"Possessed by God" by David Peterson examines the Bible's teaching on sanctification and holiness. His most striking conclusion is that the way we use the word 'sanctification' is far removed from the NT use of the word. We think of sanctification as a process of growth in the Christian life. However, in the NT it is something that happens at conversion. To the church in Corinth Paul says "You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Cor 6:11, TNIV). They were sanctified when they were justified. They were set apart to be holy, to belong to God. Throughout the NT Christians are described as saints, or God's holy ones, that is who we are and how we should think of ourselves.
All this doesn't mean that we aren't to be growing and made more like Jesus. Rather it means that the process of transformation should be described in other language such as glorification, mortification, growth, etc. rather than speaking of sanctification.
Its also hugely encouraging as we see that the holy lives we are called to live now is a call to be who we already are in Christ. If Paul could say to the church in Corinth with all their faults 'you were sanctified', what an encouragement it is to us when we're struggling and see little growth in ourselves that we have already been sanctified. We are still God's holy children even when we're failing to live out that holy calling.
Its also hugely encouraging as we see that the holy lives we are called to live now is a call to be who we already are in Christ. If Paul could say to the church in Corinth with all their faults 'you were sanctified', what an encouragement it is to us when we're struggling and see little growth in ourselves that we have already been sanctified. We are still God's holy children even when we're failing to live out that holy calling.
At a more popular level, "You Can Change" by Tim Chester draws on this view of what it means to live holy lives and offers practical, theologically grounded help as we battle against sin. A good book to work through in pairs or groups.
One other aspect that was also particularly striking in "Possessed by God" was the corporate nature of this sanctification. Its together as God's people that we've been set apart and as God's people that we now must grow together. Growing in love isn't something you can do on your own. It as we grow together that the purity of Christ's bride is displayed. But how do we change the way we think, to reflect this corporate view of growth? How can we see progress in the faith not primarily about me and God but about us as a church growing together up into Christ?
One other aspect that was also particularly striking in "Possessed by God" was the corporate nature of this sanctification. Its together as God's people that we've been set apart and as God's people that we now must grow together. Growing in love isn't something you can do on your own. It as we grow together that the purity of Christ's bride is displayed. But how do we change the way we think, to reflect this corporate view of growth? How can we see progress in the faith not primarily about me and God but about us as a church growing together up into Christ?
