Justification and Sanctification.
Justification is God’s righteous act of removing the guilt and penalty of sin while, at the same time, declaring the ungodly to be righteous through faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice.
Sanctification means “to be set apart.” But, while justification is God’s act of forgiving your sins and counting you righteous through faith in Jesus Christ, Sanctification is the continual work of the Holy Spirit in the believer in order for you to conform to the image of Christ, who is God’s son.
Justification:
Explanation:
- Justification is God’s act of pardoning the sinner and declares the sinner as righteous in His sight. This is possible through the sinner’s faith in Jesus Christ, who was punished for the sins of everyone so that anyone who believes in him will no longer suffer the consequences of sin.
- In other words, Christ became the sinner in your place so that you will become righteous in the sight of God, which makes you justified by God’s standards.
- If any one asks you, “Can you be saved?” we can say: Yes, through faith in Jesus Christ and what He did on the Cross of Calvary.
- Our justification or being made right with God is through your obedience and faith in Christ alone and not through our good works.
- Because of Christ’s obedience and death on the cross, our past, present, and future sins are forgiven, and we are no longer subject to the punishment that was once due for us.
- Justification is certainly the most important doctrine in the Bible. This doctrine is rejected and opposed by all cults and all religions outside of Christianity.
- This is important for both church and for every Christian.
- Martin Luther said: the Doctrine of Justification was the article by which the Church stands or falls. This doctrine “is the head and cornerstone of the Church, which alone begets, nourishes, builds, preserves and protects the Church; without it the Church of God cannot subsist one hour.”
- To our understanding, the doctrine is important, but the Doctrine of Justification is central. Not only is it the article of the standing or falling Church, but also of the standing or falling Christian.
- Martin Luther said: “Probably more trouble is caused in the Christian life by an inadequate or mistaken view of this doctrine than any other. When the child of God loses his sense of peace with God, finds his concern for others dried up, or generally finds his sense of the sheer goodness and grace of God diminished, it is from this fountain that he has ceased to drink. Conversely, if we can gain a solid grounding here, we have the foundation for a life of peace and joy.”