Noel Jesse Heikkinen - Wretched Saints: Transformed by the Relentless Grace of God

What people are saying about

In Wretched Saints, Noel Jesse Heikkinen does a fine job dispelling the myth that Christianity is chiefly a religion of judgment, scolding, and separation. Instead, he paints a compelling picture of how awareness and admission of sin become a pathway to enjoying the grace and love of God. For Jesus did not come for the healthy but for the sick, He did not come for the righteous but for sinners, and where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more! Take a risk. Read this book and see if perhaps youve misunderstood Christianity all along.

Scott Sauls, senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church, Nashville, and author of Befriend and Irresistible Faith

In Wretched Saints, my pastor Noel lays out the wonderfully paradoxical truth of the gospel. You are both a sinner, saved by Gods relentless grace, and a saint, covered completely by the cross. In the chapters of this game-changing book, you will unearth practical truths to help you stop strivingyet simultaneously keep growingas you rest in Gods love and allow Jesus to do the heavy lifting, making you more like Him.

Karen Ehman,New York Times bestselling author of Keep It Shut, Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker, and Bible teacher

Its more than a coincidence that the words wretch and retch are so similar. So much of what Heikkinen covers in this book are the aspects of our own sinful nature and struggles that make us feel like puking. But he does a brilliant, pastoral job of not wallowing in that mess and, instead, giving hope from the depths of Gods grace. This book is a great help to people like me, who have been professing Christians for most of our lives and struggle with guilt and inadequacy. And it is a great help to new believers who are figuring out just how hard it is to pursue holiness.

Barnabas Piper, author and podcaster

With refreshing transparency and deeply biblical truth, Pastor Noel Heikkinen will reconstruct the faith you once had when you first believed that Jesus loved you. Its time to stop listening to the lies that point you toward introspection and the never-ending search for self-approval and to rest, really rest, in Christs declaration, It is finished! I love this book. Pick it up and let its message liberate your soul.

Elyse Fitzpatrick, author of Finding the Love of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation

I loved Wretched Saints ! Its the kind of book one doesnt read just once. The lies weve believed are too ingrained and the gospel so radical that we have to be reminded repeatedly about the truth of our faith. Noel Heikkinen has done that with great skill, humor, and truth. Read this book, keep it in your library, and read it again and again.

Steve Brown, author, seminary professor, and broadcaster, Key Life Network (www.keylife.org)

If tired and overwhelmed are words that come to mind when you think about your Christian life, then let Noel help you to be overwhelmed once again by Gods tireless grace for wretched saints like us.

Thomas J. Terry, executive director of Humble Beast, and lead pastor of Trinity Church of Portland

Martin Luther said that justification by faith must be continually in our ears or else we will doubt and forget it. Wretched Saints more than rises to the challenge, resounding with the good news that God meets us in our mess with His saving grace and that His love isnt changing, even though we continually second-guess it. What a deeply engaging and ever-urgent reminder of the gospel.

David Zahl, director of Mockingbird Ministries, editor-in-chief of Mockingbird (blog), and on staff at Christ Episcopal Church

Have you ever felt like its only a matter of time before people find out? Before they find out about your imperfections, sins, lies, and hypocrisy? If so, then youve probably also felt the simultaneous tension of wanting to leave that all behind and walk in freedom. In Wretched Saints, my friend Noel will help you identify the lies that are holding you back so that you can embrace the truth that will lead you into a life of freedom.

Daniel Im, author of No Silver Bullets, teaching pastor, and director of Church Multiplication, LifeWay

Some writers provide well-argued, biblical foundations for living under grace. Others show how that kind of life might be lived. Noel excels at doing both in this book. Its wise, insightful, massively encouraging, and highly recommended.

Joel Virgo, pastor at Emmanuel, Brighton, UK

When it comes to living life in light of Gods grace and mercy, too many Jesus followers believe the theology but never experience the reality. In Wretched Saints, Noel Heikkinen shines a bright light on the truth of Gods declarations about what Hes done and who weve become in Christ.

Larry Osborne, pastor at North Coast Church, and author

I love books that draw attention to the nature of grace. I love it even more when a book brings grace to the places we actually live. If you have felt the tension of being a sinner and being justified by God at the same time but you dont know how to live in the tension, this book is for you. I cant wait to get Wretched Saints into the hands of the people of the church I pastor.

Harvey Turner, founder of Living Stones Churches, pastor of Living Stones, Reno, Acts 29 US West Leadership Team

WRETCHED SAINTS

Published by David C Cook

4050 Lee Vance Drive

Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A.

Integrity Music Limited, a Division of David C Cook

Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6NT, England

The graphic circle C logo is a registered trademark of David C Cook.

All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes,

no part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form

without written permission from the publisher.

The website addresses recommended throughout this book are offered as a resource to you. These websites are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement on the part of David C Cook, nor do we vouch for their content.

Details in some stories have been changed to protect the identities of the persons involved.

Bible credits are listed at the back of the book.

The author has added italics to Scripture quotations for emphasis.

LCCN 2018952799

ISBN 978-1-4347-0996-7

eISBN 978-0-8307-7715-0

2019 Noel Jesse Heikkinen

Published in association with the literary agency of Mark Sweeney & Associates, Naples, FL 34113.

The Team: Laura Derico, Jeff Gerke, Amy Konyndyk, Jack Campbell, Susan Murdock

Cover Design: Nick Lee

Cover Photo: Getty Images

First Edition 2019

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To everyone who has offered me a glimpse of the relentless grace of God.

Thank you.

To everyone whom I have failed to offer even an inkling of the same grace.

Im sorry.

Acknowledgments