Owen: Sanctification A Grace Of The Spirit Proceeding From Justification

Sanctification, as here described, is the immediate work of God by his Spirit upon our whole nature, proceeding from the peace made for us by Jesus Christ, whereby, being changed into his likeness, we are kept entirely in peace with God, and are preserved unblamable, or in a state of gracious acceptation with him, according to the terms of the covenant, unto the end.

—John Owen, The Works of John Owen, ed. William H. Goold, vol. 3 (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, n.d.), 369.

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  • R. Scott Clark
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    R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He has taught church history and historical theology since 1997 at Westminster Seminary California. He has also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007.

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4 comments

  1. Dr. Clark, has any work historically been done on the relationship of the Trinitarian processions/missions to the ordo salutis (ala Aquinas)? This seems to underlie much of the Reformed orthodox assumptions concerning the necessary logical ordering of justification (as a verdict in the Son by the Father) and sanctification (the fruitful Amen created by the Spirit).

    Just curious… It seems the personal properties of each member require such ordering and procession of sanctification from justification as the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, analogically speaking.

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