How are justification and sanctification related?
Justification and sanctification are two distinct works of God's grace that belong inseparably together. Justification is God declaring us righteous through Christ, a finished verdict received once by faith. Sanctification is God making us holy, a lifelong work of the Spirit. Both come from union with Christ and both are gifts of grace, and they are to be distinguished without being separated: we are justified in order to be sanctified, and sanctification is the fruit of justification.
This question arose from studying What does it mean to be justified? and What is grace?.
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What the Scripture says
Justification is a verdict; sanctification is a work in us
Justification is God's declaration: through Christ's one act of righteousness, many are made righteous, and being justified by faith, we have peace with God. It is a verdict pronounced over us, once received by faith and complete in Christ. Sanctification is different in kind: it is the Spirit's gradual work within us, transforming us from glory to glory, a growth that is begun and carried on, not a single finished moment.
So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life.
For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous.
Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;
But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.
being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Both flow from union with Christ
Neither is a separate achievement; both are ours by being in Christ. Paul says Christ 'was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.' And for the Corinthians who had been forgiven of much, he says, 'you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.' Justification and sanctification spring from the same fountain: our union with Jesus.
But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:
Such were some of you, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.
Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.
They must be distinguished, not separated
The two belong to different kinds of grace, and confusing them damages both. Justification is the once-for-all gift that gives us a standing before God; sanctification is the lifelong growth by which we become like Him. Paul connects them without blurring them: 'by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.' Those who are perfected in Christ are being sanctified in Him, and those who are being sanctified rest on the perfection Christ has already secured.
For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Justification produces holiness, never license
A right grasp of justification makes us holy, not careless. Paul asks the question everyone fears: 'What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?' and answers flatly, by no means, because we who died to sin are united to Christ and no longer servants of sin. He urges us, freed from the law's condemnation, to present our members as servants of righteousness for sanctification. Grace received properly always bears the fruit of growing holiness.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer?
For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace.
I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world;
Why it matters: we stand on one and walk in the other
The distinction gives both security and growth. We do not earn our standing by our progress; we are justified by faith, at peace with God through Christ, with no condemnation for those in Him. And because that standing is secure, we are free to pursue holiness without fear: to grow in grace, to become like Him, knowing He who began a good work will complete it. Justification is the ground beneath our feet; sanctification is the path we walk, and both have been given to us by the same gracious Lord.
Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.
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Verses to meditate on
Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;
Such were some of you, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.
For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:
Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.
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