Even after becoming Christians, believers still often struggle with temptation and patterns of sin in their lives. Succumbing to such temptations is known as backsliding and in this brief book, Beeke explains the root causes of it and how to cure it. There is no shortcut or ‘quick fix’ for deep-seeded problems, but there is gospel-centered help and power available through Jesus Christ. Beeke offers a useful, highly-applicable tool in the Christian’s ongoing battle against sin.

It’s one thing to begin the Christian life, but quite another to persevere in it. It’s one thing to repent and believe the gospel, but quite another to go on repenting and go on believing. [8]

Attaching God’s name to man’s activities may make you feel assured to His blessing, but this is to live in a fool’s paradise of self-deception. If your hope is that feeble, you have probably aimed too low, having put your trust in men—yourself or others—rather than in God. [34]

The worst thing about backsliding is that it casts discredit on the name of the God who has given us so much grace. [36]

Counterfeit repentance does not yield reformation. It refuses to hate sin wholeheartedly and break from it completely. But godly repentance includes both turning from sin and turning to God. It flees from sin with the heart. [49]

Not thinking about God is the problem. We treat God as irrelevant because we do not really believe that He is the only Lord and Savior. [62] 

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Beeke looks at the faith of some lesser-known characters (the Shunammite woman of Elisha’s day and the Canaanite woman of Jesus’ day), as well as more familiar names like Adam, Eve, and Caleb. From these lives, Beeke shows genuine faith as childlike, submissive, mature, and persevering. These sermons converted to book form are (as admitted) too brief to unfurl the full tapestry of faith. What we have here are a few threads suitable for tracing out.

God has never made one mistake with you in your entire life. [33]

The God who has been faithful in the past will be faithful in the future, and no matter what He does or what He does not do, I trust Him. I believe in God more than I believe in myself. [41]

I have learned more about God in times of His silences than I have in times when He has not been silent. In times of silence I have learned more about His sovereignty, His holiness, His majesty, and yes, His grace, too. In times of silence I have learned the wonder that I am not destroyed. In times of silence I reflect on God, and then I reflect on myself. [67]

Satan, I know, is trying to whisper in your hearts that it is not worthwhile to serve the Lord. I say to you that it is only worthwhile to serve the Lord; it is never worthwhile to serve this poor, perishing, wicked world. [79]

To follow God fully also means to follow Him sincerely, with all my heart, and to do this even if there were no heaven and no hell, because God is lovable, and He is worthy to be served and feared and adored. [93] 

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The concept of holiness sounds foreign to many, who assume it beyond their ability. In one sense, that is right, but as Beeke wisely points out, holiness is not only commanded by God, it is empowered by Him. We cannot produce holiness within ourselves, but in Christ we are both made holy before God and made capable of living holy day by day. Though brief, Beeke has provided a practical, Scripturally-sound primer on this important doctrine.

These two concepts—separation from sin and consecration (or separation) to God—comprise holiness. When combined, these two concepts make holiness very comprehensive. In fact, holiness covers all of life. [6]

Through Christ you are made holy in your standing before God, and through Christ you are called to reflect that standing by being holy in daily life. You are called to be in life what you already are in principle by grace. [10]

There are believers who live carelessly (i.e., treat sin lightly or neglect daily devotions and study of the Word) or inactively (i.e., they do not pursue holiness, but assume the posture that nothing can be done to foster sanctification, as if holiness was something outside of us except on rare occasions when something very special ‘happens’ inside). That is a recipe for daily spiritual darkness, deadness, and fruitlessness. [16]

His righteousness is greater than your unrighteousness. His Saviorhood is greater than your sinnership. Do not despair: you are strong in Him, alive in Him, victorious in Him. Satan may win many skirmishes, but the war is yours, the victory is yours. [19]

Holiness begins in our minds with a present-tense, total commitment and works outward to our actions. That is why we ought to jealously guard what we allow to enter our minds. The material we read, the music we listen to, and the conversations we have all affect our minds and ought to be judged. [21] 

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Written by preachers for preachers, this instructive work details the value of proclaiming God’s Word -- as it is written -- without ceding to the temptation to modernize or minimize what it says. It also addresses what makes preaching effective and what must be avoided. As with any compilation, some chapters are more helpful than others, but the whole volume remains a benefit to those called to preach (or to those wondering what biblical preaching entails).

Exegesis offers sound analysis of the words, grammar, syntax, and the historical setting of Scripture. Exposition alone, however, is not true preaching. A minister who presents only the grammatical and historical meaning of God’s Word may be lecturing or discoursing, but he isn’t preaching. Experiential preaching, while not minimizing the importance of sound interpretive work (words, grammar, syntax, historical background), goes farther. It applies the Word. This application is an essential characteristic of Reformed preaching. Without it, vitality is quenched. [58]  

Heart knowledge does not lack head knowledge, but head knowledge may lack heart knowledge. Some people pursue religion as an objective study or to appease their consciences, without ever allowing it to penetrate their hearts. They have understood themselves to be guilty and condemned before the holy justice of God. They have not experienced deliverance in Christ, so they are unaware of the kind of gratitude for such deliverance that masters a believer’s soul, mind, and strength. By contrast, those who experience saving heart knowledge find sin such an unbearable burden that Christ is altogether necessary. The grace of deliverance through the Savior is then so overwhelming that their lives shine forth with gratitude. [61]  

As ministers, we are called to be as holy in our private relationships with God, in our roles as husbands and fathers at home, and as shepherds among our people as we appear to be in the pulpit. There must be no disjunction between our calling and our living, between our confession and practice. [63]

Before picking up a book, ask yourself: Would Christ approve of this book? Will it increase my love for the Word of God, help me to conquer sin, offer abiding wisdom, and prepare me for the life to come? Or could I better spend time reading another book? [66]

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