Justification and Sanctification
Understanding the difference between justification and sanctification is as important as understanding salvation is a gift from God, not by our works. When you understand that, you can then draw a line in the sand and say, “This is what saves. This is what doesn’t save.”
Justification
Justification is the work of God where the righteousness of Jesus is assigned to the sinner, so the sinner is declared by God as being righteous under the Law (Rom. 4:3, 5:1, 9, Gal. 2:16, 3:11).
Imagine God the judge, sitting on His throne, declaring to the believer, “In light of what Jesus has done on your behalf, you are (now) righteous. Things are now right between you and me. Court adjourned.”
This righteousness is not earned or retained by any effort of the saved. Justification is instantaneous, based completely and solely upon Jesus’ death on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24) and is received by faith alone (Eph. 2:8-9). No works are necessary whatsoever to obtain justification. Otherwise, it is not a gift
(Romans 6:23). Therefore, we are justified by faith (Romans 5:1).
Sanctification
Sanctification is the process of being set apart for God’s work and being conformed to the image of Christ. This conforming to Christ involves the work of the person, but it is still God working in the believer to produce a more godly
character and life in the person who has already been justified (Phil. 2:13).
Sanctification is not instantaneous because it is not the work of God alone. The justified person is actively involved in submitting to God’s will, resisting sin, seeking holiness, and working to be more Godly (Gal. 5:22-23). Significantly,
sanctification has no bearing on justification. That is, even if we don’t live a perfect life, we are still justified.
Where justification is a legal declaration that is instantaneous, sanctification is a process. Sanctification comes from God within us by the work of the Holy Spirit. In other words, we contribute to sanctification through our efforts. In contrast, we do not contribute to our justification through our efforts.
Now, there is one more point of clarification. To sanctify also means to set apart for holy use. Therefore, there are verses that talk about our being sanctified already because God has set us apart for holy use (1 Cor. 1:2, 1 Cor. 6:11).
Now, that’s been enough textbook work. The real questions are:
How does understanding how much God loves you play a role in your justification? When you realize God loves you just as you are, that you need not meet a certain pre-qualification, you are truly ready for justification.
How does understanding God’s love for you affect you? Understanding God’s love for you will lead to a life lived in gratitude, where service is done out of love, not out of hope of gain.
How does your love for God affect your sanctification? Simply put, it speeds it. If you place no barriers between yourself and God, you are free to soak up His presence allowing more of Him to be in you.