Justified and sanctified
Justification and sanctification are two important words we should have some understanding of to help us grow in our walk with God, but what do they mean and how important are they to our walk as a disciple of Jesus?
Justification: is the result of the work of Jesus taking our place on the cross for all our sin.
Sanctification: means to be made holy and has two applications for us as a Christian.
Galatians 2:16 NKJV
[16] knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
The word for Justified means simply to declare to be righteous. Just as if I’d never sinned. We see clearly that by no means can we justify ourselves before God
We have also been sanctified. This happens at salvation and means to be made holy.
Hebrews 10:10 NKJV
By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
There is then also the ongoing work of sanctification.
Hebrews 10:14 NKJV
[14] For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
The word sanctified is the same word as in Hebrews 10 verse 10 and means to be made holy, to be set apart. It is used here to describe how we are becoming like Christ as our thinking and actions become more sanctified, or, more Christ like.
Sanctification is the initial work done in us at salvation and then there is an ongoing work in us as we become more like Him.
So how do we continue on in justification and sanctification
Stay rooted in Christ so you can grow up into Him.
Colossians 2:6-7 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Ephesians 4:15 NKJV
[15] grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ
How did we receive Christ Jesus as Lord? We heard the word preached, we believed and we spoke. As we received Christ Jesus as Lord, so continue on in Him by hearing, believing and speaking the Word about Christ.