Answer

RESEARCH PLAN

Paper Topic and Research Question

Topic:

Sanctification and the Christina Life

Research Question

Is sanctification a gradual process or does it depend on any specific one-time event?

Primary Source

The Book of Romans is the primary source of this research

Preliminary Research

Reading and interacting with course material, handling theological opinions on sanctification and the character of God have prepared me for handling this topic. There was therefore no need to conduct any preliminary research as I was already familiar with diverse opinion on what sanctification entailed.

Research Problem

There have been diverse opinions on what the true nature of sanctification really entails. While some scholars have argued that sanctification is gradual and only culminates with the final resurrection and subsequent meeting with God, others emphasize on the fact that to be sanctified, the emphasis is on baptism (physical and spiritual) and that without these two, one cannot fully understand sanctification. The second view misses the parts where God used even the ones that defied Him (like Pharaoh—Romans 9:17) for His purpose. God uses specific people at specific times to receive sanctification for the sake of God’s redemptive plan (Rom 9:21-22 [Revised Standard Version]).

Purpose of Research

The purpose of this research is to interrogate the nature of sanctification and the Christian life. Most of scripture point to the fact that within God’s redemption plan, there are those that He has sanctified for His purpose. The research interrogates whether sanctification is gradual and only culminates in a full understanding of God and His purpose or whether as some have argued, it depends on a one-time transformative event. The full understanding of what sanctification entails opens up possibilities of making connections on how this process is connected to the Triune God.

Research Approach

This research paper will rely on varied sources to support the concept of sanctification. However, the key source will be the Bible. There are many verses, besides the primary Roman ones that will be used as well, that talk about sanctification and the life of a Christian. The research will draw from the ideas of various theological scholars and writers like Wesley to explain what sanctification entails. I will also be weighing my personal opinion on what these passages mean. I will make use of books and journal articles too to offer a broad view and perspective on sanctification. My focus for now is on the Bible passages that talk about sanctification because they are the ones that are interpreted by various scholars, sometimes differently. I believe that doing this gives me a first-hand account of what God says sanctification is. This is also done with the intention of seeing how sanctification is connected to the Triune God. I plan to connect the passages that talk about sanctification in the book of Romans to the rest of scripture, and using this knowledge, analyse critical opinions on the same.