Posted on 01/23/2011 11:30:29 AM PST by Dr. Eckleburg
Justification and Sanctification are two extremely important concepts to understand, even though they are not everyday words. But they are more than concepts; justification and sanctification help us make sense out of the world, ourselves, and God. In other words, they are not simply "up there" but very relevant to "down here." These concepts are practical.
Justification is the teaching that God declares us right in Jesus Christ. Paul writes in Romans, "For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, though the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (3:22b-24). God declares us right in his sight through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Now, while this might not seem like much, pay attention to what Paul wrote about who we were before Christ: we were sinners who fell short of the glory of God. Paul tells us elsewhere that we were children of wrath, under God's wrath, apart from Christ. By his grace, however, he gave us the gift of Christ whose blood satisfies and atones for the wrath of God, making us children of God. Therefore, we were children of wrath, but now in Christ we are children of God. We were declared sinful and destined for hell, but in Christ we are declared right and destined for glory.
Justification is not our work at all. It is a gift, as Paul writes in Romans 3. It is a perfect gift. Nothing can be added to our justification, for Christ is perfect. For those in Christ, when God the Father looks at you, he sees his perfect Son.
Think of justification as a legal status. Once we were children of parents who didn't want us, but now God has adopted us into his family. We are legally his. There is nothing that can be added to declare us more his. It is done. It is finished.
Sanctification is the teaching that God makes us right through the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul again writes in Romans, "I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit." God makes us right -- sanctifies -- through the Holy Spirit.
What's the difference between justification and sanctification? Think about that same analogy of adoption. Legally, an adopted child is a member of that new family. It is a done, perfect deal in the eyes of the law. Nothing can be added to declare it more perfect. However, the child now experiences the new family. He grows to know what it means to be a member of this new family. He changes and becomes more like that new family. This is sanctification.
Whereas justification is a perfect deal done once on the cross by Christ, sanctification is an imperfect process done by the Spirit and us. Whereas justification is a legal status, sanctification is an experience. Whereas justification was done apart from us, sanctification is done in us to make us more like a member of that family.
How does this matter to our daily lives? Well, we easily confuse these two, basing our righteousness on our sanctification, by how good we've been, rather than on the perfect righteousness of Christ. We become either anxious or self-righteous, then. We don't see ourselves as worthy because we aren't focusing on the worthiness of Christ. Or, we think we don't need to do anything to grow because Christ has done it all, forgetting that sanctification is a work between the Spirit and us.
Know the difference between these two concepts. Remind yourself of these every day. One grants us a peace and joy that the world cannot offer. The other gives us purpose in battling indwelling sin and putting on Christ.
I was looking for a simple explanation of the difference between justification and sanctification, and this excellent sermon was an early result on google.
And written by a “Rev. Marvel,” no less. 8~)
May the knowledge of our one-time justification by Jesus Christ, our only Lord, Mediator and Savior, and of our on-going sanctification by the indwelling Holy Spirit bring us closer to the truth that has set us free.
No king but Christ.
Thanks for the ping Dr. E.
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Great explanation on sanctification and justification. We sometimes makes things so confusing.
Thank you for this, I deal daily with people who confuse the two and worse.
Reference ping for the Inmans.
Thanks for the ping.
I know some churches who teach that Sanctification means you no longer sin. I knew a man who claimed he had not sinned in twenty years.( And that was thirty years ago!)
Thanks for the ping.
Great article.
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”—1 John 1:8.
Excellent article ... thanks
That would be the Wesleyan groups..Wesley’s second blessing ... The problem is we sin without even being aware of it sometimes.. I heard a Pastor say that he even sinned in his prayers..
Good piece. Thanks for sharing it.
A really great way of explaining the difference in the two terms. Love the family analogy.
Thanks!
The church I grew up in and attended as a young adult believed similarly to that. They called it the grace of “entire sanctification”. I heard the assistant pastor say he hadn’t committed a sin in 18 years. I think they put so much emphasis on the “outward” sins by using legalism, that they neglect what’s really going on in the heart.
***Know the difference between these two concepts.***
Amen.
IOW: never confuse you justification with your sanctification.
***I heard a Pastor say that he even sinned in his prayers..***
That’s the kind of pastor I want to sit under!
***I think they put so much emphasis on the “outward” sins by using legalism, that they neglect what’s really going on in the heart.***
I had a Wesleyan tell me he doesn’t sin, he just makes mistakes.
lol. I love simple. 8~)
You know, this thread may not get a lot of responses, but it’s value is eternal.
For all the years I’ve heard people try to explain the difference, none has done it quite to succinctly.
It will be sure to be a blessing to anyone who reads it and understands.
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