Sanctification: Event or process – bible words v bible doctrine

[ronbaileyModerator]

Daniel Gawlicki raised this question on our ‘friends of biblebase’ Facebook group, but I judged it too important a topic to commit to the vagaries of Facebook so I have started it afresh here. The ‘comment’ facility on friends of biblebase will be suspended so as not to end up with confusing duplicates.

Ben C. Dunson
Abstract: Protestants have traditionally understood sanctification as God’s work of gradual spiritual transformation over the entire life of every believer. Recent biblical scholarship has argued that such a definition does not actually correspond with the meaning of biblical terminology for sanctification, which refers to a single and definitive setting apart of believers at conversion. Some have also insisted that this calls into question the wisdom of using the word “sanctification” to describe how God transforms Christians throughout their lives. This article examines these competing perspectives, concluding that biblical terminology for sanctification, while indeed definitive in nature (indicating a once-for-all action occurring at conversion), is also integrally connected in the Bible with the process of spiritual transformation begun at conversion. The article then provides some reflections on how definitive and progressive dimensions of sanctification can (and should) be held together in a doctrine of sanctification.P 71ff

This basic definition of sanctification, however, has more recently been challenged, particularly among biblical scholars. The debate is not over whether God in fact transforms believers throughout their lives, but rather, whether this process should be called sanctification. D. A. Carson is representative: while he notes that sanctification in the NT can refer to “the progressive purifying of the believer, the process by which he becomes increasingly holy … it is a commonplace among Pauline scholars that … it commonly refers to the initial setting aside of an individual for God at his conversion.”

In short, sanctification words do not connote progress, growth, or the like. Sanctification, biblically speaking, is “a once-for-all, definitive act and primarily has to do with the holy status or position of those who are in Christ.” For Peterson this fact is not merely a matter of defining words correctly. If biblical words for sanctification do not refer to transformation, he insists, one should not use the word sanctification for a doctrine of the moral transformation of believers either.

The central reality in any discussion of sanctification is the holiness of God himself. One of the most common epithets for God in the OT is “the Holy One.”16 God is holy, which means that he is morally pure, separate from all sin and defilement, but also separate (transcendent) from all created things in his “majesty, sovereignty and awesome power.” P73.

The full article can be found here and should be read thoughtfully before joining the discussion.

http://themelios.thegospelcoalition.org/article/biblical-words-and-theological-meanings-sanctification-as-consecration

• This topic was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by ronbailey.
• This topic was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by ronbailey.
• This topic was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by ronbailey.
• This topic was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by ronbailey.

[ronbaileyModerator]

This comes at an interesting time. I am preparing for the New Life Conference at the Quinta in August. I have been asked to do four bible studies, and my topic is “Church? Why?”. One of my themes will be the word ‘saints’ which is linked to the word ‘sanctification’. It is a key theme so I may be a little cautious in ‘stealing my own thunder’ here.

In the meantime, there is time to read the article.

I came across an interesting pattern for blogs recently. You start with the delivery of a preacher or teacher in audio and ‘interrupt’ the flow with questions or comments. This is pretty much the way I read books. I use a Kindle that enables me to insert a question or comment without too much interruption of the writer’s delivery. This is very much the pattern of the peripatetic philosophers of Paul’s day. The interrupter was known as the Interlocutor and Paul’s many questions in his writing are said to be very similar to this method of teaching. In Paul’s case, he is his own interlocutor anticipating and questioning his own teaching. It is a great way to engage the listener/reader in the steps of a reasoned journey.

It’s also the principle behind ‘Inductive Bible Study’.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by ronbailey.

[JonahParticipant]

I think the article views transformation as a lifetime process.  Unfortunately I think it falls into the trap of explaining that sanctification can have, in the author’s opinion, a range of meanings by using another term for one of those meanings but without recognising thar it too can have one of the other meanings as well!

When I read of transformation I think of a ‘crisis’ change.  So the author, when trying to explain sanctification as a process usung the language of transformation, has simply substituted one word used for crisis or process with another that can also have a dual meaning, but without recognising this – making the conclusions confusing as he assumes ‘transformation’ is only applicable to a processss over time without realising the irony of so doing.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by Jonah.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by Jonah.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by Jonah.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by Jonah.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by Jonah.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by Jonah.

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