The Difference between Justification and Sanctification …… Die verskil tussen regverdigmaking en heiligmaking …… Diferenca midis Arsyetimi dhe Shenjtërimin …… Razlika izme?u Opravdanje i Sanctification …… Ang Kalainan tali sa Pagkamatarung ug sa pagbalaan …… The Kusiyana pakati pa Kulungamitsidwa ndi Kuyeretsedwa …… Razlika izme?u opravdanje i posve?enje …… Rozdíl mezi Od?vodn?ní a posv?cení …… Forskellen mellem Begrundelse og Helliggørelse …… Het verschil tussen rechtvaardiging en heiliging …… La Malsamoj inter Pravigo kaj sanktigo …… Erinevus õigeksmõistmine ja pühitsemine …… Ang pagkakaiba sa pagitan pagpapatunay at pagpapakabanal …… Ero pohjan ja pyhitys …… La différence entre la justification et la sanctification …… Der Unterschied zwischen Begründung und Heiligung …… Diferans ki genyen ant Jistifikasyon ak Viv apa …… Banbancin ra’ayi tsakanin cikin hamzari da Tsarkakewarmu …… Lub sib txawv nruab nrab ntawm txoj kev txaus cai thiab Sanctification …… A különbség a megigazulás és a megszentel?dés ….. Munurinn á milli rök og helgun …… ?d?iche d? n’etiti na ezi Odudons …… Perbedaan antara Pembenaran dan Penyucian …… An Difríocht idir Fírinniú agus sanctification …… An Difríocht idir Fírinniú agus sanctification …… La differenza tra giustificazione e santificazione …… Ing Bèntenipun sabdhoning lan kasucèn …… Starp?ba starp Pamatojums un sv?tdar?šanas …… Tarp Pagrindimas ir pašventinimas Skirtumas …… Ny fahasamihafana eo amin’ny fanamarinana sy ny fanamasinana …… Perbezaan antara Justifikasi dan Penyucian …… Id-differenza bejn ?ustifikazzjoni u qdusija …… Te rerek?tanga i waenganui Fakatonuhiá, hei whakatapu …… Forskjellen mellom rettferdiggjørelse og helliggjørelse …… Ró?nice mi?dzy uzasadnienie i u?wi?cenia …… A diferença entre justificação e santificação …… Diferen?a dintre Îndrept??irea ?i sfin?irea …… Phapang pakeng tsa tokafatso le ho halaletsoa …… Rozdiel medzi Dôvody a posvätenia …… Razlika med Obrazložitev in posve?enju ……. Farqiga u dhexeeya xaq ka dhigista …… La diferencia entre la justificación y la santificación …… Tofauti kati ya kuhesabiwa haki na utakaso …… Skillnaden mellan Motivering och Helg …… Gerekçe ve Takdis aras?ndaki fark …… Bunga dalil va poklanish orasidagi farq …… Y Gwahaniaeth rhwng Cyfiawnhad a sancteiddhad …… Aw?n Iyato laarin Idalare ati dimimü …… The Difference phakathi Ukuphendulela nokungcweliswa

Forgiveness, justification and sanctification are three distinct blessings that the believer is blessed with at the moment of trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour (Ephesians 1:3). The act of accepting Christ as Saviour is one act, yet it results in many specific benefits including these three.

Forgiveness which is the pardon or remission by God of all the believer’s sins (Acts 13:38; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 2:13; 1 John 1:9).
Justification which means “to make right or righteous before God.” (Romans 3:22; 5:1, 17; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
Sanctification which is to be set apart for God (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2).

The forgiveness that frees us from God’s judgment for our sins is one event with a permanent effect, but forgiveness for sins that interrupt our fellowship with the Father is a continuous process (1 John 1:9). Justification is one event with a permanent effect. Sanctification is also one event with a permanent effect and a process. We will consider only justification and sanctification.

JUSTIFICATION

Meaning

The Biblical meaning of the believer’s justification is not the same as it generally means today. Today justification means to find the falsely accused person innocent. However in the New Testament it means something better. Romans 4:2-3 says “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” Therefore “justification” means to be “counted {or reckoned} righteous” before God. So God makes the guilty righteous in His sight at the point of faith in Christ.

The Sinner’s Answer

Who personally qualifies to be justified? Romans 3:19 says “Now we know, that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” So every individual of all generations and all nationalities in the whole human race is guilty before God’s justice, stands condemned in His sight and is subject to His divine wrath on sin.

However God found the answer by sending His only begotten Son to the cross so that He might bear our sins (1 Peter 2:24) and His blood be shed (John 19:34) as the basis of justification. See Romans 5:9 “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

Faith is the Means of Justification

So how can a sinner receive the righteousness of God (Romans 3:22)? Romans 3:28 says, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Consequently by faith in Christ a sinner receives justification as Romans 5:17 says “For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)” So on the basis of Christ’s obedience, death and resurrection God can justify sinners that have believed in Him. Belief in Christ means total reliance on Him alone for justification. Also the Greek word “logizomai,” meaning ‘to put to one’s account,’ appears eleven times in Romans chapter 4, but it is translated by three different words – ‘count, reckon, and impute’. So God takes His righteousness and credits it to the believing sinner and declares him righteous (Romans 5:1, 9). It is amazing that God would do that for believers.

The Present and Future Condition

The believer has been declared righteous. Romans 8:1 says “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, …” shows that this is a once-and-for-all declaration which saves him from the sins of the past, and secures his spiritual future. But as believers continue to sin, but to a lesser extent, after they are justified how can they still be righteous in God’s sight? 1 Corinthians was written to an assembly/church when they were in a low spiritual state but 6:11 says “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” This is positional truth (or our standing in Christ or our relationship with Christ), and is what the Godhead makes the believer based entirely on faith in Christ alone. The believer’s sins do not affect the believer’s position, standing or place, in the case of justification, because it is based upon Christ alone. But the believer’s sins do mar the believer’s state before God, or his fellowship with the Father, and produce feelings of guilt and separation. The believer needs then to confess their sins and God the Father will forgive them and restore their fellowship with Himself. 1 John 1:9 declares, ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’.

SANCTIFICATION

Although sanctification is found in both the Old and New Testaments, our consideration below is how it applies to the believer in Christ. This is in four stages:

1. Before Conversion Sanctification

2 Thessalonians 2:13 “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” God chose us in His sovereignty and the Holy Spirit, as the Divine Agent, sanctified and separated us to believe the truth. It is a Divine act that precedes faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as one’s own Saviour. See also 1 Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ” which in that verse includes the activities of the Triune God.

2. Positional Sanctification

Acts 26:18; “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
1 Corinthians 1:2 “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.”
1 Corinthians 6:11 “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” and to which their sole title is the death of Christ.

So whenever a person is born again, he is positionally sanctified because of faith in Christ alone. So all believers came into the state of separation to God from the world when they are born of God. The practical truth, or our daily state, is the working out of such truth. 1 Corinthians 1:30 says, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made (i.e. becomes, is made the source or basis of) unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” This is a once-for-ever eternal separation unto God is part of our salvation.

3. Continuing Sanctification

This is the present practical setting apart of the believer to God from the world, sin and self. It is a process by which he becomes more Christlike. This is the sanctification that Paul prays for the Thessalonians and is found in

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4; “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.” This sanctification is God’s will for the believer (see also 1Thessalonians 4:7).
John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” Ephesians 5:26 “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” (See also 2 Corinthians 3:18).

So sanctification is brought about by the Holy Spirit when we are obedient to the Word of God. Such practical sanctification is a process that should continue as long as the believer is on earth. He will never achieve perfection or sinlessness on earth (see Galatians 5:17), but he should ever be pursuing that goal.

4. Future Perfect Sanctification refers to the believer’s final condition in heaven.

1 John 3:1-31 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
Ephesians 5:25-27. “Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of the water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

When the believer goes to be with the Lord, he will be morally and physically (Philippians 3:21) like the Lord. This glorified state will be our ultimate separation from sin and total sanctification to God in every respect.

So justification and sanctification are different Biblical teachings.

What are the Implications?

Some think that justification includes the forgiveness of sins and sanctification. If that is the case it makes:

Our justification a good works process and not an event.
Justification progressive and not complete.
Our standing before God is then based on subjective experience and not secured by God’s happy and objective statement based on His perfect Son.
It possible for justification to be experienced and then be lost.
Assurance of salvation in this life impossible because its security can’t be guaranteed as it depends on us.
The basis of justification being, ultimately, the sinner’s own continuing good works, which is marked by failure, and not Christ’s perfect righteousness and His sacrificial work on the cross.
God not satisfied with our good works or sacrifices which are not totally consistent and are defiled by sin.

So it is really important to rightly distinguish these words of truth.

Also what is so important about justification by faith alone? It is the Biblical truth upon which the individual believing sinner stands or falls with all its eternal implications. Romans 8:30 teaches “whom he justified, them he also glorified” and so without justification there is no glorification – nothing but judgment for our sins. Hebrews 10:27 says, “But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation.” Thankfully this does not have to be the case.