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Justification and Sanctification

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In die kürze, liegt die würze

Gregory J. Rummo
Justification & Sanctification

Luther said, “Virtually the whole of scripture and the understanding of theology depends

upon a true understanding of the law and the gospel.” 1 Augustine wrote, “The usefulness of the

law lies in convicting man of his infirmity and moving him to call upon the remedy of grace

which is in Christ.” 2 And Calvin, believing that the intent of the law was to move man to the

cross, wrote “Moses had no other intention than to invite all men to go straight to Christ.” 3

There is a decided forward motion in these three statements, leading us away from the

two stone tablets delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai towards the cross on Calvary. Yet Jesus

points us back to Sinai when he says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments, (John

14:15).” With these thoughts in mind, let us turn our attention to two of the most important

doctrines of the Christian faith: justification and sanctification, to help us understand that while

Christians are no longer under condemnation by the law (Gal. 5:18) they are still commanded to

love the law, (Rom. 7:22) to obey it (cf. John 14:15, Rom. 7:25) and to give glory to God 4 (1

Cor. 10:31). It therefore behooves us to utilize the law as a normative framework for Christian

ethics (Psa. 119: 1-16).

Justification

Salvation is a one-time event that occurs in the life of a person when God declares that

person righteous, i.e., without sin or justified. Luther called it “forensic justification.” Calvin

described it as if a believer were standing in a courtroom wearing Christ’s righteousness like a

robe. This declaration is based solely on Christ’s efficacious death on the cross for the sins of the

1
R. J. Grunewald, The Bible in Two Words: Law and Gospel, The Bible in Two Words: Law and Gospel —
[Link]
2
John Calvin, “The Law Drives Us Into Despair and Moves Us to Seek Grace - First Use,” The Institutes of the
Christian Religion, The Law Drives Us Into Despair and Moves Us to Seek Grace - First Use | Monergism
3
John Calvin, Commentary on the Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ According to John, in Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol.
XVII (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1981), 217. Calvin is commenting on John 5:38.
4
“Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever,” – SC, Q1.
Justification & Sanctification

world. It becomes personal when an individual hears the Gospel, comes under the conviction of

the Holy Spirit and by faith—itself a gift from God (Eph. 2:8-9)—repents and believes in

Christ’s finished work on the cross. It is at that point that the person receives forgiveness from

sin, is justified, and receives the gift of eternal life, (John 3:16-18). The process leading up to

justification may be lengthy, occurring after months of church attendance, hearing the Gospel

preached repeatedly, the influence of godly friends or relatively short, hearing the Gospel for the

first time in a tent revival meeting, for example. God uses many different methods in the process

of salvation, for God is “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance,

(2. Pet. 3:9).”

Sanctification

In contrast to justification, sanctification is a process that should begin after justification

and continue over a lifetime. True justification should produce sanctification. We are called to be

holy, (1 Pet. 1:14-15). It is progressive holiness. As believers, we are commanded to set our

desires “on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” (Col 3:1 cf. Col. 3:5).

And while God has promised us that the indwelling Holy Spirit “would lead us in all truth, (John

16:13),” it is the moral law contained in the Ten Commandments that is the truth which the Holy

Spirit uses to sanctify us and which provides the moral framework for the rules we are to

observe.

It is possible to avoid legalism in discussing the necessity of keeping the law by making

the distinction between justification before God and men. Paul wrote that we are justified by

faith before God apart from observing the law, (Rom 3:28 cf. Gal 2:16) but James wrote that if

we are truly justified, our works would reflect that, (Jas. 2:22-24) and would justify us before

men.
 Justification & Sanctification

Jesus called believers to be salt and light, to “let your light shine before men, that they

may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven, (Matt. 5:16),”

underscoring the necessity for good works in the life of a Christian. These should be intentional

pursuits such as evangelism, discipleship, church attendance, praying, tithing and personal Bible

study and lifestyle; the way we speak, our demeanor, the sources of entertainment we frequent

and how we spend our leisure time. In short, our testimony should reflect a sanctified life. And

this should be our heart’s desire for the love of Christ “constrains us,” (2 Cor. 5:14-15).

We avoid antinomianism by emphasizing that by grace we no longer are under the curse

of the law, (Gal 3:13). But Jesus emphasized that while he came to fulfill our moral obligation to

obey the law for salvation, (Matt 5:17), he did not come to destroy the law. The law is still in

effect but having a different purpose in the life of a saint: to provide a moral framework for

sanctification.

The law of liberty (2 Cor. 3:17) sets us free to obey the law of the spirit of life in Christ

(Rom 8:2). We fulfil the law of the spirit of life in Christ when we obey the moral law of God,

not to be saved but because we are saved. Justification sets us free to do what we should do next.

And what is that?—to avoid what the law forbids and to advance joyfully what the law

commands.

Bibliography

Calvin, John, “The Law Drives Us Into Despair and Moves Us to Seek Grace - First Use,” The
Institutes of the Christian Religion,
Calvin, John Commentary on the Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ According to John, in Calvin’s
Commentaries, Vol. XVII (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1981), 217. Calvin is commenting
on John 5:38.
Grunewald, R. J. , The Bible in Two Words: Law and Gospel, The Bible in Two Words: Law and
Gospel — [Link]

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