A Layman’s Guide to Sanctification
ye holy for I am holy” (11:44-45: 19:2 20:26). Furthermore, Dunning explains the truths of the specific scripture and ties the scripture in with reality. For example, Dunning states three truths: God alone is holy in himself, Holiness in humans is present only when in relation to God, and holiness in humans is understood to be “godlikeness” (24). Although true, one must ask them self, how can one be holy if he or she does not know exactly what it means to be holy as God is holy? If scripture is not defined as positive, how will one know the difference between sins? Leviticus clearly ties together questions concerning the strength of God’s holiness. It suggests that holiness in humanity implies wholeness, integrity, and normality (24). Dunning also states holiness is not abnormal in humanity.
The famous verse found in Leviticus takes on a much newer significance in the New Testament. Whereas in the Old Testament, one is made holy, or sanctified by rituals (25), the New Testament describes God’s nature as defined more clearly through a person known as Jesus Christ. People therefore, look at Jesus Christ to learn about the truth of God’s holiness. I believe that Christ was (and still is) a physical truth and form of God. A person in which a some-what believer could look at and truly understand about God and His love.
The belief and understand of Justification in relevance to sanctification must be understood correctly. Out of chapter three I believe that basically justification is God working for us and refers to the saving relation to God. Sanctification begins with justification (40). In Paul’s day, and later in the days of the Protestant Reformation, and in our own day, it would be difficult to find a truth more cardinal to our historic Christian faith than the doctrine of Justification. God forgives and justifies, but “is justification more than forgiveness?” I believe Justification is more than forgiveness. We can forgive another for his wrong, but we can never justify him. Forgiveness assumes guilt; therefore, the guilty one cannot be justified. On the other hand, if we justify a man, then he needs no forgiveness, because justification assumes no guilt. But since all men are both guilty and condemned sinners before God, all need both forgiveness and justification before entering the Kingdom of God. We must accept our acceptance and trust God completely. In doing so, one will begin to slowly transform into the kind of person God wants us to be, which in turn is known as initial sanctification. Does one have to be Holy before being accepted by God? Dunning talks clearly about what he believes as what sanctification is all about on page 38 in his novel:
“…we do not have to earn God’s favor by what we do…We simply take His gracious gift of forgiveness and acceptance. After receiving us as we are, God transforms us into the kind of persons He intended us to be. This divine intention is embodied in the doctrine [next page]