Free to Be Holy: The Liberating Grace of Walking by Faith (Jerry Wragg)

Free to Be Holy

The Liberating Grace of Walking by Faith

Reformed theology has made a welcome return to the church. With its resurgent emphasis on justification, unfortunately, has come confusion over the biblical pattern of sanctification. Rather than turning to the plain biblical language of faith, humility, and obedience, many are turning inward and measuring genuine love and obedience by their emotional experiences. Affection for God—submissive love rooted in humble faith—is being defined almost exclusively as emotional sensations of joy. In a culture driven by feelings, obeying out of duty is derided as legalism, and striving to be holy is considered a work of the Law. Many in the church are wondering, “Am I really obeying if I don’t feel like it?” None of us desire to become the hypocrites Jesus warned of in Matthew 15:8, “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me.” Influential leaders in the church today aren’t helping when they challenge believers to cease all striving and simply reflect on the fact of their justification.

In this book, Jerry Wragg and Paul Shirley call us back to Scripture’s manifest blueprint for becoming conformed to the image of Christ. With balance and warm-hearted clarity, they demonstrate that God’s grace empowers us for every good deed. They show us that our justification doesn’t liberate us from being diligent in our efforts to trust and obey, but rather it gives us power to withstand temptation and walk with the Lord in victory. Because of grace, we are under obligation to the Word of God and now have resurrection power flowing through our spiritual veins, strengthening every discipline of grace and growing fruit that remains forever. Through faith-filled submission of our will to the Word of God, we “work out [our] salvation,” knowing “it is God who is at work in [us], both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Phil 2:13).

About the Authors

Jerry Wragg has served as senior pastor at Grace Immanuel Bible Church in Jupiter, Florida, since 2001. Prior to his ministry in Florida, Jerry served for many years as senior associate pastor and personal assistant to Dr. John MacArthur at Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California. He serves as president and a faculty member of The Expositors Seminary in Jupiter and is a graduate of The Master’s Seminary. In addition to various articles and essays, Jerry is the author of Courageous Churchmen and co-author of Free to Be Holy. He and his wife, Louise, have been married for forty years. They have four grown children and eight grandchildren. Jerry’s greatest joy is watching the flock become mature followers of Jesus Christ as His truth is brought to bear upon their hearts.

Paul Shirley is pastor of Grace Community Church in New Castle, Delaware. He is originally from Florida where he grew up, came to faith, met his wife, and started his family. Paul and Elyse were married in January of 2005 and have three children. Paul received his undergraduate degree in Pastoral Ministries from Clearwater Christian College, completed his MDiv at the Expositors Seminary and his doctoral degree from The Master’s Seminary. Paul is a regular contributor to the Expositors Blog and has written several books including The Irony of the Cross, Free to be Holy (with Jerry Wragg), The Christian Home, and Expository Sanctification.