B.H. Carroll’s Pastoral Theology
Southwestern Journal of Theology
Volume 58, No. 2 – Spring 2016
Managing Editor: W. Madison Grace II
Edited by Kelly M. Kapic. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2014. 300 pages. Paperback, $30.00.
Presently very little academic discussion on soteriology (i.e., the doctrine of salvation) is taking place in the theological literature. Not all hope is lost, however, since there is a growing interest in soteriological studies. More specifically, there is a revival of interest in the doctrine of sanctification (i.e., the process of moral and spiritual growth). Sanctification: Explorations in Theology and Practice is one significant example of this development. Sanctification is a constructive contemporary re-statement of Protestant dogmatics concerning Christian growth in grace. The authors offer the reader not simply a restatement of doctrine, but charmingly explore the doctrine by drawing from scripture, history, philosophy and experience.
Throughout, the authors develop various aspects of the doctrine. Three apparent and significant themes pervade the volume. First, it considers the interrelationship of faith and grace in human union with Christ. Richard Lints offers a representative example (also see the chapters of Blocher, Ellis, Davidson, and Canlis) where he contributes to the discussion on law in relation not only to salvation but also to sanctification. Lints argues that all spiritual growth is rooted in faith and grace, not works of law. In this way, he recognizes that his view affirms one variant of antinomianism (48). He suggests that the law is not the primary ground for human covenantal relationship with God anymore, but that God’s grace is the foundation for Christian life. In this way, the relationship Christians have to the law has changed from its legal function to having a function of wisdom (49). This is in contrast to the antinomian variant (what he calls antinomianism type 2, 49), which says that the law ceases having any function in Christian life. Lints describes the Christian life as one of exteriority wherein faith expresses itself externally not as a volitional response to the law but as a manifestation of God’s grace through faith.
Second, the authors consider human agency, divine agency, and sanctification (see especially Horton, O’Donovan, and Eglinton). Third and finally, it considers theological and practical implications that follow from various soteriological commitments. Common themes that make their way in all the chapters include the emphasis upon not only salvation by faith alone but sanctification by faith alone (contra Roman Catholicism), union with Christ as the central dominating theme behind both justification and sanctification, and an emphasis upon ethics as a corporate reality in Christ rather than a mere individual reality.
What seems to have motivated the work, as noted by Kapic, is the growing interest and desire to set forth clearly a doctrine of sanctification in evangelical contexts (10–11). All of the authors are broadly interested in contributing to this discussion. While the authors are motivated by such cultural influences, there is an overwhelming tendency in the volume to address Reformed soteriology, as Kapic states (11), even Calvinistic soteriology. Having said this, there are a couple of chapters which prove to expand the Calvinistic boundaries (e.g., McCormack and Moore). And, depending on one’s doctrinal persuasions, this could be construed as a weakness, but for those interested in Reformed Calvinistic dogmatics this may be a strength.
Sanctification is a rich and careful contemporary engagement in a Reformed soteriology as it bears on growth, the will, and ethics. Hopefully this fine work will motivate additional discussion not only in Calvinistic soteriology but more broadly evangelical and ecumenical soteriology.
