God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)
Head knowledge is not evil in and of itself. Most of our Reformed and Puritan forefathers were highly educated. The Reformers never tired of stressing the value of Christian education. But this education must be empowered by the Holy Spirit and applied to the heart. Head knowledge is insufficient without the Spirit’s application to the inward man.
Brief history of Christian interpretation of sanctification:
1. Early church fathers (Clement of Rome, Ignatius, Polycarp) – though noting the grace of God, they emphasized a striving toward holiness.
2. Gnosticism – converts are perfect, set apart from the world.
3. Montanism – demanded separatism from unholy body of believers.
4. Clement of Alexandria – necessity for denial of world and bodily needs.
5. Pelagianism – holiness is result of self-willed moral effort.
6. Augustine – sanctification is God’s activity; not by human effort.
7. Bernard of Clairvaux – mystical personal piety by imitation of Jesus.
8. Peter Lombard – sanctifying grace by infusion of Spirit in believer.
9. Thomas Aquinas – no distinction between justification and sanctification; just infusion of God’s grace in man.
10. Council of Trent – grace inheres in soul of believer by Holy Spirit, and becomes permanent condition or attribute of believer.
11. Roman Catholic doctrine – misstated and overstated subjective implications of infused sanctifying grace, providing a boost of human ability toward perfectibility and divinization.
12. Reformers (Luther, Calvin, et al) – justification emphasized and separated from sanctification; insistence on absence of human merit.
13. Protestant doctrine – over-reacted and overstated objective implications of forensic, legal and extrinsic factors of justification and sanctification.
14. Pietists – reverted to moralistic behavioral standards of holy living, in reaction to epistemological emphasis on doctrine.
15. John Wesley – “entire sanctification,” perfect holiness possible in this life; necessity of “second blessing” experience; Holiness Movement.
16. Karl Barth – reemphasized subjective implications of Christocentric and ontological dynamic of holiness. Evangelical Protestants for the most part resisted; Catholic theologians recognized and appreciated.
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring mixture to boil. Simmer sauce
over medium-low heat, uncovered, for 5 minutes, stirring constantly..
Nutrition information per Tbsp: Calories, 18 Fat, 0.03 gram Carbohdrate, 4
gram Cholesterol, 0 milligram Sodium, 155 milligram
A Message from our Provider:
“God grades on the cross, not the curve.”
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