As a group, Adventists have developed their own vocabulary to the point that visitors in some of our church gatherings almost need an interpreter. We are also inclined to use stereotyped thinking in our approach to firmly held doctrines. So it is refreshing to read a book by a non- Adventist author who believes as we do on a doctrine but approaches it from a new perspective with a different vocabulary and fresh illustrations.
Pleasing God is a study on sanctification, which Sproul defines as growing in righteousness after having made one's commitment to Christ.
The book's 15 chapters are about practical issues in Christian living. The first chapter deals with rebirth and introduces sanctification. "Rebirth is instantaneous. Justification is instantaneous. But sanctification is a lifelong process."
Sproul sees the goal of Christian living as seeking righteousness. "Spirituality can be a cheap substitute for righteousness," he states, and "righteousness is doing what is right in the sight of God." It means treating people right and living with personal integrity. We may need rules to be righteous, but they must be God's rules. There are no substitutes, and in God's Word we find adequate rules for pleasing God with a righteous life. If we abide by those rules, we are not goalless fanatics, but true children of the King.
The author's explanation of the basis of salvation and how sanctification follows justification is delightfully clear: "The central affirmation of all Protestantism is that we are justified by faith and not by works. But the instant that true justifying faith is present in the life of the believer, the person begins to change. That change will be evidenced in a life that moves to obedience."
"Nothing could be more certain than the fact that all who possess the righteousness of Christ will surely inherit the kingdom of God. Nothing more is required than the righteousness of Christ." But "just because a person claims to believe in Christ is no guarantee that he has saving faith. It is by our fruits that we demonstrate the reality of our faith."
After dealing with antinomianism, Sproul turns his pen to the opposite error—perfectionism: "Perfectionism teaches that there is a class of Christians who achieve moral perfection in this life. To be sure, credit is given to the Holy Spirit as the agent who brings total victory over sin to the Christian. But there is a kind of elitism in perfectionism, a feeling that those who have achieved perfection are somehow greater than other Christians." One of the true marks of our ongoing sanctification is the growing awareness of how far short we fall of reaching perfection.
The so-called deliverance ministry receives no mercy, and he refers to it as "unmitigated nonsense." There may be a real devil and demons, but our great need is to take responsibility for our sin in order to deal with it. Concerning the judgment, the author clearly describes Satan as the accuser and Jesus as our advocate.
Many of Sproul's statements address the very heart of current Adventist dialogue and could provide a balance for both sides of the issues. This is a valuable book that will stimulate thought in sermon preparation.
