As I’m sure you know, over the last few years a largely constructive debate on sanctification has taken place in the broader New Calvinism sub-culture of American evangelicalism.

Many helpful articles, blog posts, and books have considered the issue biblically, historically, and practically for church members. But if anything has received small mention I think it would be discussion on how pastors should wisely labor for the holiness of their congregation.

At this year’s Together for the Gospel conference one panel decided to take up the matter of “Preaching Sanctification.” The lively dialogue is full of wisdom and warmth. Here is the video with timestamps of some pertinent questions underneath. Not only is this a helpful conversation, it’s also a model of a panel done well.

CHOICE QUESTIONS

• What are the biblical motivations for pursuing holiness? (2:20)
• What do you do when a church member is struggling with pornography? (10:00)
• How can pastors walk in discernment when counseling church members unto sanctification? (11:36)
• Why is it that duty, obligation, and “effortful progressive sanctification” is now immediately viewed as legalistic? (14:10)
• How has antinomianism crept up on the church in the past? How is it doing so now? (23:38)
• How would you define legalism? (25:20)
• How much effort can you give to bearing fruit before it becomes legalism? (26:34)

CHOICE QUOTES

• “I kind of want have a moratorium that we can only use the word ‘legalism’ once a month and then we’ve got to get it right.” – Thomas
• “Legalism is a problem . . . but the answer to legalism isn’t antinomianism. The answer to legalism is Christ. The answer to antinomianism is Christ.” – Thomas
• “There seems to be a lost ethic of hard work [in our culture today].” – Chandler
• “Grace is [now] felt mainly as leniency.” – Piper
• “You don’t become a good tree by bearing good fruit. That would be legalism. Start bearing good fruit and He’ll admit you into the tree heaven. That’s legalism. You were made a good tree by sovereign grace in Christ alone through faith alone. ” – Piper
• “Do you think sometimes when people use the word legalism they just mean, ‘That’s inconvenient?'” – Thomas
  • “I totally do. In fact, I think that’s why people break the speed limit.” – Piper
  • “Now we’re gettin’ real.” – DeYoung
• “Anyone who is indifferent to sanctification is indifferent to Christ.” – DeYoung