Christian Spirituality: Five Views of Sanctification

by Donald Alexander (Editor), Sinclair B. Ferguson (Contribution by), Gerhard O. Forde (Contribution by), E. Glenn Hinson (Contribution by), Russell P. Spittler (Contribution by)

Overview

How can we grow closer to God? Is there a secret to spiritual life? Do we need a second blessing? Is sanctification God's work or ours? Is it instantaneous or is it a process?

The nature of Christian spirituality has been widely debated throughout the history of the church. The doctrine of sanctification was one of the main fissures separating Luther from the Catholic Church. Even today different groups of Protestants disagree on how we draw closer to God. What distinguishes the different positions and what exactly is at stake in these recurring debates?

To answer these questions Donald L. Alexander, professor of biblical theology at Bethel College, has brought together five scholars that represent each of the main historical Protestant traditions:

• Gerhard O. Forde on the Lutheran vew
• Sinclair B. Ferguson on the Reformed view
• Laurence W. Wood on the Wesleyan view
• Russell P. Spittler on the Pentecostal view
• E. Glenn Hinson on the Contemplative view

With an introduction by Alexander and responses to each of the main essays by the other contributors, this Spectrum volume provides a helpful and stimulating introduction to an important doctrine of the church.

Spectrum Multiview Books offer a range of viewpoints on contested topics within Christianity, giving contributors the opportunity to present their position and also respond to others in this dynamic publishing format.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781514015438
Publisher:	IVP Academic
Publication date:	12/09/2025
Series:	Spectrum Multiview Book Series
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	204

About the Author

Laurence W. Wood is Frank Paul Morris Professor of Systematic Theology at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. His books include God and History and Theology as History and Hermeneutics.

Donald Alexander (Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara) is emeritus professor of Biblical Studies at Bethel University, St. Paul, MN. He served for ten years as a missionary at the Alliance Bible Seminary, Hong Kong, China. He is the author of The Pursuit of Godliness: Sanctification in Christological Perspective.

Sinclair B. Ferguson is senior minister at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina, and serves as professor of systematic theology at Westminster Seminary in Dallas, Texas.

Russell P. Spittler is senior professor of New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary. He has also held the positions of associate dean of the School of Theology and provost and vice president of academic affairs at Fuller. Among his many publications are Perspectives in Neo-Pentecostalism, The Corinthian Correspondence and God the Father.

Gerhard O. Forde was professor of theology at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He also taught at Luther College in Iowa and St. Olaf College in Minnesota. His many publications include The Law-Gospel Debate, Justification by Faith: A Matter of Life and Death and Where God Meets Man: Luther's Down-to-Earth Approach to the Gospel.

E. Glenn Hinson (1931-2025) was professor of church history at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

Donald Alexander (Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara) is emeritus professor of Biblical Studies at Bethel University, St. Paul, MN. He served for ten years as a missionary at the Alliance Bible Seminary, Hong Kong, China. He is the author of The Pursuit of Godliness: Sanctification in Christological Perspective.

Gerhard O. Forde was professor of theology at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He also taught at Luther College in Iowa and St. Olaf College in Minnesota. His many publications include The Law-Gospel Debate, Justification by Faith: A Matter of Life and Death and Where God Meets Man: Luther's Down-to-Earth Approach to the Gospel.

E. Glenn Hinson (1931-2025) was professor of church history at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

Russell P. Spittler is senior professor of New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary. He has also held the positions of associate dean of the School of Theology and provost and vice president of academic affairs at Fuller. Among his many publications are Perspectives in Neo-Pentecostalism, The Corinthian Correspondence and God the Father.

Laurence W. Wood is Frank Paul Morris Professor of Systematic Theology at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. His books include God and History and Theology as History and Hermeneutics.

Table of Contents

The Riddle of Sanctification--Donald Alexander
The Lutheran View--Gerhard O. Forde
A Reformed Response--Sinclair B. Ferguson
A Wesleyan Response--Laurence W. Wood
A Pentecostal Response--Russell P. Spittler
A Contemplative Response--E. Glenn Hinson
The Reformed View--Sinclair B. Ferguson
A Lutheran Response--Gerhard O. Forde
A Wesleyan Response--Laurence W. Wood
A Pentecostal Response--Russell P. Spittler
A Contemplative Response--E. Glenn Hinson
The Weslyan View--Laurence W. Wood
A Lutheran Response--Gerhard O. Forde
A Reformed Response--Sinclair B. Ferguson
A Pentecostal Response--Russell P. Spittler
A Contemplative Response--E. Glenn Hinson
The Pentecostal View--Russell P. Spittler
A Lutheran Response--Gerhard O. Forde
A Reformed Response--Sinclair B. Ferguson
A Wesleyan Response--Laurence W. Wood
A Contemplative Response--E. Glenn Hinson
The Contemplative View--E. Glenn Hinson
A Lutheran Response--Gerhard O. Forde
A Reformed Response--Sinclair B. Ferguson
A Wesleyan Response--Laurence W. Wood
A Pentecostal Response--Russell P. Spittler
Contributors