All believers go through a three step process known as justification, sanctification and glorification. These biblical terms are mentioned often in the Bible so it’s important we understand their meaning. “Justification” is the legal act of God where our status is changed from unsaved sinner to saved believer. God is the righteous judge of creation who gets to decide our fate and he does it based on our faith in, and acceptance of, Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. At the moment of our salvation we are also justified. The two terms are equivalent and I use them interchangeably in my blog. Justification (salvation) is a one time event where our eternal destiny is irrevocably changed from hell to heaven, forever.
When we’re justified before God our sins have been removed (forgiven), our fellowship with God has been restored and the righteousness of Christ has been imputed to us by his death on the cross. Abraham and David were two great Old Testament examples of justification by faith. Both men were aware of, and believed in, the coming Messiah and the righteousness of Christ was imputed to them. Men aren’t justified on the basis of what they’ve done but on what Jesus has done for them. Jesus died on the cross in our place so that our sins might be forgiven.
Romans 5:1 – Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 4:5 – But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.
Sanctification is the lifelong process of growing in grace and spiritual maturity. It starts the moment we’re saved. Sanctification is mentioned 1060 times in the Bible, 760 times in the Old Testament and 300 times in the New Testament. Sanctification means, “to set apart.” God sets us apart from the unbeliever and begins the process of making us more holy; more like Jesus over time. Sanctification is something God does in our lives but we can help speed up the process by daily prayer and the daily reading of God’s Word. God will do 80% of the work if we’ll give 20% of the effort.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 – Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It helps to understand the difference between justification and sanctification if we contrast them:
1. Justification deals with our standing before God (saved), while sanctification deals with our current state of spiritual growth.
2. Justification is that which God has done for us (salvation), while sanctification is that which God does in us.
3. Justification is a one time act (salvation). while sanctification is a continuing work by God.
4. Justification is the means (salvation), while sanctification is the desired end.
5. Justification makes us safe (saved), while sanctification makes us sound,
6. Justification declares us good (believers), while sanctification makes us good.
7. Justification removes the guilt and penalty of sin, while sanctification checks the growth and power of sin in the life of the believer.
8. Justification furnishes the track which leads to heaven, while sanctification furnishes the train to heaven.
Glorification is the final process for the believer and it occurs once we get to heaven. God also completes the justification and sanctification process in heaven. Glorification refers to the ultimate and absolute physical, mental, and spiritual perfection of all believers that we receive from God once we get to heaven. Our new resurrection body will be a part of this glorification. Scientists have determined that man only uses 10% of his brain. When Adam fell from grace in the Garden of Eden God reduced man’s mental capacity by 90%. When we’re glorified by God in heaven we’ll get all our brainpower back.
We’ll be without sin when we enter heaven and because of our glorification we’ll be unable to sin once we’re there. There’ll be nothing in heaven to tempt us to sin and we’ll be indwelt by the Holy Spirit for all eternity. God doesn’t make it clear in the Bible if glorification is a one time event like justification or whether it will be an ongoing process like sanctification. We don’t know all that we’ll become in heaven but what we do know is it’ll be wonderful beyond our wildest imagination.