Free to Be Holy

Much of the gospel you may have heard centers around hope for the next life, freedom from guilt and condemnation, and forgiveness of sin. But what does the Bible teach us about freedom from sin? Or deliverance from the things that produce guilt rather than the guilt itself? Free to Be Holy illuminates the other half of the gospel and explores an element of the biblical story that is often forgotten—holiness for this life.

For Christians, the word holy carries weight. It is a touchstone for daily life, a reminder to center around Jesus rather than the world. Striving for a holy life can feel like a constant chase toward something unattainable, but there is another way to approach holiness. In this book, Dr. O’Reilly uses scripture to guide readers through what God wants for us: perfect love and becoming fully human. Along the way, he shows that holiness has more to do with embodying God’s character in order to faithfully represent him in mission to the world. Each chapter ends with intentional questions for reflection and discussion, allowing the reader to engage deeper with themselves and in fellowship.

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This is a solid treatment as to what real holiness, which God expects of his people, is all about. Highly recommended.
–Dr. Ben Witherington III, Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary

Matt O’Reilly’s book helps reorient misguided conversations to remind readers that holiness is about sharing in and embodying the divine character of the triune God in our daily lives.
–Tammie Grimm, Associate Professor of Congregational Formation, Wesley Seminary (Marion, Indiana)

This will be a helpful book to put in the hands of both the nominal Christian who does not recognize the possibility and the earnest Christian who wants to go deeper but does not know how. Warmly recommended.
–John N. Oswalt, Visiting Distinguished Professor of Old Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary