Reviewed by Mike Sullivan Sanctification is the process of becoming more like Christ in our conduct and character. In Five Views on Sanctification , Protestant theologians explore these questions and share their understanding of how sanctification occurs. Melvin Dieter summarizes the Wesleyan View, the Reformed view is presented by Anthony Hoekema, Stanley Horton presents the Pentecostal view, J. Robertson McQuilkin reviews the Keswick position, and John Walvoord reviews the Augustinian-Dispensational view. A good systematic theologian exposes readers to the opinions of a number of scholars on any important issue. Five Views on Sanctification goes one step further and allows the reader to listen in as theologians debate their views on the role of the law, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the importance of spiritual experience, and other matters related to Christian growth.
Contributors begin each chapter by summarizing and defending their understanding of sanctification.
The other authors are then given a chance to respond. It is difficult for one writer to speak for an entire theological tradition. As a result, the summaries provided in this book do not always describe the perspective of individuals within a given tradition. Hoekema, for example, parts from traditional reformed theology in his interpretation of Rom. Most reformed theologians say the passage is about Paul's life as a Christian.