His absolute holiness, and reverence in worship. As the famous Reformed preacher Jonathan Edwards once wrote: "A true love of God must begin with a delight in his holiness, and not with a delight in any other attribute; for no other attribute is truly lovely without this."

One of my favorite chapters carries an intriguing title: The Trauma of Holiness. Why and how does holiness invoke trauma? Many other religions have invented god(s) who brought only comfort. Even Sigmund Freud espoused the theory that people invent "god(s)" to help them deal with scary things, to serve as a "crutch," so to speak. In this book Sproul draws a contrast by demonstrating how the one and only true God has certain characteristics distinct from those that would normally be attributed by the common man. Our true God possesses a uniqueness (an awesome "otherness"). After Jesus miraculously calmed the storm in the Sea of Galilee, the disciples felt uncomfortable and terrified (yes, terrified) upon realizing that they, in their sinfulness, were in the presence of the Holy One. What a contrast to those popular man-made ideas of God invented only to bring comfort!

This book helps us to see better the God who is--who not only brings comfort in time of need, invokes our adoration and praise, but also in whose Holy presence drives us to our knees in reverential worship.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Holy, Holy, Holy Is The LORD!, July 30, 2000

By	Rocco B. Rubino "Rocco R." (Ohio) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This book is unlike any that I have ever read in that it puts the LORD in His rightful place; on the throne, high and lifted up,exalted.

RC Sproul has a wonderful grasp on the Holiness of God. This book is a must read for any Christian who is serious about furthering his or her walk with the Lord. Holiness is not a topic that is preached on, and that is unfortunate, because the Bible tells us that without holiness "no man shall see the Lord." Dr. Sproul's work is compelling, yet easy to understand. I highly recommend this book, and I am willing to discuss it in more detail, so feel free to send me an email.