Sanctification, part 1

A favorite book of mine is called “Five Views of Sanctification” – part of a 27 volume series, Spectrum Multi-view, on Christian Spirituality from IVP. (Not to be confused with the similar series by Zondervan)

In Five Views of Sanctification, (Reformed, Wesleyan, Contemplative, Lutheran, and Pentecostal) each contributor given a limited number of words with which he may present his view, and two or three of the other contributors are given a chance to respond.  Each man comes from the conservative side of their communion, and each one is a very studied and competent writer and teacher of the word. The back and forth conversations are charitable and brotherly.

The contributor from the Reformed perspective is Sinclair Ferguson, and of course his article is by far the best of all of them. His is best – but not because he is one of my communion, a reformed theologian and Presbyterian with an easy-to-read writing style.  No, his article is the best because it is far and away the most diligent with respect to being biblical.  

In Ferguson’s article, he references or directly quotes and interacts with over 100 different passages of the Scripture – by the way, this number is more than the other four authors COMBINED.   As one reads the other authors’ response to Ferguson, you get the distinct impression from their comments that is something akin to the reaction which amateur musicians might well display as they involuntarily applaud after a virtuoso has performed.  It’s no wonder that this is so – few axioms are more central to reformed teaching than the proposition that theology and practice, doctrine and lifestyle are to be seen as joined together, never to be separated. A necessary connection between holy living and doctrine has always been at the forefront of reformed thinking.  

More later…