One of the greatest deceptions of our day has to do with the misinterpretation of what justification and sanctification mean, as they pertain to godly living. To begin with, it is important for us to have a clear knowledge of what the two words mean. To “Justify” means to acquit of wrong doing, and to “Sanctify” means to make holy, or to consecrate for holiness.
We must be very careful not to let Hollywood put its own spin on what exactly took place at Calvary, for if we subscribe to their version of Christ’s sacrifice in our behalf, we will end up feeling sorry for Jesus, a reaction that was never intended by God. God does not desire anyone to feel sorry for Christ, but instead He would have us understand first, why we deserve what we deserve, and secondarily to appreciate what our acquittal cost.
When our focus is removed from the deeper issues involved at the cross, then our understanding of the great sacrifice made in our behalf becomes emotionally charged, and we will consequently serve God from an emotional perspective, which is essentially fluid in nature, instead of with the clear understanding of the value and necessity of His great sacrifice. That’s why in order for us to have an intelligent understanding of God’s grace, we must study law, for both concepts are inseparably intertwined, hence the reason why the psalmist David penned the following words. Let’s read:
Psalms 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
119:41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, [even] thy salvation, according to thy word.
119:42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.
In any court of law, a person can only be acquitted of wrong if evidence to the contrary has been clearly established and presented. But the Bible makes it very clear that we have no evidence in and of ourselves to present, in order that we may be absolved of wrong doing. This statement of fact also includes the many “Good deeds” we may have done or continue to do.
For instance, Bernie Madoff was a prominent philanthropist who gave away millions of dollars to worthy, charitable causes. Yet when he was arraigned on charges of fraud, embezzlement, and the running of the largest Ponzi scheme in history, his good deeds could not be brought into the equation as a means whereby his evil deeds could be off-set. Doing good in some areas does not atone for wrongs committed in other areas, hence the reason why the Bible states unequivocally, that no person can be acquitted by doing good, for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Let’s read:
Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.
3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
It follows logically then, that in order for us to be acquitted of sin, some perfect form of evidence must be presented in our behalf, and that evidence can only be found in Christ, who has no sinful history to tarnish his innocence, as we have. The question then for us to understand at this point is how can it be legally acceptable in a court of law, to present evidence belonging to an innocent person in behalf of a guilty person? In attempting to understand this question we should remember that whatever God does is done in truth and righteousness and is perfect as far as justice is concerned. This sacred truth is firmly established in the Bible. Let’s read:
Deuteronomy 32:3 Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
32:4 [He is] the Rock, his work [is] perfect: for all his ways [are] judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right [is] he.
The reason why this action of acquittal through the transference of the innocence and righteousness of Christ is legal, is because the guilt of another person was transferred to all of us by inheritance, without our consent or input, and that’s what makes the transference of righteousness to us, fair and balanced. Let’s read again:
Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, [it is] evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
The phrases “No flesh” and “All have sinned” as used in Romans 3:22& 23 are all inclusive, meaning that every person that is born, or will be born is not acquitted by doing right or good charitable deeds. It is very important for us to understand what the apostle Paul is stating, for an incorrect interpretation of these passages can lead to self-righteousness. When we refer to our justification or acquittal, as accomplished for us by Christ, we often look back at our personal lives to see exactly where our feet stumbled, and in many cases we can indeed point to a plethora of sinful thoughts, actions, habits, and indulgences, which deserve the retribution that was meted out to Christ at Calvary.
Yes, we did commit adultery on several occasions, and yes, we did shack up before getting married, and yes, we did have children out of wedlock, and yes, we did smoke our spliff filled with ganga and other forbidden herbs, and yes, we did drink a whole lot of fire water, and yes we did curse out several people on different occasions, and yes, we did go to jail for punching someone in the face, and yes, we do deserve the punishment that Christ received in our stead.
However, this aspect of our guilt and subsequent acquittal by Christ is the easy part, for we can clearly see where we have done wrong. But this aspect does not address the deeper issue of acquittal on the part of someone who did not commit any of these sins, and therefore, in order for us to understand the other aspect of justification, we will now take a journey into the interior province of Punjab Pakistan, where a little girl by the name of Chandra was born a few months ago, to God-fearing Christian parents.
As Chandra was being delivered, the umbilical cord somehow got wrapped around her neck and thus choked off much needed oxygen to her brain, and as a result she was born partially brain dead. However the doctors were able to stabilize her and kept her alive for some time. But after a while she suddenly began to deteriorate and she finally expired after only three short weeks.
Chandra did not smoke any spliff, neither did she commit adultery, or punch anyone in the face, yet, if God decides to save her, she also would have to be acquitted, since the Bible clearly states that all have sinned. Guilt is a state not a feeling, and since Chandra was born into a state of guilt because of Adam’s sin, therefore she is just as in need of Christ’s perfect innocence and righteousness, as is Bernie Madoff. Let’s read:
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
There are also some other issues pertaining to acquittal, that we should all be cognizant of, for there is a doctrine now being circulated in modern Christendom which says “Once saved, always saved, and many sincere Christians have chosen to hang their salvation hat upon this unscriptural peg. Acquittal only becomes permanent as we continue to live and walk in the sunshine of Christ’s innocence and righteousness, for it is very possible that after our acquittal, that we can be again be found guilty of the original charge of sin, and that’s why the doctrine which teaches that our justification is forever sealed for eternity, cannot have weight in the heavenly courts, neither can it be upheld in earthly courts.
O.J Simpson was once acquitted on the charge of slaying his wife and friend, much to the chagrin of millions of people who watched the court proceedings with deep interest. However he was later found guilty of other crimes, and is now sitting in state penitentiary, even though he was formerly acquitted. The same is true of those who accept Christ as Lord and Savior. Our acquittal becomes permanent if we choose not to return to a life of sin.
Sanctification however, is the other aspect of the salvation process that needs to be urgently addressed, for God’s ultimate purpose in instituting the plan of salvation, was not only to justify us, but more so to sanctify us, by the removal of every evil trait of character, and clothing us with the robe of Christ’s righteousness, a process that takes a lifetime. Let’s read:
1st Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
4:5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
Many of us as Christians, stop at the point of justification and do not advance to the stage of sanctification, and because of this, inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil are left to run riot, whilst we number themselves as the followers of Christ.
Justification is just the beginning phase, and therefore God desires to continue the work of sanctification in our hearts, by uprooting every un-Christ-like trait of character, and replacing them with His own robe of Righteousness, which not only covers our sins, but also saturates us with His goodness, so that our Christian experience would not be superficial in nature, but rather deep and enduring. The apostle refers to this second phase as moving on to perfection. Let’s read:
Hebrews 6:1 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, and of faith toward God,
6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
If we were to ask a five year old to show us what he has learned in math, he would probably say that two and two is equal to four. But if thirty years later, we were to meet the same person, and were to ask him to show us what he has learned in Math over the years, we would be very surprised if he still said two and two is equal to four. The same is true of the growth in grace that God desires to accomplish in us, for it is an ongoing developmental process, with an upward trajectory, hence the reason why the apostle Peter encourages us to participate in the work of sanctification. Let’s read:
2nd Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In our day and in our own experiences we need to make certain that we do not stop at the acquittal phase, but let us rather move forward into the sanctification stage, so that our lives may bear testimony as to the realities of salvation, as God originally intended. Many of the ancient Hebrews fell into the snare of a superficial, external form of religion that does not touch the heart, nor change old habits, and as a direct result of this, they were lost for eternity. We ourselves are counseled in the Bible to learn from their experiences, by not being satisfied with mere justification, but also to cooperate with God throughout the entire salvation process which is done on an everyday basis. Let’s read:
1st Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as [were] some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].
10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
May the Lord add His blessing to the study and doing of His every word. God bless!