The debate about sanctification continues

Published by

davidgpeterson

August 20, 2014

A recent post on the Gospel Coalition website by Trevin Wax gave a helpful review of my book Possessed by God. A New Testament Theology of Sanctification and Holiness. This was published in 1995 by InterVarsity Press (USA) and Apollos (UK) as the first in the New Studies in Bible Theology series edited by D. A. Carson. Following the lead of earlier writers, I argued that sanctification in the New Testament is an integral part of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. It is regularly portrayed as a once-for-all definitive act and primarily has to do with the holy status or position of those who are ‘in Christ’.

In his original commendation of the book, Carson concluded that ‘much godly living, Christian assurance, stable faith and Christian maturity stem from a firm grasp of what the Bible says in this regard.’ This was my emphasis throughout the book, and Trevin Wax has continued to evaluate the pastoral implications of seeing sanctification primarily as a position or status, rather than as a process of growth or maturation. Other terms are used in the New Testament to signify progress and development.

Although this book has been published for almost 30 years, it has surprised me that little public discussion on the topic has taken place (with some notable exceptions). Apart from the pastoral implications, the thesis raises important questions about the relationship between Biblical Theology and Systematic Theology. Nevertheless, I am regularly challenged about these issues by students in my classes and increasingly by online contacts!

9 responses to “The debate about sanctification continues”

Adam Anderson

October 4, 2014

Greetings Dr. Peterson!

I recently discovered the link to Moore’s audio sermons, chapel messages, etc.

I just downloaded the messages you gave on sanctification from 1994–can’t wait to dig in! 🙂

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Billy Marsh

December 16, 2014

Dr. Peterson,

I have recently read Possessed by God and my only regret was that I had not encountered sooner. Thank you for making an important contribution to this doctrine through careful biblical exegesis and theology underneath the authority of Scripture. Now, I have Transformed by God coming in the mail, and I’m excited to see how your thought continues into the moment-by-moment of Christian life in this book.

If you are willing, I would be interested to hear any recommendations you’d offer concerning popular Christian living works that represent more of a “definitive” stance on sanctification and holiness. So much of the accessible, popular literature often labeled as “Christian Living,” I would say, works primarily within the domain of “progressive” sanctification.

As I seek to direct others to Christian literature that leans more closely to what you presented in Possessed by God, but who are not at the reading level of the audience assumed in the NSBT series, who would you say is writing at a popular level for the everyday Christian that is exhorting Christians to practice holiness similar to your own exposition of sanctification?

Blessings,
Billy

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1. David Peterson
  
  June 4, 2015
  
  Billy, I am sorry it has taken so long to respond to your request. Unfortunately, I don’t know of any popular books that develop the idea of definitive sanctification in a simple fashion. I hope someone picks up the challenge soon! Maybe this is something you should attempt yourself and put it out on the web for others to use.
  
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Allan

May 28, 2016

I too came across Trevin Wax’s piece, and thus to your book. As a simple home-based Bible student I had found the NT presentation of sanctification was being confused by mainstream thought, and the wonderful work of God in accomplished sanctification, that is, a setting apart for divine use, was being sadly obscured by progressive growing into His image, and surely the former is the basis of the latter.

So relieved to find I was not the lone heretic I thought I might be, with all the august commentators having a different view!!

Thankyou

Allan

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1. David Peterson
  
  July 15, 2016
  
  Thanks for your encouragement Allan, I have just posted a new article called ‘Sanctification, Regeneration, and Renewal’.
  
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Justin

July 27, 2016

Because of an ongoing discussion within the PCA (the denomination I happen to be in) about indicatives and imperatives, sanctification, and the law, I stumbled upon “Possessed by God” . I’m currently in the process of reading it, but so far it has been extremely refreshing to read how scripture speaks of it, especially when the polemics over it have been spiritually exhausting. I cannot wait to read more, thank you for exercising the gifts that the Lord has given you!

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1. David Peterson
  
  September 27, 2016
  
  Thanks for your encouragement Justin
  
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M. T. Wilson

October 12, 2016

Greetings Dr. Peterson,

I too have recently read “Possessed by God” and found it to be quite stimulating and honestly refreshing. I particularly appreciated your comment that “inadequate attention has been paid to the use of holiness terminology in the New Testament and to passages which deal specifically with the subject of sanctification”[15].

The reason I am writing to you is that a friend of mine challenged me a couple years ago to re-consider the biblical meaning of holiness. Since then, I have been “possessed” by that challenge, and to my surprise, came to discover some fascinating and very challenging things about the meaning of “kadosh” and its derivatives and cognates in both the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures.

I have recently completed a monograph on the subject and was wondering if I might be able to pass along a copy of it to you, as I would greatly appreciate any input or critique you would be willing to offer.

In brief, the thesis of the work is that contextual analysis of the use of “kadosh” and its derivatives demonstrates that it bears one simple meaning throughout the Scriptures regardless of the subject to which it is applied. The simple definition is best represented in English as “devote, devoted, devotion” etc. While devotion is commonly thought of as one aspect of holiness, this work demonstrates that such a definition is equally and at all times valid, even in reference to God’s holiness. In fact, the only thing that distinguishes God’s holiness from ours is certainty, and thus God’s holiness is, in effect, His means to solve the epistemological problem of theology. Furthermore, such a uniform definition applies equally to the concept of sanctification and holiness within the New Testament as well. The practical result is that, when understood this way, sanctification (holiness) becomes simple, credible, attainable and sustainable for the follower of Messiah.

The work is called the “Simplicity of Holiness” and I have it available in both paper and e-book form if this sounds of interest to you.

Blessings,
M. T. Wilson

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1. David Peterson
  
  January 15, 2017
  
  Sorry it has taken me while to respond: I don’t check the comments on my website often enough! I would certainly be interested to read an electronic version of what you have written if you could send it to david@davidgpeterson.com
  
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