Anthony Hoekeman's Essay 'My Thoughts On Theologians'

My Thoughts on Theologians’ Response

I agree with Stanley’s argument, “the Holy Spirit gives the believer the help and power to live in the kind of God-pleasing way that God wanted to see in Israel when He gave the law” (96). As J. Robertson McQuilkin mentioned, though Anthony Hoekeman mentioned that all trinity persons are ascribing the sanctification, he barely talks about the work of Holy Spirit. It is important to acknowledge that the Holy Spirit is the One who works in our lives to be sanctified.

The Pentecostal Perspective

The Pentecostal movement began from Bethel Bible College of Topeka, Kansas, on January 1st, 1901. As students studied the Bible, especially Acts 2:4, they came to the conclusion that speaking in tongue is the outward

First of all, Ralph W. Harris defined instantaneous sanctification as, “For the moment a person believes in Christ he is separated from sin and unto God” (115). Secondly, progressive sanctification is that people cannot be sanctified at one moment, but believers need to seek God every moment of their lives to be sanctified. More believers walk with God, they know their need to be cleaned and purified by the blood of Christ. Lastly, entire sanctification is not talking about absolute perfection; but by the blood of Christ, believers are victory over temptations to sin. Additionally, the Assemblies of God emphasize Holy Spirit’s work. They claim that Holy Spirit is the One who helps you to be depend on God and sanctified.

My Thoughts on Theologians’ Response

J. Robertson McQuilkin points out an important aspect of Christians. They ought to progress, and they ought to know God has won the spiritual battle for them. I understand what Anthony A. Hoekema is talking about, when he has difficulty to see the word “cooperation” to describe God’s work and out work in sanctification. However, I disagree with his thoughts. I think, it is our duty to seek God and be God-likeness believers, in order to be sanctified. In other words, believers cooperate God’s work, by seeking God more to be sanctified.

The Keswick

Dieter points out the most important aspect of sanctification, “Regeneration is recognized as the beginning of a process-crisis-process pattern of growth in holiness. This life of daily victory over sin is entered by the total offering of oneself to God in entire consecration; it is the actual participation in the holiness of God through faith in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ by the indwelling Spirit” (185). I, also, like the fact that Anthony A. Hoekema emphasizes McQuilkin’s progressive sanctification view, “Christians need to surrender their wills in total commitment to the Lord some time after their conversion”