What do justification and sanctification mean?

Q: What do justification and sanctification mean?

A: Justification means our declared righteousness before God, made possible by Christ’s death and resurrection for us. Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness, made possible by the Spirit’s work in us.

Titus 3:3–8 ESV

3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

INTRODUCTION

Beautiful words.

PRAYER:

Lord, the psalmist prayed “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” Today we ask that you would open our eyes, our ears, and our hearts to your Spirit. We ask that you would do what only you can do in us and among us. We ask for your blessings on this time. Help us to see your clearer that we might delight in you more. Teach us your word and what it means for our lives. In Jesus’ name we ask all this by faith in his promises. Amen.

JUSTIFICATION: WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO BELIEVERS

Justification means our declared righteousness before God, made possible by Christ’s death and resurrection for us.

Why do we need to be justified?

Titus 3:3 ESV

3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

Two dimensions of our unrighteousness:

(1) relational breakdown

(2) ‘legal’ guilt.

The reality of our unrighteousness: we have no path to being justified by our own actions and abilities.

Unless we understand sin, we won’t understand God’s work in the gospel.

How has God justified us?

Titus 3:4–7 ESV

4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

An early Christian ‘song’? The words describe the beauty of what God has done in Christ to justify the unrighteous (v3).

(4) The goodness and kindness of God in contrast to our sinfulness (APPEARED IN CHRIST).

(5) Not according to our works but according to his own mercy.

(5-6) The power of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.

(7) Justified by his grace toward adoption into his family.

What does justification mean for us?

Titus 3:7 ESV

7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

God has declared us righteous—relationally and legally— by the gracious work of Jesus. Those who believe in Christ truly belong to God.

Justification is the foundation of the Christian identity.

The three page book.

SANCTIFICATION: WHAT IS HAPPENING TO BELIEVERS

Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness, made possible by the Spirit’s work in us.

Titus 3:8 ESV

8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

What do we do with the reality of our daily struggle with temptation, weakness, sin, and selfishness?

Sanctification follows justification.

There is a temptation for those outside of Christianity AND inside of the church to think that we can only be right with God if we do the work to “clean ourselves up.”

“The steamship whose machinery is broken may be brought into port and made fast to the dock. She is safe, but not sound. Repairs may last a long time. Christ designs to make us both safe and sound. Justification gives the first—safety; sanctification gives the second—soundness.” O. P. Gifford

Do you trust that you are safe in Christ? Do you see your circumstances as his work to make you sound?

Sanctification is passively active.

Two ‘poles’ of understanding sanctification:

(1) ALL ACTIVE - I need to work to ‘live up’ to my forgiveness. (Working to earn God’s favor on my own).

(2) ALL PASSIVE - I will “let go and let God.” (Jesus take the wheel—lottery?) Does the Bible lead us to believe in ‘effortless’ faith?

“Sanctification requires discipline, concentration, and effort, as is clear by the many exhortations of Scripture, especially those where the Christian life is described with such figures as running and fighting (1 Cor 9:24–27; Eph 6:10–17). On the other hand, men must always resist the temptation to assume that they in effect sanctify themselves, that spiritual power comes from within them and that they may therefore rely on their own strength.” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible

Colossians 1:29 ESV

29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Two truths from Paul: (1) I toil and struggle. (2) ENABLED by the power from God within me.

Remember the power in us: Titus 3:5–6 “5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,”

“Perhaps the real “secret” of holiness consists precisely in learning to keep that balance: relying thoroughly on God as the true agent in sanctification while faithfully discharging one’s personal responsibility. “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord” (Prv 21:31).” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible

What do you believe about sanctification? How is that impacting how you are growing in Christ?

Sanctification is a gradual growth in holy humility.

The Bible teaches us that sanctification is a marathon and not a sprint. We tend to grow in small degrees of transformation over long periods of time.

The Bible teaches us that sanctification is a paradox of growth: the closer we get to God (holiness) the more we are aware of our lack of holiness apart from God.

We often get frustrated in discipleship and sanctification when our goals and timetables are self-driven and not Spirit-driven.

“God says, ‘Here is one, if he could be rid of this lust I should never hear of him more; let him wrestle with this, or he is lost.’” John Owen

How do we move from self-motivated spiritual goals to Spirit-driven goals?

GLORIFICATION: WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO BELIEVERS

Titus 3:7 ESV

7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Glorification is the coming reality for believers where justification and sanctification finally and fully meet.

Three closing commitments:

We will rest in what God has done for us in the work of Jesus.

We will trust in what God is doing in us by the power of his Spirit.

We will hope in what God has promised us for the future.

CLOSING PRAYER:

Romans 8:29–30 ESV

29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Father, you have told us in your word that you have predestined us to be conformed to the image of Jesus your Son. Lord, your word says we are called, we are justified, we are being transformed and sanctified, and that from your perspective, we are already glorified. Father, it is so hard for us to see things the way that you do. We wrestle and struggle to remember that we belong safe in your arms. We forget that in all things you are sanctifying us. We forget to focus on your future promises. Today, we pray, that you would increase in us a love for you and a gratitude for the gospel. Help us to grow in our understanding of your word and your will so that we might live for you and be witnesses for your goodness. Bless us this week as we depend on you for all provision and guidance. Amen.