The Death of the Deadly Sins: Embracing the Virtues That Transform Lives

“In The Death of the Deadly Sins, we are reminded of the vices that are alive and well in every human heart. The nature and presence of such sins are honestly and insightfully analyzed, but the greatest blessing of the book is its direction to the hope of overcoming these sins by the understanding that believers have been freed not only from the penalty of sin, but also from its power. We are made most resistant to the vices that attract us (even as they attack us) by the expulsive power of new, virtuous affections stimulated by our Savior’s grace and exercised with confidence in the promise of his strength. Tomorrow does not have to be like yesterday for those united to Christ by faith.”

“We live in a day when the highest virtues seem to be self-definition, self- determination, and self-expression, all unmoored from any objective standard outside the self. We desperately need to be reoriented toward a life that engenders well-being and flourishing for all. Editor Daniel Doriani and his fellow authors have done us a service in this book. They lay before us the timeless virtues that God has established in his Word and show us the Spirit-empowered path from anti-virtue to virtue. To God be the glory.”

“The list of deadly sins is an example of a perennial topic that richly benefits from a contemporary treatment. In The Death of the Deadly Sins, Daniel Doriani and his excellent cast of contributors remind Christians that the cultivation of virtue is always in style. Like John Owen’s classic The Mortification of Sin, this compilation sets forth both the necessity and blessing of taking a hard look at our sins and taking up God’s gracious resources in putting them to death. This book is a must-read for preachers of God’s Word and a rich resource for every kind of Christian.”

“In The Death of the Deadly Sins, the authors argue against the Greek philosophical perspective that pursuing virtue leads to happiness (the good life). Instead, they propose that true virtue flows from our communion with God (the highest good). In relationship with God through Christ, we are empowered by the Spirit to put off vice and put on virtue. The good life, then, is that life lived for the glory of God as we grow more and more in Christlikeness, desiring, discerning, and performing the good.”

“Dan Doriani has been my friend for nearly four decades, and we share a treasury of other wonderful friends, colleagues, and gospel-hearted pastors whom we both know and love. But among the whole lot, Dan has always been my first call when I need wisdom on ethical conundrums and on choices that we believers face in the malaise and madness of contemporary culture. Dan happens to be smart and well-read, but I trust him eminently because he reasons with a gospel heart and has a genuine curiosity about people. My friend cares about kindness just as much as rightness. Thus, I’m really excited about his new book of reflections on the topic of virtues. Dan’s chapters in the book are priceless. But if I likened this book to a band, Dan has chosen a wonderful group of players and voices, who make this little volume sing. Bottom line: Dan helps us understand not just the truth of virtues from a biblical worldview, but also their goodness and beauty as expressions of the love and glory of our God.”

“In our modern culture of self-indulgence, a virtuous Christian life is magnetic. We are drawn to those who consistently embody the virtue of Jesus. We aspire to be people like that. Yet in many ways, cultivating a virtuous life is harder than ever before. This timely book helps us reclaim the biblical vision of virtue that we so desperately need.”

“Those of us who want desperately to be gospel-centered in all our thinking sometimes forget how important it is to be gospel-centered in our daily living. Daniel Doriani and the other outstanding contributors to The Death of the Deadly Sins revive for us all this most important topic of Christian virtue. While explaining the classical and early-church roots of the concept of virtue, they also help us understand how the Scriptures define virtue, why we must desire and seek it, and how we may attain it. This book is worth reading. And worth putting into practice.”

“This compelling book features a distinguished cast of authors, men and women, digging deeply into human sin and God’s remedies. The theme is not rebuke but restoration. The tone is not punitive but positive. Designed for either personal or small-group study, the book draws on sages and especially Scripture through the centuries to serve up heartening fare that will nourish the drive to do what we say that we believe to be right. Savor these studies in virtue for a boost in overcoming your internal vices with God’s life-changing good.”

“It seems that vice and virtue have switched places in our cultural estimation. Doriani’s book helps us see anew the danger of vice, the beauty of virtue, and how to move from one to the other. Convicting, encouraging, and practical, this is a great tool for either personal devotions or a small-group discussion.”