Justification is through faith (belief, repentance, reliance, trust, obedience) in Jesus Christ’s work on the cross that redeems, forgives, and by which we are reborn into a new creation – a child of God. We can add nothing or do anything to or in our lives that will ever make us worthy of this gift of salvation. Likewise, we can do nothing so vile or bad that the work of Jesus Christ on the cross will not save us. God’s great love, grace, and mercy are displayed in and through Jesus Christ for the salvation of all who would believe. A person is only justified by faith in Jesus Christ. Let know works of man ever be thought worthy of this eternal heavenly gift.
Sanctification by no means is a means of justification. Hear this loud. Hear this clearly. Sanctification is a witness to the working of God in our life. The works we may do, though they are imperfect and add nothing to our justification, they are pleasing to God. In a believer’s life, there should be a healthy conflict and struggle in our minds as we fight the sinful nature within us and as we grow in our understanding of our sinfulness and propensity toward it. As God’s Word and the Holy Spirit lead, guide, convict, and instruct us in righteousness we grow in sanctification (step by step) and become more sanctified day upon day, year upon year. Not more justified – more sanctified. In our sanctification growth, every aspect of our God-honoring and glorifying lives will expand, widen, deepen, and be strengthened. The point is this; born again person who has proposed in the heart and mind to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all they think, say, and does will discern more, understand more, do more, trust more, and repent more as the progress and mature in their spiritual life in proportion to the closeness of their walk and commitment with God.
