Justification vs. Sanctification

Attribute	Justification	Sanctification
Definition	Being declared righteous before God	Being made holy or set apart for God
Initiated by	God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ	God's work through the Holy Spirit
Timing	Instantaneous, at the moment of faith	Progressive, ongoing throughout the believer's life
Result	Legal standing of righteousness	Transformation of character
Means	Through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus	Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit

Definition

Justification and sanctification are two important concepts in Christian theology that are often discussed in relation to salvation. Justification is the act of God declaring a sinner righteous based on the work of Jesus Christ. It is a legal term that signifies being acquitted of sin and being made right with God. Sanctification, on the other hand, is the process by which a believer is made holy and set apart for God's purposes. It involves the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer to conform them to the image of Christ.

Means of Attainment

Justification is received by faith alone, apart from works. This means that a person is declared righteous before God not because of their own good deeds, but because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Sanctification, on the other hand, is a cooperative effort between the believer and the Holy Spirit. While it is ultimately God who sanctifies the believer, they are called to actively participate in the process by obeying God's commands and yielding to the work of the Spirit in their lives.

Timing

Justification is a one-time event that occurs at the moment of salvation. When a person puts their faith in Jesus Christ, they are immediately justified before God and their sins are forgiven. Sanctification, on the other hand, is a lifelong process that continues until the believer reaches perfection in heaven. It involves the daily renewal of the believer's mind and heart as they grow in their relationship with God.

Relationship to Sin

Justification deals with the guilt of sin, declaring the believer righteous in God's sight despite their past sins. It is a once-for-all act that cannot be undone. Sanctification, on the other hand, deals with the power of sin in the believer's life. It is the ongoing process of being transformed into the likeness of Christ and overcoming the sinful tendencies that still exist in the believer's heart.

Goal

The goal of justification is to reconcile the believer to God and secure their eternal salvation. It is the foundation upon which the believer's relationship with God is built. Sanctification, on the other hand, is the process by which the believer is conformed to the image of Christ. The goal of sanctification is to make the believer holy and set them apart for God's purposes, enabling them to live a life that is pleasing to Him.

Conclusion

In conclusion, justification and sanctification are two distinct but closely related aspects of the believer's salvation. Justification deals with the legal aspect of salvation, declaring the believer righteous before God based on the work of Jesus Christ. Sanctification, on the other hand, deals with the ongoing process of being made holy and conformed to the image of Christ. While justification is a one-time event that occurs at the moment of salvation, sanctification is a lifelong process that continues until the believer reaches perfection in heaven. Both justification and sanctification are essential components of the believer's salvation and work together to bring about the believer's ultimate transformation into the likeness of Christ.