Eric Mason - Unleashed: Being Conformed to the Image of Christ

Copyright 2015 by Eric Mason
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
978-1-4336-8747-1
Published by B&H Publishing Group,
Nashville, Tennessee
Dewey Decimal Classification: 248.84
Subject Heading: CHRISTIAN LIFE \ DISCIPLESHIP \ SPIRITUAL LIFE
Unless otherwise noted all Scripture is taken from the English Standard Version, ( esv ) copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. esv Text Edition: 2007. All rights reserved.
Also used: New Living Translation ( nlt ), copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189 USA. All rights reserved.
Also used: New American Standard Bible ( nasb ), the Lockman Foundation, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, used by permission.
Also used: New Revised Standard Version Bible ( nrsv ), copyright 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Also used: King James Version ( kjv ) which is public domain.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

T hanks to the whole B&H and LifeWay staff, particularly Devin Maddox and Kim Stanford for working through this document. Andrew Wolgemuth, you and your team have been very helpful in helping me work through the particulars of getting this done.

Thanks also to Dr. D. A. Carson and Dr. John Piper for giving me some thoughts on writing a work like this. Jeremiah, thank you for assisting me in getting stuff done.

Epiphany Fellowship Church body, the pastors, and staff, thank you for allowing me the bandwidth to write and put out material that will hopefully lead people to Jesus and edify the larger body of Christ in Jesus.

I dedicate this book to my pastor and his wife and my church, Drs. Tony and Lois Evans and the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship church family, who contributed the most on a practical learning level in the journey of my wife and I throughout this book. Between the years of 19952000 and 20022004, we grew deeply in this ministry as God used it as a tool in our maturity that is still bearing fruit. Thank you!

Unleashed is a biblically balanced and theologically faithful study of the doctrine of sanctification by my friend Eric Mason. Any believer seeking to grow in being conformed to the image of Jesus will be blessed and helped by this work.

Daniel L. Akin , President, Southeastern Baptist
Theological Seminary

Dr. Eric Mason has constructed a theological treatise on sanctification that transfers from the kitchen table to the seminary classroom. His transparency, authenticity, and theological accuracy join forces to help us see ourselves within Gods transformative work. Unleashed is to be read and discussed by believers and by those seeking to discover and follow the Way.

Stephen G. Brown , Pastor/Servant Leader

Praise God for a book on growing in Christ that is rooted deeply in the holiness of God yet is immensely practical on what that means for everyday life.

Matt Chandler , Lead Pastor of The Village Church,
President of Acts 29

Unleashed reminds us that throughout the process of spiritual growth, it is Christ who initiates, sustains, fulfills, and perfects our life in Him. A very practical read.

K. A. Ellis , President and Co-Founder of
Ellis Perspectives and the Makazi Institute

Having been a part of watching the journey of Eric and his family for the last few decades it is clear to me that Gods hand is on him. Just looking at the table of contents in this book reminds me of some of the chapters of his life and how God has grown him tremendously. This book flows from God willing and working His good pleasure in Eric, and we are being invited to do the same. God is at work in all His people, and it is our job to submit to and connect to what He uses to grow us! Read Unleashed and be unleashed to maximize the growth that God has in store for you!

Tony Evans , Senior Pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, President of The Urban Alternative

Dr. Eric Mason does it again with a heartfelt, biblically sound, and inspirational book on Gods goal in our redemption (Rom. 8:29), our spiritual formation. Unleashed is a book that all should use as a personal reminder of time with Christ and being transformed by Christ, it also provides tools to equip your teams and church members if youre in pastoral ministry. He addresses sanctification in a clear and concise manner that will leave you encouraged and compelled to intentionally embrace your personal transformation with joy and vigor.

Jerome Gay Jr. , Vision Church

I love this new book by Eric Mason. If you are like me and spent too much time in your spiritual journey trying to do something for God before discovering the difference in something done by God, this volume is for you. As I read it, I found myself humming a great old hymn I memorized decades agoGrace that exceeds our sin and our guilt... grace that is greater than all our sin! Read this and reap!

O. S. Hawkins , President/CEO,
GuideStone Financial Resources

If you are seriously interested in moving your walk in life to a deeper level, then this work by Pastor Eric Mason, Unleashed, will be the book you want to read. In Unleashed: Being Conformed to the Image of Christ, Pastor Mason delves into the topic of sanctification. Using the Word of God, he provides you with the tools necessary to unleash the power that comes only through a closer walk with Christ.

John K. Jenkins Sr. , Senior Pastor
First Baptist Church of Glenarden

My pastor, Dr. Eric Mason, has challenged the church to step out of passivity and aggressively pursue Gods means of spiritual growth! This book is a valuable resource because it helps us look to Christ as the primary and central source of our spiritual development while motivating believers to run hard after spiritual maturity. Pastor Mason, with theological precision, has revealed to us a clear path of sanctification often overlooked in mainstream Christian thought. A must have, a must read, a must teach.

Pastor Doug Logan Jr ., Founding and Lead Pastor,
Epiphany Fellowship Church, Camden, New Jersey

This book is a compelling, foundational resource on the Christian life. It outlines the God-sanctioned process to make us Christlike. Growth is not the product of what we like or trafficking in the spiritual experiences we enjoy; it is faithfully honoring and applying the eternally transforming resources my dear friend Eric Mason points to in this important book. Thank you, Eric, for showing us how we can draw near to our Savior, the lover of our souls.

Crawford W. Loritts Jr. , Author, Speaker,
Radio Host, Senior Pastor of Fellowship Bible Church,
Roswell, Georgia

Unleashed will set you free from what holds you and take you more deeply into the transforming power of Jesus Christ. Eric Mason writes in compelling ways about sanctification because he has studied it carefully and lived it personally. Read and be changed forever.

James MacDonald , Senior Pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel,
Author of Vertical Church

This is a rich, practical book, by a wise, gifted pastor. Sanctification is not just behaving morally more often. Sanctification is an act of spirit surgery on our minds and affections, patterning us after our Lord Jesus. This book will help you know how to keep in step with the Spirit.

Russell Moore , President, Ethics & Religious
Liberty Commission, Southern Baptist Convention

Pastor Eric Mason makes the weighty topic of sanctification user-friendly for every Christian. His keen insights from the Word are given vivid clarity with his engaging illustrations and personal experience. This book doesnt just explain sanctification, it makes the reader want to pursue it in every area of life with grace, faith, and joy.