What do you think?
Rate this book
New Studies in Dogmatics
Sanctification
The holy has been defined existentially and sociologically, and churches too often allow their expectations regarding holiness to be prompted by existential aspirations or the social mores of the Christian community. Perhaps it is not surprising that many view holiness as accidental or expendable, even as a legalistic and conformist posture opposed to the freedom of the gospel. But sanctification is one of the gifts of the gospel of Jesus Christ, so we must think about the way in which he makes his redeemed holy as a grace.
Sanctification, the latest volume in the New Studies in Dogmatics series, patiently defines holiness in theological terms by tending to its connections with core Christian doctrines such as the character of God, the nature of creation, and the covenantal shape of life with God. It then considers the ways in which the gospel of Jesus not only prompt us to holy action but provides holiness as one of its blessings. Finally, it attends to the ways in which the gift of sanctification relates to various human instruments and means, so that we can appreciate its connection to human nature, creaturely responsibility, and the pedagogy of exemplars and of law. Sanctification offers a Christ-centered account of sanctification by viewing the doctrine within its wider canonical and creedal context, hoping to bring its distinctly Christian definition and thoroughly gracious character into greater relief.
New Studies in Dogmatics seeks to retrieve the riches of Christian doctrine for the sake of contemporary theological renewal. Following in the tradition of G. C. Berkouwer's Studies in Dogmatics, this series will provide thoughtful, concise, and readable treatments of major theological topics, expressing the biblical, creedal, and confessional shape of Christian doctrine for a contemporary evangelical audience. The editors and contributors share a common conviction that the way forward in constructive systematic theology lies in building upon the foundations laid in the church's historic understanding of the Word of God as professed in its creeds, councils, and confessions, and by its most trusted teachers.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2017
37 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
About the author
R. Michael Allen
28 books24 followersR. Michael Allen (PhD, Wheaton College) is Kennedy Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Knox Theological Seminary in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is ordained in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and is the author of several books.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 4, 2022
Seminar prep…but also, this was stellar. More readable than Horton….answers the questions about sanctification that many other gloss over. Looks uniquely at God’s Holiness and not simply ours. So great!
January 26, 2018
This book is special to me because it was a gift from a dear friend, who happens to Dr. Allen's mother :D
The most notable part of Michael Allen's work is his methodology. He seeks to understand sanctification in the matrix of several other key doctrines; he seeks to draw insights from the Catholic (basically meaning Augustinian tradition) and the Reformed tradition; he calls this Reformed Catholicity. I love this impulse in his writing. Additionally, he aims to be profoundly biblical and demonstrates an awareness of OT scholarship.
Notably, he avoids what modern scholarship has revealed to be a reductionistic definition of "the holiness of God" as merely meaning "moral purity." Instead, he argues that the OT teaches the holiness is a central attribute and refers, first, to God's ontological singularity and incomparability, which is the ground from which we affirm his incomparable moral purity. Though God is set apart in glorious majesty, Dr. Allen notes, the God of the Bible is present in holiness.
The most notable part of Michael Allen's work is his methodology. He seeks to understand sanctification in the matrix of several other key doctrines; he seeks to draw insights from the Catholic (basically meaning Augustinian tradition) and the Reformed tradition; he calls this Reformed Catholicity. I love this impulse in his writing. Additionally, he aims to be profoundly biblical and demonstrates an awareness of OT scholarship.
Notably, he avoids what modern scholarship has revealed to be a reductionistic definition of "the holiness of God" as merely meaning "moral purity." Instead, he argues that the OT teaches the holiness is a central attribute and refers, first, to God's ontological singularity and incomparability, which is the ground from which we affirm his incomparable moral purity. Though God is set apart in glorious majesty, Dr. Allen notes, the God of the Bible is present in holiness.
February 26, 2025
This is a deeply theocentric account of sanctification, and I would agree with pretty much everything Allen argues for here. Throughout the book Allen helpfully brings clarity to many passages from both testaments discussing the topic of sanctification. Definitely a fair bit of highlighting and underlining going on.
However, I did worry at times if he was missing the wood for the trees, at times I felt that his argument went so far into details that the broader topic of sanctification went missing in some of the discussion.
However, I did worry at times if he was missing the wood for the trees, at times I felt that his argument went so far into details that the broader topic of sanctification went missing in some of the discussion.
November 18, 2022
I am always happy to read Michael Allen’s work. To my mind, he is one of our day’s best theologians, diligently working to keep exegesis and dogmatics together. This book represents some of the best fruits of that holy marriage. Allen is an exceptionally keen reader of Scripture. His exegetical insights are always welcome and I feel like I become a better reader of Scripture when I watch how he interacts with it. For that, this book is a must-read for any interested Christian.
At the outset, Allen tells us that he wants to explore “evangelical holiness” (a concept he borrows from Owen) by relocating the question of holiness to a subsequent consideration; first, we must frame all theological talk in light of the gospel. Seen this way, holiness is not simply something we strive to attain: more fundamentally, it is a gift, something brought into existence by God’s justifying declaration. Holiness is as much a goal as it is our starting point. This sets the agenda for the rest of the book: what does holiness look like when we consider it indirectly?
Allen’s work bears all the virtues of typical dogmatic works. Setting one theological topic in relation to other doctrines (Allen looks at the question of “holiness” with respect to God, creation covenant, incarnation, etc.) shows how rich a texture a doctrine like “sanctification” can have when it is shown to be derivative of other doctrines (As Bavinck says, dogmatics is about God and all things in relation to God!). Allen says it like this, “an evangelical account of the holy requires a steady focus upon the holiness of God, that is, the holiness of the inner triune life, so that its communication to creatures can be registered as truly gracious” (23). The reality of God’s aseity demonstrates how God’s grace must be central to any doctrine of sanctification. Similarly, sanctification cannot be properly understood apart from a robust doctrine of union for Christ. Christ is not merely the One who makes us holy -- He is the context in which we enjoy the gracious blessings of God. Christology, then, “remains determinative and constitutive for the Christian life” (167). As Allen’s volume so clearly shows: doctrinal exposition must be set within a larger dogmatic framework for us to fully see the theological colors with which Scripture paints.
Each of the chapters features thick and lucid descriptions of the doctrinal topic at hand. In order to get at sanctification, Allen works his way through the aforementioned loci and engages in rich exegesis all along the way, helping us to connect it to the Reformed catholic exegetical/theological tradition. In his chapter on the incarnation, Allen relates Leviticus and Matthew to make a case for how the Old Testament ritual laws anticipate the incarnation of Christ. Then he spins out how Owen and Bavinck temper a few of Aquinas' legitimate insights with their Reformed theology. In this example, Aquinas doesn't account for the extent of sin and teaches that our good works merit God's reparative grace. While Owen and Bavinck agree that "grace perfects nature," they, with their covenant theology in tow, better account for reparative and perfecting grace. A ceaseless interplay between rich exegesis and doctrinal exposition penetrates the book, which greatly expands this reader's knowledge of Scripture, theology, and historical theology, all at once.
Another consistently great and small feature of this book is how often Allen carefully and thoughtfully weighs into intra-Reformed discussions. For example, he addresses the popular theological metaphor of “participation” and draws out its relationship to union with Christ. Though Allen rightfully notes that “participation” has a real and important pedigree in Reformed theology, he also carefully tempers this notion with election and covenant, thus avoiding universalism and/or pantheism. We are not generically “in Christ,” but covenantally so. For my money, his chapter on union with Christ was the best chapter in the book, especially his section on union with Christ in Calvin. Addressing grace and nature, Allen again levels caution about a triumphalistic “Grace does not destroy but perfects nature,” as this maxim is “meant to note the limits, not the intrinsic glory, of nature” (224). Finally, Allen (all too briefly) addresses the question of “infused habits.” In short, infused habits are real because of Christ’s rule and care for His Body: “His action, so far from undermining the habits . . . of his people, actually enervates and enlivens such habits and dispositions” (251).
This was an excellent book, though I have a few brief criticisms. As with some dogmatics, it feels like Allen does so much work on the doctrinal loci leading up to sanctification that the actual chapters on sanctification seem truncated and underdeveloped. His final three chapters (basically sanctification considered under three aspects) make up a mere third of the book. It’s wrong to say Allen hadn’t been discussing sanctification all along in the book, though it’s not quite right to say that he ever fully develops a theology of sanctification, either. Secondly, I was disappointed to not see a chapter dedicated to ecclesiology. Webster’s small volume on holiness (a book Allen regularly references) has a significant chapter on the holiness of the church. I was a little disappointed to not see this move mimicked and transposed into the more-obviously-Reformed key of Allen’s work. Finally, a minor criticism, but an important one (I think!): these dogmatic volumes need to end with how all of this impacts the church, especially in her preaching ministry. How does all of this fit into the life of the local church and the Ministry of the Word therein?
As always, Allen is worth the read. Brilliant, judicious, and an exceptional writer, Allen is a man who loves Christ and His Word. He helps me to love both more, too.
At the outset, Allen tells us that he wants to explore “evangelical holiness” (a concept he borrows from Owen) by relocating the question of holiness to a subsequent consideration; first, we must frame all theological talk in light of the gospel. Seen this way, holiness is not simply something we strive to attain: more fundamentally, it is a gift, something brought into existence by God’s justifying declaration. Holiness is as much a goal as it is our starting point. This sets the agenda for the rest of the book: what does holiness look like when we consider it indirectly?
Allen’s work bears all the virtues of typical dogmatic works. Setting one theological topic in relation to other doctrines (Allen looks at the question of “holiness” with respect to God, creation covenant, incarnation, etc.) shows how rich a texture a doctrine like “sanctification” can have when it is shown to be derivative of other doctrines (As Bavinck says, dogmatics is about God and all things in relation to God!). Allen says it like this, “an evangelical account of the holy requires a steady focus upon the holiness of God, that is, the holiness of the inner triune life, so that its communication to creatures can be registered as truly gracious” (23). The reality of God’s aseity demonstrates how God’s grace must be central to any doctrine of sanctification. Similarly, sanctification cannot be properly understood apart from a robust doctrine of union for Christ. Christ is not merely the One who makes us holy -- He is the context in which we enjoy the gracious blessings of God. Christology, then, “remains determinative and constitutive for the Christian life” (167). As Allen’s volume so clearly shows: doctrinal exposition must be set within a larger dogmatic framework for us to fully see the theological colors with which Scripture paints.
Each of the chapters features thick and lucid descriptions of the doctrinal topic at hand. In order to get at sanctification, Allen works his way through the aforementioned loci and engages in rich exegesis all along the way, helping us to connect it to the Reformed catholic exegetical/theological tradition. In his chapter on the incarnation, Allen relates Leviticus and Matthew to make a case for how the Old Testament ritual laws anticipate the incarnation of Christ. Then he spins out how Owen and Bavinck temper a few of Aquinas' legitimate insights with their Reformed theology. In this example, Aquinas doesn't account for the extent of sin and teaches that our good works merit God's reparative grace. While Owen and Bavinck agree that "grace perfects nature," they, with their covenant theology in tow, better account for reparative and perfecting grace. A ceaseless interplay between rich exegesis and doctrinal exposition penetrates the book, which greatly expands this reader's knowledge of Scripture, theology, and historical theology, all at once.
Another consistently great and small feature of this book is how often Allen carefully and thoughtfully weighs into intra-Reformed discussions. For example, he addresses the popular theological metaphor of “participation” and draws out its relationship to union with Christ. Though Allen rightfully notes that “participation” has a real and important pedigree in Reformed theology, he also carefully tempers this notion with election and covenant, thus avoiding universalism and/or pantheism. We are not generically “in Christ,” but covenantally so. For my money, his chapter on union with Christ was the best chapter in the book, especially his section on union with Christ in Calvin. Addressing grace and nature, Allen again levels caution about a triumphalistic “Grace does not destroy but perfects nature,” as this maxim is “meant to note the limits, not the intrinsic glory, of nature” (224). Finally, Allen (all too briefly) addresses the question of “infused habits.” In short, infused habits are real because of Christ’s rule and care for His Body: “His action, so far from undermining the habits . . . of his people, actually enervates and enlivens such habits and dispositions” (251).
This was an excellent book, though I have a few brief criticisms. As with some dogmatics, it feels like Allen does so much work on the doctrinal loci leading up to sanctification that the actual chapters on sanctification seem truncated and underdeveloped. His final three chapters (basically sanctification considered under three aspects) make up a mere third of the book. It’s wrong to say Allen hadn’t been discussing sanctification all along in the book, though it’s not quite right to say that he ever fully develops a theology of sanctification, either. Secondly, I was disappointed to not see a chapter dedicated to ecclesiology. Webster’s small volume on holiness (a book Allen regularly references) has a significant chapter on the holiness of the church. I was a little disappointed to not see this move mimicked and transposed into the more-obviously-Reformed key of Allen’s work. Finally, a minor criticism, but an important one (I think!): these dogmatic volumes need to end with how all of this impacts the church, especially in her preaching ministry. How does all of this fit into the life of the local church and the Ministry of the Word therein?
As always, Allen is worth the read. Brilliant, judicious, and an exceptional writer, Allen is a man who loves Christ and His Word. He helps me to love both more, too.
January 24, 2018
Great read. The chapter on the relationship between justification and sanctification is worth the price of the book.
April 25, 2019
This book is erudite, biblically rooted, and articulate. As we've come to expect from Michael Allen, he navigates the contours of and issues surrounding a doctrine with clarity and sophistication, refusing to take an easy course even if his cohorts do. The reason for not giving this work 5 stars is that at points his treatment was repetitive. Owen and Calvin are significant figures with whom Allen engages, and, though not cited as much, it is clear that much of Berkouwer's same treatment of the topic stands in the background to Allen's, with the latter filling out and further developing the former's.
January 5, 2024
Decent, wide ranging but loose around the edges. Explores the interrelation of Sanctification and the christian life in general with the full range of Theological Loci, in places feels like it would benefit from sharper/tighter conclusions and clearer indications of how to think about applying these truths.
Whilst I didn't fully agree with his position, the discussion of Nature and Grace was very helpful as was the discussion of the importance of distinguishing Justification and Sanctification. On the weaker end, the material on union with Christ felt rather vague.
Whilst I didn't fully agree with his position, the discussion of Nature and Grace was very helpful as was the discussion of the importance of distinguishing Justification and Sanctification. On the weaker end, the material on union with Christ felt rather vague.
June 8, 2021
This one was a slower read, and definitely not what I was expecting going in. Allen starts at the beginning and walks you slowly through creation, the nature of God, the fall, covenants, atonement, and union with Christ to approach the topic of sanctification. While some of the controversies and Greek went over my head, I did appreciate the wisdom I could glean as I thought about holiness, who works in sanctification, and the law.
February 17, 2021
I was disappointed in this book. I was hoping to learn something about sanctification that I didn't know already. I was hoping for encouragement to live the Christian life, but didn't see a whole lot there either (at least not for me).
I am currently reading A Radical Comprehensive Call to Holiness by Beeke/Barrett. This particular book had been a real encouragement to me.
I am currently reading A Radical Comprehensive Call to Holiness by Beeke/Barrett. This particular book had been a real encouragement to me.
May 29, 2020
A significant dogmatic meditation on sanctification. Allen's whole work is a treasure trove of biblical and theological reflections on this subject, but the final three chapters alone (Grace and Nature, Grace and Responsibility, and Grace and Discipline) are worth the "price of admission".
January 25, 2020
Great good. Some of the exegesis can be repetitive, but might have been necessary.
June 5, 2021
Sanctification by Michael Allen
Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
This audio lecture reminded me of the worst features of homilies I heard during my Catholic childhood in the 1970s: lots of high level references to glory, love and grace with very little concrete detail to engage the mind in something more than a kind of revery.
I thought this was a discussion of Catholic views on sanctification until I looked up Zondervan to learn that it is a "Christian," i.e., Protestant publisher. That certainly explains the otherwise ecumenical references to Calvin and Luther and the effort to explain away problems in their approaches.
Ultimately, I never really got a firm grip on the Protestant view of sanctification. Certainly, it is part of the process of making oneself holier - or having God make one holier - or cooperating with God in making oneself holier, but we don't get any idea of how that works or what the believer's role is in that process or even what it means to be holier in any concrete sense.
That may arise from the nebulous position that sanctification plays in Protestant soteriology. If "faith alone" saves and that happens in justification, then, as one Protestant said, the rest of one's life seems to involve something of "running out the clock."
Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
This audio lecture reminded me of the worst features of homilies I heard during my Catholic childhood in the 1970s: lots of high level references to glory, love and grace with very little concrete detail to engage the mind in something more than a kind of revery.
I thought this was a discussion of Catholic views on sanctification until I looked up Zondervan to learn that it is a "Christian," i.e., Protestant publisher. That certainly explains the otherwise ecumenical references to Calvin and Luther and the effort to explain away problems in their approaches.
Ultimately, I never really got a firm grip on the Protestant view of sanctification. Certainly, it is part of the process of making oneself holier - or having God make one holier - or cooperating with God in making oneself holier, but we don't get any idea of how that works or what the believer's role is in that process or even what it means to be holier in any concrete sense.
That may arise from the nebulous position that sanctification plays in Protestant soteriology. If "faith alone" saves and that happens in justification, then, as one Protestant said, the rest of one's life seems to involve something of "running out the clock."
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews