Possessed by God: A New Testament theology of sanctification and holiness

New Studies in Biblical Theology #1

by David G. Peterson, D.A. Carson (Series Editor)

In this New Studies in Biblical Theology volume, David Peterson challenges the common assumption that the New Testament views sanctification as primarily a process. He argues that its emphasis falls upon sanctification as a definitive event, "God's way of taking possession of us in Christ, setting us apart to belong to him and to fulfill his purpose for us." Simply to identify sanctification with growth and holiness, he contends, obscures the emphasis and balance of New Testament teaching and creates unrealistic expectations. Throughout this study Peterson builds his case on the careful exegesis of relevant passages, with a keen eye for the pastoral implications of his findings. Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understand their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.

Genres: Theology, Biblical Studies, Christian, New Testament, Christian Living

191 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

David Peterson was senior research fellow and lecturer in New Testament at Moore Theological College, Sydney, where he still teaches part time. He served as principal of Oak Hill College, London, from 1996 to 2007. His books include Engaging with God, Possessed by God (both IVP) and Hebrews and Perfection (Cambridge University Press).

Reviews

[Glen O'Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an excellent treatment of the New Testament material on sanctification and I used it as one of the texts for a biblical theology unit I taught at Booth College on sanctification. However, I do feel quite ambivalent about its use in that context. While it deals admirably with all of the key texts on sanctification, providing good exegetical studies along the way, it is marred by an apparent need to criticise (and often unfairly) those in the Wesleyan theological tradition. The author will often portray Wesleyans as holding to sinless perfectionism overlooking the nuances of perfectionist teaching within the tradition. Ironically his own findings in discussing certain passages are sometimes fully in line with Wesleyan views. The book is also a critique of the author's own Reformed tradition, at least its Puritan heritage which has placed great stress on holiness as a mark of the elect. The characteristic Puritan stress on "progressive sanctification" (mortification and vivification) the author sees as unhelpful because it places, he says, an unhelpful burden on believers and obscures the completed work of Christ in their lives. Since the New Testament is primarily concerned with the positional holiness of believers we should place the stress on the instantaneousness of sanctification not its progressive features. Christ's death secures believers as the holy ones of God, set apart as belonging to him. That is a completed action that cannot be taken away from or added to. That is all good so far as it goes but Peterson does not do justice to the frequently found imperatives within the New Testament to "perfect [it's a verb here] holiness in the fear of God," to "live a life worthy of the calling you have received," etc. Believers are "saints" yes, but saints "called to be holy." Holiness in the New Testament must be understood as holding the positional and the experiential together. This was something Calvin certainly understood and it is a pity that this particular Reformed theologian seems to have departed from that emphasis here. I wish there were a book that did as good a job as this at interpreting the New Testament material on sanctification without the need to engage in an unnecessary and often unfounded polemic against Wesleyan theology.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was paradigm shifting for me. Even though I had often observed that the Bible uses "sanctified" in the past tense I did not know that this is the way it is used the majority of the time in the Bible. Our sanctification is so much more than just our maturation in Christ--there is a huge part of it that has already been accomplished for us at the cross--it is what makes us holy and able to be called "saints." This reality of our new identity in Christ then provides the motivation for holy living, which is also a crucial part of sanctification. This book is a clear call for us to start learning and speaking about sanctification in the way that the Bible actually uses the word--if any of this interests you, this book is a must read!

[Sonny · Rating 4 out of 5]

― “…sanctification in the New Testament is an integral part of the redemptive work of Christ. It is regularly portrayed as a once-for-all, definitive act and primarily has to do with the holy status or position of those who are in Christ.”
― David Peterson, Possessed by God: A New Testament Theology of Sanctification and Holiness

If you were to ask the average evangelical Christian to define sanctification, I suspect that the overwhelming majority would describe it as the process of becoming more like Christ.

My son is in his fourteenth year on staff with CRU (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) at a university in Virginia. The following is how CRU defines sanctification on their website (https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-g...

"Sanctification is a process.
It doesn’t happen all at once. Christians don’t immediately become loving, kind, humble and self-controlled. As a process, sanctification means becoming more holy through time. Like a child growing up into adulthood, Christians become more sanctified over time."

The question is whether that or similar definitions of sanctification accurately reflect the teaching of Scripture. In his work Possessed by God, author David Peterson cogently argues that the New Testament emphasizes sanctification as a definitive event that takes place at the time of conversion.

― “The popular view that sanctification is a process of moral renewal and change, following justification, is not the emphasis of the New Testament.”
― David Peterson, Possessed by God: A New Testament Theology of Sanctification and Holiness

One of his most effective arguments is the use of the perfect passive participle in the expression ‘sanctified by the Holy Spirit’ found in Romans 15:16 (Gk. hēgiasmenē en pneumati hagiō). A perfect passive participle describes an action that happened to a noun in the past. This same perfect passive participle is used in Acts 20:32 and Acts 26:18, suggesting that “sanctification is the state or condition of those who receive God’s forgiveness by trusting in Christ.”

― “The Spirit, having sanctified God’s people through belief in the gospel, continues to motivate and enable them to offer themselves in his service in a ‘holy and acceptable’ way.”
― David Peterson, Possessed by God: A New Testament Theology of Sanctification and Holiness

It helped me to think about the numerous instruments or vessels (bowls, cups, spoons, etc.) that were used to carry out worship in the tabernacle and in Solomon’s temple. The vessels were made of pure gold and bronze and were dedicated to the Lord. They were only to be used by the priest and for purposes of worshipping God. The people were to demonstrate to the world what it means to live under the direct rule of God. Thus God referred to them as “my treasured possession” (Exodus 19:5-6); thus the title of the book.

According to 1 Samuel 21:5, 1 Kings 8:4, 1 Chronicles 22:19, and 2 Chronicles 5:5 these vessels were called holy vessels. These instruments and vessels were designed and prepared for specific uses and were not to be used otherwise. The priest was instructed to anoint the altar and all its utensils, and he was to consecrate the altar and instruments so that they would become holy.

According to Romans 9, the Lord's people are described as vessels of honor and vessels of mercy. According to Romans 6:12, 13, we are to yield our bodies as instruments of righteousness in the service of God. Paul warns us not to pollute our vessels in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7. Like the instruments used for worship in the tabernacle, Christians are sanctified and made holy at conversion as holy vessels in the service of God. We are set apart for service and for his purposes.

Does that mean that believers don’t mature and grow in the time between conversion and glorification? Not at all. Peterson maintains that “Scripture certainly envisages a process of spiritual maturation and urges progress in godliness.” He argues that “renewal and change flow from the regeneration and sanctification that God has already accomplished in our lives” (emphasis mine). But, he maintains that the New Testament “employs the language of renewal, transformation and growth to describe what God is doing with us here and now.”

― “The Spirit’s regenerative work brings us to faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. This sanctifies us by consecrating us to God in a new and exclusive relationship of heart-obedience. The Spirit’s renewing work continues in us as we trust in what Christ has done for us and seek to reflect in our lives the practical consequences of our union with Christ in his death and resurrection.”
― David Peterson, Possessed by God: A New Testament Theology of Sanctification and Holiness

Peterson leaves the reader with a warning:

― “History shows that, when the terminology of sanctification is simply used to describe everything that happens to us after conversion, the definitive emphasis of the New Testament is soon obscured.”
― David Peterson, Possessed by God: A New Testament Theology of Sanctification and Holiness

Possessed by God was the first in the New Studies in Biblical Theology series published by Inter Varsity Press, addressing key issues in biblical theology. I have found these books most helpful in understanding important theological principles. While I found Peterson’s topic to be both important and forcefully argued, the writing was dense, making it difficult to absorb. It slowed me down considerably. It was not unusual to spend an hour to read four pages.

[Cameron McCartney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful overview of sanctification, holiness and regeneration. Whilst I do think this book had a lot of important points to make, I think a lot of it went over my head, which is a shame.

I liked how the author used visual diagrams to explain what he is talking about because this is a confusing topic and at times I was a bit confused with his wording.

Main take-aways; 1) I need to be careful with the use of the words sanctification and regeneration, they seem to mean something a bit different! 2) I liked how this book was so grounded in the gospel, Christ has sanctified us and we now live out this sanctification through regeneration throughout life, leading to full holiness in glory.

[Gwilym Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

In many ways, this is outstanding. I particularly benefitted from the treatment of Hebrews, although there are enormously helpful expositions of 2 Corinthians 3-4, Romans 6-8, 1 Corinthians, Colossians and Ephesians as well. The writing style (slightly tepidly matter of fact) doesn't live up to the quality of the content (always good, sometimes thrilling) though - and that knocks off a star for me. Glad to have reread it!

[Tim Norman]

As a student of the Bible, I love this series. A top-level scholar takes a theme and traces it through the Bible, discussing both theological and practical issues along the way. This volume was one of the first in the series. Peterson looks at sanctification and holiness. He argues that sanctification in the NT has far more to do with what God has done for us in Christ than to describe our moral progression as believers.

I appreciate his handling of important and relevant passages. He brings Calvin into the conversation and Wesley a little, but few others from church history.

[James Tetley · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a long time my Christian walk was filled with guilt and failure that I was not changing. This book helps clearly show the finished work of Christ establishes our sanctification. We are 100 percent set apart. And now the great journey begins of mind renewal of walking with the Spirit, of being aware of the flesh, of living out of the grace and person of Christ. This helpful book blows out of the water the idea that I grow by my effort or making myself holy. Because of the amazing work of Christ I live out of that till I see him face to face. Thus removing so much internal pressure and condemnation from the Christian life.

[Nate Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty important study on the themes of sanctification, renewal, and glorification in scripture. Peterson considers the biblical data carefully and lays out the implications clearly, and the result is what I think is a significant change in direction for the doctrine of sanctification. On top of it all, this is a pretty simple read and the methodology that Peterson employs is very easy to follow. Make sure to read with an open Bible.

[Nolan Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good at dismantling the modern view of sanctification as moral progress, and going into the epistles to show that sanctification is just as accomplished as justification. It was well worth the read.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly instructive and helpful read. Peterson brings a particular precision to the holiness/sanctification discussion that is neither common nor, generally speaking, built on presuppositions generated by commitments to a theological system.

Highly recommended if you don’t mind something that’s a bit more technical than your typical Christian living book.

[Paul Wichert · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the series indicates, this is a very exegetical book. It surveys the Scriptures' use of holiness and sanctification language and serves to reorient the focus onto the believer's identity and status in Christ (definitive or positional sanctification) from the transformative (progressive) aspects of sanctification. Peterson places this latter aspect in it's proper context of expressing or fulfilling the responsibilities of our new status in Christ. "Sanctification is about being possessed by God and expressing that distinctive and exclusive relationship by the way we live." (p.48). The book proceeds exegetically (Greek and Hebrew are transliterated) through some very important passages, especially Rom 6-8, from which Peterson draws his conclusions and summaries from these texts. Each of the six chapters has a helpful "Conclusions" section which draw together the main points of the chapter. I would suggest reading this book with your Bible open as much of the discussion refers to the relevant texts and contexts. Peterson's point is that the emphasis of the NT is not on sanctification as primarily "a process of moral renewal and change," but rather "describing what it means to be converted or brought to God in Christ and kept in that relationship." Some of his points were quite nuanced, but this is a good book for reflection on our identity in Christ and great for better understanding this important biblical subject. The writing was very clear and organized, but some of the discussion topics were slightly advanced. This is a great series of books so far.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not a light read. You need to be awake and be willing to read slow. Basically, the author's big idea is that sanctification is mainly a one-time act of God consecrating you, setting you apart at the same time as justification. It isn't an ongoing process. He would prefer to use others biblical words for the daily battle to become more like Christ. This battle is what we do in the power of the Spirit to live up to who we are as sanctified.

At points, it seems like an issue of semantics. He just wants you to use a different word for being transformed into the image of Christ than "being sanctified." Because if it is a one time event, you wouldn't keep doing it over and over on a daily basis.

There is much more to the book. He does his homework and is familiar with the Greek text and I do appreciate his sensitivity to context and not just playing a game of lexicon wars.

I found his appendices to be quite helpful because they made his case in a concise way.

[Trevor Binkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and straightforward exegesis of key passages sho that we have misunderstood and misused the language of sanctification. The NT speaks of us being definitively sanctified by Christ, He has set us apart.

The language of renewal, transformation, and growth is what the NT uses not sanctification as an ongoing process. Though this may seem like a semantics issue, the confusion of terms has often led to an understanding of growth that we need to work towards rather than the emphasis being on the completeness of Christ's work. Our role is to come back time and time again and remember His sanctifying work on the cross, and we look forward to the final resurrection when we will be perfected with Him in glory when He renews all things.

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree with the broad premise of the book denying that "progressive sanctification" is really a category in Scripture, but much of his prose seems to mix language and remains a little confusing.

Nevertheless, at some points he is very clear, especially where he delineates between "renewal"/new life/growth language and sanctification/holiness/set-apartness language.

He also does seem to be a little too tied to theological categories, from my layman's perspective, which probably doesn't mean much.

[Joshua Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting thesis, got a bit repetitive by the end. Exegetically, this take on sanctification makes a lot of sense on some passages, I suppose my criticism would be that the writers of Holy Scripture weren't doing Systematic Theology, and we shouldn't expect them to have a neatly defined concept of Sanctification. The term seems to be used in a more liquid sense in scripture - so, even if i did accept the thesis of the book, I would still be happy to refer to Renewal as 'Sanctification', as its the agreed upon term in systematics.

[Nathan Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a challenging read because of the dense content. However, it was also fruitful. Peterson's conclusion is basically that sanctification is less a process and more an instantaneous reality upon one's faith in Christ. Therefore, we don't work to become holy, but because we're holy, we orient ourselves to the things of God. Great read for my spiritual growth. He did make certain presumptions that seemed unnecessary for the flow of the book.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good BT on sanctification, showing that the NT's stress is more on the one-time definitive aspect of being sanctified rather than the process of it. Helpful exegesis of passages particularly in Hebrews and 1 Thess.

[Vaughn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. Thoroughly researched and persuasive in its position that renewal and transformation are more accurate terms than progressive sanctification.

Highly recommended.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful review of the way the New Testament uses the language of sanctification. But there were times I felt the author overstated his case.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple yet thorough exposition of the doctrine of sanctification in which Peterson seeks to correct common misconceptions about the doctrine.

[David M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t outright disagree with anything in regards to the central argument of this book. I merely found it to be a tedious exercise in splitting hairs.

The thesis is an argument that sanctification is binary, rather than gradated. It's an "on/off", "in/out" situation. He places sanctification alongside justification as something that happens at the inner rebirth. Stated simply, according to Peterson, gradual renewal ≠ sanctification, but is rather an outworking of it. Just as works express and reflect faith, so renewal expresses and reflects the sanctification that has happened.

All of this I take no issue with. He just took 150 pages to say it.

I don't like writing negatively about books in which the author seems to have great intentions and be a devout believer (and therefore I write long reviews with plenty of qualifications). I get the sense that Peterson loves Christ and is seeking to serve, and to that end, I stand by my brother. I do need to list the items I didn't love, and they fall under three categories:


1. Trying to prove Calvin
2. Imbalanced weights
3. Muddled eschatology


Starting with Calvin
There seems to be a trend with books in a certain vein (and several in this series) of starting with Calvin rather than from baseline. Somewhere halfway through the book I find the author to accidentally let a sub-conscious sub-thesis slip, and it turns out to be trying to write a contemporary defense for some position of Calvin's.

Imbalance
Peterson knows better than I the excesses and misunderstandings he is trying to refute with his argument, but I fear he has left too much room for error on the other side. In assuring us with many and many different phrasings that we are once-and-for-all sanctified, to no effort of our own, and with nothing we can do to increase or decrease our standing, he puts to rest definitively human effort. I fear, however, he also accidentally buries the seed for a different problem: not trying. He attempts to state that there is still a need to display the outworking of sanctification with pure actions in life, but I fear that at points the arguments were just muddy.

Eschatology
There was a strong mix of inaugurationalism and not-yetism with a strong hint of supercessionism. I agreed with some of the concluding statements, but his preceding eschatological statements left me either unsure of where he stands, or sure that I disagree. Men are entitled to disagree on eschatology, though, I suppose.

Conclusion: fine book, but not one I'd be quick to recommend. Again, Peterson seems like a really nice guy.

[Tim Callicutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this is a decent overview of the biblical literature on sanctification.

In terms of praxis, Peterson doesn’t provide anything that shifts my beliefs. He has a few insights here and there that help connect some dots, but my overall experience of the book was a genial nod of agreement.

I feel like the highest level of his argument didn’t make a lot of sense to me. I will readily admit that I wasn’t attuned enough to academic discussions around this topic to fully understand the emphasis of his argument. But what it seems is that he wanted to change the language we use to discuss what a post-salvation life looks like. By filing every part of that life under the term “sanctification,” he fears that we risk creating a false image of how we grow in glory on this side of eternity. Instead, he argues that sanctification is closely married to the initial salvation of a believer and is more a statement about how God consecrates us as his own. The following process of spiritual maturity, then, is best labeled “glorification” and is decidedly not a straight line.

So where’s my qualm? In the immortal words of Hamlet: “words, words, words.” I’m not sure I quite understand the hyper-focus on what’s labeled what in this instance. His actual dive into the biblical texts and his description of the process of glorification more than justifies the existence of this book. However, engaging in a high level argument about differentiating between sanctification and glorification doesn’t hit the same way. His fear that using “sanctification” as an umbrella terms encourages us to 1) overly rely on our own works and initiative to grow in the Spirit, and 2) diminish the reality of the war between the old and new creation within us, still stands even if you relabel it “glorification.” A new name doesn’t take away an age-old problem. Actually pushing the teaching of the scriptures, as he does through most of the book, would be more helpful.

Also, my personal bias gets in the way here. I tend to think of salvation/glorification as a largely interconnected process that can’t readily be disentangled into composite parts. In fact, one reason I appreciate this book is because it more or less reinforces that assessment. Don’t get me wrong, there’s some use in differentiating between justification, sanctification, and glorification, but there’s a limit to how helpful that is. Paul seems to assume that you can’t really have one of these without the others, so hard lines aren’t really the most helpful in discussing them, as long as the believing community understands that is not through our power, but through Christ’s in which this all happens.

Anyways, that’s my two cents. I do like the book! It covers most of the NT literature related to sanctification in a succinct way while still offering valuable commentary throughout.

[Chakib Miraoui · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Australian theologican knows his subject, the argumebts and analysis behind every chapter are stretched to their limits confidently, from sanctification, to holiness and glory.

We begin with the first chapter about sanctification in the OT, the giving of the law was an expression of god's mercy and grace and a sign of his intention to dwell among his people as ‘the Holy One'. Our universe is like a vast temple dedicated to God's use and the display of his glory.. God’s ‘offspring’ would be holy because of his actions on their behalf.

Later on comes our Christ, and shepherd, Hebrews 10:10–18 suggests that the verb ‘to sanctify’ is primarily employed in a covenantal sense. Christ’s sacrifice binds men and women to God in a new relationship of heart-obedience

The faithful are renewed in faith and sincerity towards God. Only the cleansing provided by Christ can definitively free us to worship or serve the living God in a way that pleases him and truly honours him.
Such worship cannot be restricted to prayer and praise, important though these activities may be in a genuine relationship with God. it is clear that we are to worship God by faithful obedience and service in every aspect of our lives. Such a radical re-orientation of heart and life can only come about when people are moved by gratitude for receiving the benefits of the gospel.

God sanctifies the faithful with his Spirit abd word through jesus christ, abd this is the subject of the third chapter.

Does the fullness of the Holy Spirit in the sanctified life freed one ‘only from the dominion of sin or also from the presence of sin in the heart’?
God's sanctifying work is so closely linked to his ‘cleansing’ . Like the metaphor of ‘washing’ in 1 Corinthians 6:11, or ‘cleansing’ in Hebrews 9:13–14; 10:22, this may be a way of talking about the effect of God’s forgiveness on those who believe the gospel.

Everything in the Christian life, from beginning to end, is made possible by Jesus’ self-giving in death (Eph. 5:25 ), previously described as ‘a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God’.

Three more chapters describe other elements of this theology.

[Philip Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid biblical theology of sanctification. Peterson shows that the use of the word "sanctification" to describe progressive growth in holiness and conformity to Christ's image is a little off base, and that we'd be better to describe this sort of thing as transformation/renewal/growth. Sanctification, argues Peterson, is by and large thought of by the NT writers as an objective status the God grants his people through union with his Son, one that will be completed/consummated at Christ's return (ie. positional sanctification), and is comparable to justification and glorification in terms of its already/not yet application. The stuff on Romans 6-8 was great. Will be using this as a reference book in the future.

[Danny Daugherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful study on the word and theme of sanctification in Scripture, particularly its use in the New Testament. Peterson argues that the word 'sanctification' is used most often in the New Testament to refer to the definitive cleansing and consecration that the Holy Spirit applies to believers at their conversion/regeneration, due to the shed blood of Jesus applied to them. All practical holiness flows out of this positional holiness, and it is this positional, definitive holiness that should still receive more emphasis in how we speak about sanctification today. Peterson doesn't diminish growth in the Christian life, or the call to obedience, but is careful to trace how progress, growth, or 'renewal' is a result of our positional holiness before God, in Christ.

[Erik Hallworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful reading I did for preparation for a series on Romans. This book helped me practically in a few ways:

1. Helped me see that the NT speaks of sanctification as something that happens at conversion as a Holy God calls us to Himself. Similar to being declared righteous, we are now sanctified as we are the loving posession of a holy God.
2. Renewal, Holiness and Transformation is the call of life now that we are sanctified. Sometimes I have thought of sanctification as a process by which the believer strives to be holy. Peterson helps us see that "renewal" or "transformation" are better terms for this.

[Andy Febrico Bintoro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holiness and its connection with the doctrine of sanctification, and thus proposing a new schema in classic reformed soteriology. The terms is there, but the process is slightly different.
The author argue that the popular view that sanctification is a process of moral renewal and change, following justification, is not the emphasis of the New Testament. Rather, sanctification is primarily another way of describing what it means to be converted or brought to God in Christ and kept in that relationship.

[Jacob O'connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let go and let God?

It's a trickier question the more you think about it. Particularly when applied to the question of personal holiness. Sanctification. Becoming a better person. More like Jesus. Is this something God does, or is it something we do? Is there some percentage somewhere in the middle?

David Peterson has written a helpful edition to DA Carson's excellent "NSBT" series. Peterson falls more on the God is doing side, but he strikes a good balance. If the Lord tarries and the creek don't rise, I intend to read every book in this series.

[Laurent Dv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good books that debunks the common interpretation of the terms for sanctification in the New Testament. Most interpreters always consider sanctification as progressive sanctification but actually the main meaning of sanctification is a definitive one, it means basically the one-for-all consacreation and dedication (i. e. conversion) at the beginning of the christian life, the action by the Spirit's by through union with Christ by which we become member of God's people and can meet the Holy One.

[Derek Woodall · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is sanctification? Peterson’s main argument is that sanctification (according to biblical usage) is a one-time occurrence that occurs at conversion. Sanctification is the believer made holy as an act which includes consecration to a new way of living. Post-conversion, the believer should grow in the outworking of holiness—Christian maturity (how we usually use the word sanctification).
I am 85% convinced.