Chapter 8 – Holiness of Heart and Life: Sanctification
1. What are the distinctions and similarities between holiness and sanctification?
Holiness is “the presence or character of God reflected especially in the quality of human beings’ moral and spiritual lives, while “sanctification”: is the process by which human being are made holy” (p. 79, Campbell and Burns). Wesley believed that there is an inward and outward holiness. Inward holiness is when the individual seek to reflect God’s love in their live. Outward holiness is reflection of God’s love as witness to other people. Holiness is the normal state of being that a person is trying to return to. Sanctification is the process in which a person seeks to obtain holiness. Holiness is a deep intense personal relationship with God’s love.
2. How is the doctrine of faith related to the doctrine of sanctification?
Faith is the way an individual responds to the grace of God. Faith is only possible through God and cannot be obtained without God. “Faith is the appropriate way, in which humans respond to the provenience, justifying, and sanctifying grace of God. Human being can and must be collaborators with God in the great work of redemption”(p. 78, Campbell and Burns). Wesley believe that sanctification is by faith and that faith is only possible through the grace of God towards us.
3. What is the distinction between imputed and imparted righteousness?
Imputed righteousness is “what Scripture requires is a change in character and a change in the state of the relationship between God and humans” (p. 81, Campbell and Burns). God does not just say you’re forgiven but actually changes you from the inside out. “God not only declares us holy by granting pardon and forgiveness of s...
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...ent cultural backgrounds?
We, as a congregation, openly exposes the congregation to different cultures from around the country though the adjustment of worship service. We visit a Jewish Rabi during Passover to get a better understanding of the importance and reverence of this festival. We are currently talking to an African American Church in our area where we will exchange pastor twice a year for a Sunday worship experience. We are working to develop a Sunday Evening worship service to meet the needs of young families who are unable to attend Sunday morning worship. We expose the people in the congregation to worship quarterly at the retirement community close to the church by going there for an afternoon worship service.
Works Cited
1. Ted A. Campbell and Michael T. Burns., 2004, Wesleyan Essentials in a Multicultural Society. Abingdon Press, Nashville, TN.
Takaki, R. T. (1993). A different mirror: A history of multicultural America. Boston: Little, Brown & Co.
In Paul Tillich’s 1957 work Dynamics of Faith, he mentions that there are six major components of faith. These six components of faith describe the Franciscan perspective of “faith”. According to Tillich, the first component of faith is “the state of being ultimately concerned”. The second component of faith is that it is supposed to be at the center of all of our personal lives and everything that we do throughout our own individual lives. The third component of faith is that we should have an awareness for “infinite” things such as God himself. The fourth component of faith is that we need to understand that faith can act as fear, fascination, or both of these qualities at the same time. The fifth component of faith is that doubt is a major product that will always exist with faith. The last component of faith is that we need a community in order to have a “language of faith”.
...Multiculturalism: Essential Primary Sources. Ed. K. Lee Lerner, Brenda Wilmoth Lerner, and Adrienne Wilmoth Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2006. 353-355. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 11 Apr. 2014
Takaki, Ronald T. A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America. Boston: Little, Brown &, 1993. Print.
Kottak, Conrad Phillip and Kayhryn Kozaitis 2012 On Being Different, Diversity and Multiculturalism in the North American Mainstream, 4th edition, McGraw Hill Press, New York: Chapter 1.
Wesley notes however that he is truly focusing only on the idea of salvation that the “Apostle” speaks on, which is only made up of justification and sanctification. Wesley explains justification as the pardon of sins by God once we have accepted God and we then come to know the peace of God and the joy therein. He then goes on to explain that sanctification is
Spring, Joel H. “Chapter 6: Student Diversity.” American Education. Sixth ed. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 145. Print.
In The Pursuit of Holiness, the author, Jerry Bridges, shows the Christian what it looks like to be truly holy. Holiness is to live a life of conformity to God’s will. Holiness is a joint effort between God and his people, it is not something God just gives us when we accept Him into our lives. Many times Christians neglect the responsibility we have of moving towards God and pursuing holiness. Holiness is not something that is fully attainable, it is a constant pursuit to be like God.
On the issue of predestination Wesley held that “God has decreed that those who believe will be saved; those who do not believe will not be saved” (p. 174, Abraham). Wesley went ever farther in the “God makes the decree, but the decree does not exclude genuine human agency and freedom; indeed, it builds the exercise of such freedom into the very content of the decree” (p. 174, Abraham). He held that if one would come to God that they should have no doubts about their salvation. God has a drive for our salvation but it is an active choice that we must make, even those God knows what the decision will be from the very beginning.
Ugbu, J., U. (1992). Understanding cultural diversity and learning. EDUC 160 Urban Education (Spring 2014, pp. 213-228)
Thessalonians 4:3 says, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified” It is God’s goal for his people is to be blameless and holy. Once saved, we are no longer prisoner of our sin and sanctification begins. Sanctification is a process and not instantaneous. It involves you and God to make you free from sin. The process is striving to live a Christian life-style according to the word of God. In order to continue sanctification we have to put forth effort into our transformation by putting away vices and renewing our mind to be holy and just. Sanctification affects us and everyone around us and brings peace and joy into our lives. It makes us become an example to help fellowship with others in Christ and to support and grow with each other. As we grow in holiness, we aim to reflect Christ.
Wesley affirmed and thought essential was justification by faith alone, Wesley's emphasis was slightly different because he insisted that faith cannot mean only assent but must engage the heart and affections.
Manning, L. & Baruth. L. (2009). Multicultural education of children and adolescents (5th Ed.). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
Anderson, M, L, Taylor, H, F. (2008). Sociology. Understanding a Diversity Society. Thomson Higher Education. Belmont. (USA). Fourth Edition.
Garcia, E. (2002). Student cultural diversity: Understanding and meeting the challenge (3rd Ed.). New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.