About book You Can Change: God's Transforming Power For Our Sinful Behavior And Negative Emotions (2010)
This is a good book about gospel powered sanctification. We sin because we desire other things more than we desire God, or because we do not want the hope that is offered to us in the Gospel. Chester explains that Holiness is what would truly complete us as humans. God wants our ultimate happiness, and we must trust him for how to find it. Therefore, the path to change means we must turn away (repent) from the false things we believe about God, and from the idols we pursue instead of God, and turn to (believe) the truth about God and the hope he offers in Christ. Chester goes on to explain that we will continue this change only as we get to the roots of our sin, live in community, and continually use the means that God has given us for our growth (means of grace). Overall, it is a good book, a great one if you have never thought through these things before. It is both theologically clear and practically useful. However, I do think he fails to acknowledge some of our deeper issues that may stand in the way of change. Sometimes I believe the truth about God, and reject the lies the world tells me and yet I still sin. Sometimes I am driven by compulsions that I don't even understand. To heal from those compulsions we may need more than simple advice. We may need someone to walk with us as we go deeper. You Can Change is not the last book you will ever need on growing in holiness. But it is a great first one. Most Christians struggle with an ongoing desire to change. The problem, Chester reveals, is that we have other desires which can be stronger at times. Genuine change doesn’t come from methods or rules but from Christ, who puts His Spirit in the hearts of believers to strengthen their God-honoring desires. Chester has written a book that offers an oft-needed message of helplessness in ourselves and the hopefulness we can find only in Christ. Highly, highly recommended.
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Fantastic book. Very helpful to use as a devotional aid, or I imagine in a small group setting.
—SillyBilly
Extemely good book. Top 3 on sanctification along with Bridges and Ryle.
—udontnid2nowh
Very good book. Concise. Will revisit this review again.
—book
