Justification, Glorification, & Sanctification

Justification

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” –Romans 5:1

A man of God acknowledges that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23)”. He is a sinner and he brings his transgressions before Jesus Christ. He believes that Christ died on the cross to grant the final atonement of sins. As a fallen creature, as opposed to God who is perfectly divine, his only chance of reconciliation to his Creator is through Christ alone. This Christ is “the way, the truth, the life, no one goes to the father except through [him] (Jn 14:6)”. 

Justification is through faith and trust by heart.  The scripture says that “for it is with your heart that you believed and are justified (Rom 10:10)”. A Christian rejoices of this justification brought by the victory of Christ in overcoming the world.

Sanctification

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” -1 Thessalonians 5:23

While justification is almost instant, sanctification is a process. It rises from a conviction of the Spirit to go beyond believing and start following.  A man of God embarks in the journey of living a life according to God’s will just as Jesus did. Because he does not anymore live under the slavery of sin but does so under the identity of Christ, he becomes a new creation and is born again. As Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me... (Gal 2:20)”.

Sanctification is through knowing and living out the truth. The scripture says, “sanctify them by the truth: [God’s] word is truth” (Jn 17:17). By meditating upon God’s living Word, a Christian is cleansed and set apart from earthly conformations. He recognizes however that he will never be perfect and is in constant need of repentance. It is Christ who has made the ultimate sacrifice and “..has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified (Heb 10:14)”.

Glorification

“And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” –Romans 8:30

A man of God holds the promise of God for their bodies to finally be glorified. This is a state where no decay or any other impact brought by sin may ever affect them again. The scripture describes a physical transformation where God “who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body (Philip 3:21)”.

Glorification is a believer's final destination. It is not so much about attaining the perfect condition but about becoming worthy and presentable enough to encounter his Lord and Savior face to face. It is the home that he longs for. Just as Jesus was resurrected and glorified, he shall be as well. The scripture affirms that, “…we know when Christ appears; we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is (1 Jn 3:2)”.

*All bible references are taken from the New International Version

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