NCC 32

Question 32 What do justification and sanctification mean?

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.

Which comes first?

a. Justification. Justification is the permanent, legal declaration of innocence issued by God that those who place their faith in Christ are viewed as holy in His sight by virtue of having Christ’s righteousness imputed to them. This is an act of God’s grace—not of one’s own merit—and occurs at the moment of conversion (Rom 3:19-26; 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:8-9).

b. Sanctification. Sanctification is the necessary process through which God makes his children holy and conforms them to the image of Christ. It is the experience of all true believes, though to different degrees, at different speeds, and through different means. Sanctification occurs in stages: first, we were positionally sanctified when we came to faith in Christ (1 Cor 6:11; Heb 10:10). Second, we are being practically sanctified now in this life as we progressively learn to be more like Christ (John 17:17; 2 Cor 3:18; 1 Thess 4:3; Heb 10:14). Third, we will be finally sanctified in glory (1 John 3:2). The process of practical, progressive sanctification will not be complete in this life, but by God’s grace he continues to work in us until we meet him face to face (Phil 1:6). Though we are commanded to grow in holiness, we are ultimately sanctified by God’s good grace (Rom 6:14; Gal 3:3; Phil 2:12-13; 1 Pet 1:15-16).