Seven positions Seven positions

on sanctification or holiness…on sanctification or holiness…

Keith Drury & Chris BoundsKeith Drury & Chris Bounds

Most all denominations Most all denominations

have a doctrine of have a doctrine of

sanctification or holiness.sanctification or holiness.

Seven positions on sanctification or holiness…Seven positions on sanctification or holiness…

1.1.““Holiness of Christ” positionHoliness of Christ” position

--You can’t in actuality, --You can’t in actuality,

but you can in position.but you can in position.

Humans are just too sinful at the core—Humans are just too sinful at the core—

they have no hope.they have no hope.

Martin Luther & John Calvin may be here—Martin Luther & John Calvin may be here—

with their focus on “imputed with their focus on “imputed righteousness”righteousness”

How to become a fully devoted follower of Christ— How to become a fully devoted follower of Christ— seven answersseven answers……

2. Worthy goal but2. Worthy goal but

impossible dreamimpossible dream

• While it is impossible in this life to become a fully devoted While it is impossible in this life to become a fully devoted

follower of Christ you should head that follower of Christ you should head that direction.direction.

• Head that way but you will never get there.Head that way but you will never get there.

• Many reformed thinkers take this position.Many reformed thinkers take this position.

• John Calvin? Reinhold Niebuhr? J. I. Packer?John Calvin? Reinhold Niebuhr? J. I. Packer?

How to become a fully devoted follower of Christ— How to become a fully devoted follower of Christ— seven answersseven answers……

3. A momentary but 3. A momentary but

unsustainable experienceunsustainable experience

• Full devotion in “pulses” or short periods.Full devotion in “pulses” or short periods.

• Can’t be sustained for the long haul.Can’t be sustained for the long haul.

• Modern evangelical Lutheran perspective (Gerhard Forde). Modern evangelical Lutheran perspective (Gerhard Forde).

• (Some scholars would argue this was Martin Luther’s position.)(Some scholars would argue this was Martin Luther’s position.)

How to become a fully devoted follower of Christ— How to become a fully devoted follower of Christ— seven answersseven answers……

4. A sustainable experience 4. A sustainable experience

with momentary lapses with momentary lapses

• Can be normative in a believer’s life. Can be normative in a believer’s life.

• Holy Spirit enables a believer to suppress the Holy Spirit enables a believer to suppress the

sin nature and live in sustained victory over it. sin nature and live in sustained victory over it.

• However, because the root of sin remains until death, there However, because the root of sin remains until death, there

will be times when sin will cloud or diminish victory. will be times when sin will cloud or diminish victory.

• Intentional disobedience as an exception, rather than the rule.Intentional disobedience as an exception, rather than the rule.

• (Classic understanding of “Keswick” theology.) (Classic understanding of “Keswick” theology.)

How to become a fully devoted follower of Christ— How to become a fully devoted follower of Christ— seven answersseven answers……

5. Gradual growth process5. Gradual growth process

• It is possible to become a fully devoted It is possible to become a fully devoted

follower of Christ in this life.follower of Christ in this life.

• But only after many years of a gradual But only after many years of a gradual

process of spiritual growth.process of spiritual growth.

• Your job now is to follow the Spirit’s Your job now is to follow the Spirit’s

leading in one area at a time. leading in one area at a time.

• Generally held by serious United Methodists like Thomas Generally held by serious United Methodists like Thomas

Oden (and in an adapted way by Roman Oden (and in an adapted way by Roman Catholics).Catholics).

How to become a fully devoted follower of Christ— How to become a fully devoted follower of Christ— seven answersseven answers……

6. Keep seeking 6. Keep seeking

until you receiveuntil you receive

• Full devotion is possible before death or old ageFull devotion is possible before death or old age

• But not “just for the asking”But not “just for the asking”

• God does this when HE wants toGod does this when HE wants to

• Your job is to keep seeking for HIM to make you fully devoted.Your job is to keep seeking for HIM to make you fully devoted.

• Many scholars contend this is John Wesley’ s viewMany scholars contend this is John Wesley’ s view

How to become a fully devoted follower of Christ— How to become a fully devoted follower of Christ— seven answersseven answers……

7. Seek now 7. Seek now

and receive by faith and receive by faith

• Becoming fully devoted is possible right now.Becoming fully devoted is possible right now.

• It is like getting saved—by faith and available now.It is like getting saved—by faith and available now.

• View of Pheobe Palmer and traditionally the “Holiness movement”View of Pheobe Palmer and traditionally the “Holiness movement”

How to become a fully devoted follower of Christ— How to become a fully devoted follower of Christ— seven answersseven answers……

What do most of these What do most of these

views have in views have in common?common?

How to become a fully devoted follower of Christ— How to become a fully devoted follower of Christ— seven answersseven answers……

Surrender/commitmentSurrender/commitment

Faith/trust/recievingFaith/trust/recieving

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274 AD) Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274 AD) Summa Theologica Question 182Summa Theologica Question 182

It is written (Col. 3:14): "Above all things have charity, which is the bond of perfection," because it binds, as it were, all the other virtues together in perfect unity.A thing is said to be perfect in so far as it attains its proper end, which is the ultimate perfection thereof. Now it is charity that unites us to God, Who is the last end of the human mind, since "he that abideth in charity abideth in God, and God in him" (1 Jn. 4:16). Therefore the perfection of the Christian life consists radically in charity.

As stated above, the perfection of the Christian life consists in charity. Now perfection implies a certain universality because according to Phys. iii, 6, "the perfect is that which lacks nothing." Hence we may consider a threefold perfection.

One is absolute, and answers to a totality not only on the part of the lover, but also on the part of the object loved, so that God be loved as much as He is lovable. Such perfection as this is not possible to any creature, but is competent to God alone, in Whom good is wholly and essentially.

Another perfection answers to an absolute totality on the part of the lover, so that the affective faculty always actually tends to God as much as it possibly can; and such perfection as this is not possible so long as we are on the way, but we shall have it in heaven.

The third perfection answers to a totality neither on the part of the object served, nor on the part of the lover as regards his always actually tending to God, but on the part of the lover as regards the removal of obstacles to the movement of love towards God, in which sense Augustine says (Questions. LXXXIII, qu. 36) that "carnal desire is the bane of charity; to have no carnal desires is the perfection of charity." Such perfection as this can be had in this life, and in two ways. First, by the removal from man's affections of all that is contrary to charity, such as mortal sin; and there can be no charity apart from this perfection, wherefore it is necessary for salvation. Secondly, by the removal from man's affections not only of whatever is contrary to charity, but also of whatever hinders the mind's affections from tending wholly to God. This charity is possible.