CHAPTER 4 - JUSTIFICATION AND SANCTIFICATION 4.1 JUSTIFICATION Justification is the judicial act of God, by which He graciously released from all the penalty of guilt, and from all Divine condemnation from sin, freely pardons and restores the sinner to His favour, accepting Him as righteous in His sight. It has its origin in the love of God for mankind: it has been secured for us through the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ: and on our part is obtained and retained through genuine repentance from sin and faith in the Lord Jesus as Saviour. Justification is distinct from Regeneration, in as much as the former is a change wrought by the Spirit of God in man himself; Justification and Regeneration are inseparable in the economy of Redemption, and are instantaneous and simultaneous in the experience of the believer. To divorce these acts of God’s grace is to undermine the whole fabric of New Testament teaching. (Rom. 3: 24; 5: 1 - 9; 8: 33; 10: 4; I Cor. 6: 11). 4.2 SANCTIFICATION The root meaning of “Sanctification” is to “Set apart” or “Separate”, as in the case of the Sabbath, the vessels of the temple and the priests. The meaning of the word, as generally used in Scripture, conveys the thought of separation, dedication, and possession. The teaching of Sanctification as being suppression is not an adequate presentation of truth. Again, the teaching of eradication is destitute of Scripture authority. (Gal. 5: 16) The true interpretation of Scripture would convey the thought of suspension of the old nature. It is rendered inoperative, out of action, and powerless. This is the negative side. (Romans 6: 6). There is also Sanctification the thought of counteraction (the positive side) through the power of the indwelling Christ made manifest by the Holy Spirit. (Gal. 5: 17). Distinction should be made between the act of Sanctification and the process. The first is instantaneous; the second is progressive. (II Cor. 7: 1).
Posted on: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 14:11:42 +0000
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