ST 526 - PRINCIPLES OF SANCTIFICATION
Fall Term 2012, Thursdays – 1:00 p.m.
Reformed Theological Seminary/Charlotte
Dr. John W. P. Oliver
GOALS
This course in the required curriculum for students preparing for ministry grows out of concern
for the spiritual life of the student of theology. It is deemed insufficient to have theological
precision alone. The serious student of theology must have a heart for the experiential
knowledge of the indwelling person of the Risen Christ though the person of the Holy Spirit.
The indwelling Holy Spirit is the believers= Sanctifier. It is by the Holy Spirit that our Lord
Jesus Christ lives in the believers= hearts as well as lives His life through the believer.
Thus, the class will serve to acquaint the student with a limited sample of writings, classic and
current, in the field of Aapplied sanctification.@ The name of the course implies what the
emphasis of the course is - learning experimentally about the pursuit and practice of holiness.
The seminary is committed to the Westminster Confession of Faith together with the Larger and
Shorter Catechisms, the standards that emerged from the English and Scottish Reformations,
even though, as a theological institution, it is not affiliated with any denomination. These
Standards provide the confessional foundation and framework for understanding the doctrine and
practice of sanctification and, specifically, the foundation for this class.
The practical aspects of the truth of sanctification are based on biblical and propositional aspects
of the truth of sanctification. The devout intent of the course is for the student to have a personal
and practical pursuit of holiness. APursue...holiness, without which no one will see the
Lord.@ Hebrews 12:14
SCOPE
First, attention will be given to a review and summary of the biblical propositions which shape
our doctrine of sanctification. This propositional truth will be used as a standard by which other
ideas about sanctification, historical and current, are evaluated.
Then, various aspects and implications of what is to be believed and practiced about
sanctification will be considered - the devotional life, prayer habits, obedience with a glad spirit
and the like.
TEXTS
Required
Holiness, J. C. Ryle
The Mortification of Sin, John Owen (abridged by Richard Rushing)
Related and Recommended Texts (a sampling only)
The Death of Character, James Davison Hunter
The Enemy Within: Straight Talk about the Power and Defeat of Sin, Kris Lundgaard
Five Views of Sanctification, Dieter, Hoekema, Horton, McQuilkin, Walvoord
Conformed to His Image, Kenneth Boa
The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification, Walter Marshall
Life in the Spirit, Robertson McQuilkin
The Knowledge of the Holy, A. W. Tozer
Made for His Pleasure: Ten Benchmarks of a Vital Faith, Alistair Begg
A Method for Prayer, Matthew Henry
The Pursuit of Holiness, Jerry Bridges
The Spirit of Christ, Andrew Murray
Spiritual Theology: The Theology of Yesterday for Spiritual Help Today, Diogenes Allen
Subversive Spirituality, Eugene B. Peterson
A Treatise on Sanctification, James Fraser
A Tree by a Stream, Edmond Smith (editor)
ASSIGNMENTS
Reading
It is expected that the two required texts will be read in their entirety. A question, answered
simply yes or no and observing the honor code, will be a part of the written final examination
final exam and will add or deduct to/from the score obtained on the examination.
Memorization
The answers to two questions from the Westminster Shorter Catechism are to be memorized and
will be included in the final examination. They are A #33 (What is justification?) and A #35
(What is sanctification?). Either the traditional or updated version may be memorized.
Written
One paper will be required. It should be succinct - to the point! The purpose of the paper in this
course is different from a standard term paper or research paper. This paper will not require
considerable research. It is an exercise in writing concisely, clearly and convincingly about the
assigned topic as though to defend the negative position in a debate entitled, “The Obligatory
Obedience Exercised by the Believer in Works of Sanctification Constitutes Legalism.” The
writing should give evidence of several things: an acquaintance with the issues of faith vis-à-vis
works; grace vis-à-vis law; returning continually, if not solely, to justification and adoption in
preaching; why mortification is currently so widely neglected; and, what the evidence/fruit of
that neglect is in the present American, evangelical Church. This assignment is due on
November 15, 2012.
Examination
There will be no mid-term examination. There will be a brief, short answer final examination to
be taken during Aexam week@ in early December.
Term Grade
The term grade will be comprised of the mark on the essay/paper, the completion of all the
reading and the final examination. Spotty class attendance could lower the term grade one letter
(current catalogue, p.45).