Journal: Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal
Volume: DBSJ 07:1 (Fall 2002)
Article: Dispensational Sanctification: A Misnomer
Author: Jonathan R. Pratt

DBSJ 7 (Fall 02) p. 95

Dispensational Sanctification: A Misnomer

Jonathan R. Pratt1

Since its inception, dispensationalism has offered a distinctive contribution to theological discussion. The fields of ecclesiology and eschatology have been significantly affected by dispensationalism’s emphases. Hermeneutics has also been influenced as scholars have been forced to consider the question of the relationship between national Israel and the church. But does dispensationalism provide a distinctive contribution to other areas of theological inquiry such as the doctrine of God, sin, man, or salvation?

Some have argued that dispensationalism does relate to the doctrine of salvation and particularly to the scriptural teaching of sanctification. But the evidence we have found would appear to contradict this assertion. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that there is no organic connection between dispensationalism and sanctification. In order to support this thesis we will provide a survey of the discussion. This will be followed by a brief study of the definition of dispensationalism in order to determine whether or not dispensationalism’s purview includes sanctification issues. Finally, we will seek to provide an analysis of the model of sanctification commonly referred to as “dispensational sanctification” by comparing and contrasting it with other models.

Representative Survey

In order to support our thesis, we must provide an overview of the writings of those who do see an organic connection between dispensationalism and sanctification. These scholars include both dispensationalists and nondispensationalists. We do recognize there are also many dispensationalists and nondispensationalists who do not make a

DBSJ 7 (Fall 02) p. 96

connection between dispensationalism and sanctification. But our goal here is intentionally limited to those dispensationalists and nondispensationalists who have connected dispensationalism with a model of sanctification calling it “dispensational sanctification.” We will survey these scholars and then inquire whether or not they agree as to the particular model of sanctification they are identifying as “dispensational sanctification.”

Dispensationalists

John Walvoord clearly stands out as one of the most prominent dispensational scholars of the twentieth century. When asked to contribute to a book dealing with sanctification in Zondervan’s Counterpoint Series, Walvoord entitled his chapter, “The Augustinian-Dispensational Perspective.”2 Walvoord never attempts to explain the connection between his view of sanctification and dispensationali...