JUSTIFICATION AND SANCTIFICATION

Or

ETERNAL POSITION AND CURRENT CONDITION

Authored By Gary Jones

Our condition is configured by the wind of The Spirit in the way He has designed and planned us to be. This photograph illustrates how the wind can configure the shape of this Cyprus tree into a unique and beautiful form, much different from the form in its natural growth that is if it is protected from the wind. Jesus referred to the action of The Spirit being like the wind [John 3:8], and so it is with us --- our condition changes as The Spirit’s wind blows. Our seed dies and our shoots break through the soil and become a living tree, which is then formed according to God’s plan and purpose.

There seems to be a great deal of disinformation scattering around our culture about Jesus’ Spirit and the role He plays in our lives. Some contend that we must work diligently to secure our salvation. That our success in this effort is directly related to some inherent power we have in our nature. If we embrace this power, some call it our conscience, and thereby we will be able to gain God’s favor. This favor then in turn leads to our salvation. If we ignore this power, we lose any chance of having a good relationship with God. In essence, such theology as this is advocating the notion that we are masters of our own destiny. Even a causal reading of the scriptures will tell us such a theology, as this, is untrue.

The scriptures tell us that our initial condition coming into this temporal domain is by nature completely hostile towards God and His nature [Romans 3:10-18]. No one has initially any good in them, not anyone. In fact, we are born spiritually in a condition just like someone who is dead [Ephesians 2:1-3]. A dead person has no conscience and cannot do anything, let alone establish their personal destiny. God because of His unmerited love for those He chose [Ephesians 1:4] to change from this condition made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgression [Ephesians 2:4, 5]. It is by grace this new life is made possible. It is given to us through His gift of faith [Ephesians 2:8, 9]. The power to change the dead into being alive is grace, and this power is transmitted through the communication channels of this mind and emotion via a mechanism called faith. Notice this is all a gift from God. It is not because of any human decision or effort [John 1:13]. This transition from death into life, a being born again, is called God’s act of justification [Romans 8:1, 30].

A major problem among a large number of saved Christians is a widespread confusion between justification and sanctification. These are two very separate Biblical conditions. God initiates justification according to His pleasure and will [Ephesians 1:5] then He starts a conforming process, which is managed by Jesus’ Spirit. This conforming process [Romans 8:29] is called sanctification. Justification is an event and sanctification is a process that always begins at the time of justification. No one should confuse these two actions, which are always governed by Jesus’ Spirit. Justification begins in a moment and sanctification takes a lifetime. When the phrase being “lead by God’s Spirit” is used means --- The Spirit is working out His unique plan for each and everyone who has been justified. It is through God’s Spirit that the good life (sanctification) emerges, and it is through Christ’s sacrifice that justification is initiated [1 Peter 1:2]. Mixing these two actions together in any way causes confusion, guilt, and doubt. Keeping them separate provides the groundwork from which faith grows love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.