Recently, on a Wednesday Bible study, we noted some of the major factors affecting justification. Some of those factors are a holy God, ungodly men, a holy, just and good commandment, faith, the sacrifice of Jesus, the righteous life of Jesus, an imputation of Jesus’ righteousness to the believer, the promise of God, the grace and mercy of God. The ungodly man who repents and trusts in the Redeemer can be justified. This redeemed man is seen by the Holy and Just God differently than before. What God does in accepting this lost person is the process of justification. It includes many elements. Justification includes the lost person, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The preacher, who brings the Word, and thus faith in the heart of the believer are all included by Paul. (Romans 10:13-17.)

We so often discuss justification, but rarely note sanctification. Both of these words are ripe with meaning for our salvation. One word or a few phrases cannot adequately relate the fullness of their meaning biblically. These two words are closely related and connected biblically; that is, some of the same factors are involved in both. However, there are some differences. Justification is an act of God in changing the believer’s status before Him; sanctification describes the resulting change in the believer’s life. Justification therefore precedes sanctification in the sense of time and progression of redemptive events. No one can be sanctified without first having sins removed. Barabbas was released from prison; Jesus was crucified instead. This is justification. How Barabbas’ heart was changed to live differently afterwards is sanctification.

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Cor. 7:1.)

"And such were some of you, but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Cor. 6:11.)

". . . God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. Whereunto he called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."

(2 Thess. 2:13-14.)

"Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord." (Heb. 12:14.)

"To the end he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." (1 Thess. 3:13.)

"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication; that everyone of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor, not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God." (1 Thess. 4:3-5.)

"But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; some to honor and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts, but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Tim. 2:20-22.)

"Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." (Col. 1:28.)

"But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption." (1 Cor. 1:30.)

Jesus said, "Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest because I said, I am the Son of God?" (John 10:36.) "Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth." (John 17:17.)

With man sanctification is a gradual process of growth. (2 Cor. 7:1.) When God sanctified the seventh day, he did so with a declaration and by resting on that day. In salvation, we are set apart for holy purposes. But our separateness from the world is a process of spiritual maturity.

Some understanding of the meaning of the two words, justification and sanctification, can be gained from Romans. The first eight chapters deal primarily with the theme of justification. Chapters 9-11 make an application to the nation of Israel. Chapters 12-16 can be seen as a description of believers living a sanctified life set apart for God.

Acts does not deal with the resulting life of the people after conversion, but primarily with their obedience to the Gospel. The letters to the churches are about sanctification of the believer. In this sense, sanctification follows justification. To the degree that sanctification is a growth process, it necessarily follows justification. However, we do not want to so separate the two as if there are no connecting links. There are.

The Hebrew writer urged maturity by saying, "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works. . . ." (Heb. 6:1.) We know that this perfection is a process of growth because earlier, he wrote, "For when the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat." (5:12-14.)

Here are some of the major factors involved in sanctification as presented by the above passages.

Belief of the Truth (2 Thess. 2:13.)

". . . because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth."

The truth in Scripture refers to the things of God, to reality, to matters concerning our salvation. Jesus said, "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth." (John 17:17.) God’s Word tells the truth about the nature of man---his origin, nature, and destiny. It tells us truth about right and wrong, good and evil. It tells us the truth about the nature of God---His oneness, purity and righteousness.

"Belief of the truth" sets one apart from all the rest who do not embrace it as a way of life. Peter described that sanctification like this: "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9.) Paul used these words: "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children, and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor. But fornication and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints, neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient, but rather giving of thanks." (Eph. 5:1-4.)

Believing the truth is an essential part of sanctification. Without it, no progress can be made toward salvation and Christian maturity.

The Spirit of God (2 Thess. 2:13, 1 Cor. 6:11.)

These passages affirm that sanctification is a work of the Spirit of God. We are chosen to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. Peter said that we are "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:2.) Salvation, justification, and sanctification are the work of God. Man cannot do these things. He does not sanctify himself. Man believes; God sanctifies.

"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death. . . For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren." (Heb. 2:11.)

Remember Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus. In conversion, the spirit of man is born anew by the Holy Spirit. (John 3:1-6.) The body of the believer is called the temple of the Holy Spirit. "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?" (1 Cor. 6:19.) The presence and work of the Holy Spirit within us sanctifies or sets man apart for God’s holy purposes. We are holy vessels, sanctified and meet (suitable), for the Master’s use.

Only by the Spirit of God can man have spiritual life. He is the powerful agent that imparts new life to the believer. Not only so, but He helps to develop that new life. "The role of the Holy Spirit is character formation in Christians. The Spirit of God has been given to saved people to make us Christ-like. His role is not to make us do bizarre things, but Christ-like things, in terms of the personalities, dispositions, words, and deeds that flow from us. The Spirit teaches of Christ through the Gospel and brings us to a knowledge of Christ, which permits us to be saved by faith in him."

(In Step With The Spirit, Rubel Shelly, 11.) We know we have the Spirit of God by the fruit of our lives. (Gal. 5:22-23.)

There is a spiritual kingdom over which God rules. Christians are translated into that kingdom. "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." (Col. 1:13-14.) Jesus said, "The kingdom of God comes not with observation. Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or, lo, there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20-21.) Understanding this kingdom, participating in the work of God’s kingdom, believing the things concerning the kingdom sanctify us.

This is a new sphere of existence; a different understanding of life and its purpose than what the world follows. In this kingdom, the servant is the greatest. The first are made last, and the last first. God is both King and Father. We are taught to love our enemies and do good to those who despise us. We have learned that all men are made in God’s image; therefore, we salute all men as equals. In this way, we fulfill Jesus’ words: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matt. 5:48.)

"That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, that according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord." (1 Cor. 1:29-31.)

Being in Christ, we have wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Man should not glory in himself, but rather in the Lord. Paul wrote, "But by the grace of God I am what I am." (1 Cor. 15:10.) We should never think of sanctification as something we now do on our own after God saves us. Just as we are dependent upon the Lord for our wisdom, righteousness and redemption, we are likewise dependent upon him for our sanctification. We are set apart from the world because we are in Christ.

Some religious leaders have rejected the notion of Jesus’ righteousness being imputed to us because they felt that sanctification made it unnecessary! That is, if we can become righteous through sanctification, we would not need the righteousness of Jesus! The Council of Trent, 1546, concluded: "It was generally agreed that the concept of imputed righteousness was an irrelevance, on account of the renovation of man in justification." (Alister McGraft, Vol. 2, 76.) Later, the Pietist felt that sanctification was more important than justification, and regarded the doctrine of imputed righteousness as detrimental to personal piety.

Paul made it clear that we find our sanctification in Jesus. We find our righteousness there. It cannot be found in us. We should never think of sanctification as a work of man, as "personal piety." It is God who works in us to will and to do his good pleasure. (Phil. 2:13.)

What connects justification and sanctification? There are many things in the Scriptures, but faith certainly provides the continuation from man being declared righteous and his growth in Christ. A submissive faith is both the motivator and enabler. Man has no ground for boasting in justification or sanctification. One is not the work of God and the other a work of man. Both are of God and are closely conjoined.

Justification Sanctification

A forensic problem A life problem

Removes guilt Removes corruption

God as Judge God as Physician

Eternal (from above) Internal

Completed act Continuing process

Christ died for us We die with Christ

Sinner’s great need Christian’s great need

Imputed righteousness Imparted righteousness

Solves law-breaking Solves law-keeping