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"WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?"
Forest Grove Reformed Church ^ | 9-27-2010 | Rev. Judson Marvel

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.


TOPICS: Apologetics; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: justification; sanctification
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To: DelphiUser
Now you are just being insulting. I do not doubt the Bible. I do interpret it differently than you do however.

And D&C 132 - the Eternal Covenant of POLYGAMY...

Do you BELIEVE it?

Do you INTERPRET it differently than what it plainly says?

161 posted on 01/26/2011 5:23:51 AM PST by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: T Minus Four
and we are free to wear or not wear it [garments]

But you have consequences for not wearing your garments.

 
 
Ya think??
 
 
Temple Recommend Questions



1 Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?

2 Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer?

3 Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days?

4 Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church?

5 Do you live the law of chastity?

6 Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church?

7 Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

8 Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and other meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?

9 Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?

10 Are you a full-tithe payer?

11 Do your keep the Word of Wisdom?

12 Do you have financial or other obligations to a former spouse or children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?

13 If you have previously received your temple endowment:

       Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple?
       Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment and in accordance with the covenant you made in the temple?

14 Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been?

15 Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord's house and participate in temple ordinances?

162 posted on 01/26/2011 5:26:46 AM PST by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie
9 Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?

So does that include everyone or just lds? Because if includes everyone the FR lds will lose their recommendations.

163 posted on 01/26/2011 7:01:06 AM PST by svcw (God doesn't show up in our time, but He shows up on time)
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To: svcw
Because if includes everyone the FR lds will lose their recommendations.

I've only encountered one or two that even admit to having them!

164 posted on 01/26/2011 7:20:21 AM PST by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie

Good point, maybe that’s why they are so angry.


165 posted on 01/26/2011 7:29:00 AM PST by svcw (God doesn't show up in our time, but He shows up on time)
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To: Elsie
This has really nothing to do with the question at hand but thought it was humorous. My grandson's friend last year bought his friends temple recommendation paperwork or card whatever it is for $100. The kid needed the money for a party. Anyway they photo shopped my grandson's friend picture on it and now the dude regularly goes to the temple just to look around. The guy is a blogger and intends to write a series of bloggs on the temple going ons.
166 posted on 01/26/2011 7:35:38 AM PST by svcw (God doesn't show up in our time, but He shows up on time)
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To: Elsie; T Minus Four

You need garments?

I’ve got a drawer full in my Salt Lake home. They make great dust cloths and furniture polishers.

I’ll have DW send you a few if you send your mailing address.


167 posted on 01/26/2011 9:21:39 AM PST by Utah Binger (Southern Utah where the world comes to see America)
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To: Utah Binger

http://www.google.com/Top/Adult/Shopping/Clothing/Used_Panties/

You could supplement your $10,000 needs with your OWN website!


168 posted on 01/26/2011 10:28:39 AM PST by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie

What is frightening about your link (I wouldn’t click on it) is considering how it happens that you would even know about that link! ... Do the goats know you’re surfing again?


169 posted on 01/26/2011 10:38:03 AM PST by MHGinTN (Some, believing they can't be deceived, it's nigh impossible to convince them when they're deceived.)
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To: Elsie; svcw; colorcountry; Osage Orange
I think you're right. I can see the eBay listing now.

Used Magic Undies Masonic Marks and Signs RARE

170 posted on 01/26/2011 10:40:44 AM PST by Utah Binger (Southern Utah where the world comes to see America)
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To: DelphiUser
"All your babbling here does not change the truth of the gospel nor affect my faith." Delphi User

Oh we know the mindset of a cultist like you. It didn't change your blindness when the truth about how your peepstone prophet's method for dictating the Book of Mormon was shown to you just a few years ago. It had no impact on your cultish mind when the truth about the number of still married women your sexual predator of married women bedded. You even tried to defend the degeneracy by claiming there is no evidence that any sex was involved with these 'paramours'.

Some of us have learned that nothing could be shown to you, no truth that we can share with you, will shake your blind obedience to the cult you serve. But you are clever, and you do spew a volume of verbiage to try and hide your darkness. But don't try to convince us that you actually value the truth when as it is shown to you regarding your peepstone sexual predator founder of Mormonism and you work so hard to excuse the lies, heresies, and blasphemies hallmarking Mormonism.

Momronism is not Christianity. The god and jesus of Moromonism are not The God and Jesus of the Bible, regardless of your effort to claim you believe int he God of Abraham. Do we need to post the many quotes which expose the heresies and blasphemies of your cult, AGAIN?

171 posted on 01/26/2011 10:48:31 AM PST by MHGinTN (Some, believing they can't be deceived, it's nigh impossible to convince them when they're deceived.)
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To: DelphiUser
"All your babbling here does not change the truth of the gospel nor affect my faith." Delphi User

Oh we know the mindset of a cultist like you. It didn't change your blindness when the truth about how your peepstone prophet's method for dictating the Book of Mormon was shown to you just a few years ago. It had no impact on your cultish mind when the truth about the number of still married women your sexual predator of married women bedded. You even tried to defend the degeneracy by claiming there is no evidence that any sex was involved with these 'paramours'.

Some of us have learned that nothing could be shown to you, no truth that we can share with you, will shake your blind obedience to the cult you serve. But you are clever, and you do spew a volume of verbiage to try and hide your darkness. But don't try to convince us that you actually value the truth when as it is shown to you regarding your peepstone sexual predator founder of Mormonism and you work so hard to excuse the lies, heresies, and blasphemies hallmarking Mormonism.

Mormonism is not Christianity. The god and jesus of Mormonism are not The God and Jesus of the Bible, regardless of your effort to claim you believe int he God of Abraham. Do we need to post the many quotes which expose the heresies and blasphemies of your cult, AGAIN?

172 posted on 01/26/2011 10:48:51 AM PST by MHGinTN (Some, believing they can't be deceived, it's nigh impossible to convince them when they're deceived.)
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To: Elsie

Uh oh, now you’ve done it. delph doesn’t like having his deceit covers pulled off. He makes calims that can be refuted, but if you post the truth that he has ignored or tried to twist to fit his agenda, he gets very wordy in trying to obfuscate what you expose. But then again, perhaps this moronism apologist doesn’t consider the temple reccommend to be important enough to consider withholding it from him for not wearing his garmies to be ‘punishment’. Disgusting


173 posted on 01/26/2011 10:54:54 AM PST by MHGinTN (Some, believing they can't be deceived, it's nigh impossible to convince them when they're deceived.)
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To: Utah Binger

LOL!!


174 posted on 01/26/2011 11:23:50 AM PST by Osage Orange (MOLON LABE)
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To: Osage Orange

I’ll stuff them in one of those black jars.


175 posted on 01/26/2011 11:33:26 AM PST by Utah Binger (Southern Utah where the world comes to see America)
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To: Utah Binger
Dude....

I'm guessing you took offense at my comment. I didn't mean it that way...at all. That's just what I saw...and thought you should know.

Best FRegards,

176 posted on 01/26/2011 11:36:40 AM PST by Osage Orange (MOLON LABE)
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To: Osage Orange

Not at all...I love the process here.

Humor is required and necessary on these threads.


177 posted on 01/26/2011 11:41:46 AM PST by Utah Binger (Southern Utah where the world comes to see America)
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Interesting write up on “garments”, including the changes: adding garments for women, going to the two piece and changing the garments for military personnel.
http://www.i4m.com/think/temples/mormon-garments.htm


178 posted on 01/26/2011 11:51:54 AM PST by svcw (God doesn't show up in our time, but He shows up on time)
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To: MHGinTN
(I wouldn’t click on it)

You'd have to click twice; as it's a List-o-Links...

Hey!

THAT's familar!

179 posted on 01/26/2011 12:52:55 PM PST by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: svcw
... including the changes: adding garments for women, going to the two piece and changing the garments for military personnel.

Their god has to stay up-to-date; doncha know!

180 posted on 01/26/2011 12:55:41 PM PST by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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