Justified, Now Sanctified

Justification: A legal term related to the idea of guilt vs. innocence. Justification refers to the divine act whereby God makes humans, who are sinful, guilty and therefore worthy of condemnation, acceptable before a God who is holy and righteous. More appropriately described as “justification by grace through faith.” Justification is the opposite of condemnation.

#Justification is the beautiful exchange. God placed my sin upon Jesus and He placed Jesus’s righteousness upon me.

Sanctified: from the Latin sanctus or sacred; set apart

“We believe that Sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of his holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means, especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer.”, New Hampshire Baptist Confession (1833)

Positional sanctification is immediate at the moment of salvation.

Practical sanctification is a lifetime process of becoming like Jesus.

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.2 Corinthians 3:18

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.1 Peter 1:15-16

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.Romans 6:13

Sanctification is about growth in righteousness, holiness and Christlikeness.

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.2 Peter 3:18

Sanctification is not done by our own works.

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?Galatians 3:3

Sanctification uses the Word of God to change my heart.

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.John 17:16-17

Sanctification requires death to self and a filling of the Spirit.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.Romans 12:1-2

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.Romans 6:13-14

Sanctification allows God to use us in a greater way.

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.2 Timothy 2:20-21

Growth is always difficult, sometimes painful and hardly ever linear.

God is not finished with you.

God is not finished with your growth plan.

Don’t rush the growth cycle.

Don’t ever quit.