Justification, Sanctification and glorification, how are they related?

Justification, sanctification and glorification carries deep theological significance, as they relate to our salvation. They are theological terms which are taught extensively in the scriptures, especially from the pen of apostle Paul. Justification, sanctification and glorification has been classified as the three phases of salvation.

If you are able to comprehend and exegete the differences between them, then it means you are growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the life of a born again Christian, justification is in the past tense, sanctification is in the present tense and glorification is in the future tense. I beseech you by the mercies of God to carefully read my thoughts on the subject matter for your spiritual edification.

What is justification?

Justification per what is written in the Holy writ is a one time forensic act of God by which he pronounces a sinner righteous, on the basis of the substitutionary work of Christ in his stead. The moment a person puts their faith in Christ, instantaneously they are acquitted and discharged from their sins, they are declared righteous. Paul wrote this: Therefore, having been justified (declared righteous) by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ--- Romans 5; 1.

The apostle exposited in his epistles, continually hammering on the same truth, that justification is not by the works of the law, but only on the basis of saving faith in Christ Jesus. In his epistle to the Galatians, he wrote: Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "The righteous man shall live by faith"-- Galatians 3; 11. The apostle is saying that faith and not the law is the means to be righteous in the sight of God. 

Justification carries in it the forgiveness of sins. The prophet Isaiah in his doctrine of justification, he wrote down this: By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities-- Isaiah 53; 11. The very people who are justified, their sins too have been borne by God's righteous servant. The righteousness of Christ is logizomai into their account in justification, for it is written: He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him-- 2 Corinthians 5; 21. There was a great exchange, our sins was imputed to him, and his sinless righteousness was logizomai into our account. 

Justification is in the past tense, in the sense that it was a once and for all time act of God by which he declared us righteous. So, now we are already justified the very moment we trusted in Christ Jesus for salvation. This declaration is complete, never to be repeated again. Sin cannot make us revert to our unjustified state, because our justification is a one time legal act of God. For further study, you can read my article on, " What is Justification" and also, " What are the benefits of our Justification".

What is Sanctification?

Sanctification is biblically defined as an ongoing process by which the Spirit of God in us, works on us to conform us into the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the agent of our sanctification, see (2 Thessalonians 2; 13, 1 Peter 1; 2). The work of the Spirit in sanctifying us to be more and more like Jesus, began the day of our conversion. He is active in us, he changes us from inside out, he works on us so that our will will align with the will of God for us.

Before, we sinned without the feeling of shame and godly remorse, but due to his sanctifying work in us, there has been a change. Our sanctification in itself is imperfect, why? Because we will still sin. But the good news is that our love for sin, begins to wane more and more, the domineering power of sin is weakened, because of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in us. The foundation upon which sanctification thrives upon is justification. If you are not Justified, how then can the work of the Holy Spirit begin? Those who are justified (declared righteous) are the only people currently undergoing the process of Sanctification. 

This is an advice to Pastors and teachers of the gospel, in our delivery we must not emphasize on either truth at the expense of another, we must be balance in our exegesis of God's truth. Apostle Paul who taught on Justification also taught the doctrine of sanctification, for the general well being of the universal church. I recommend my article, " What is the difference between Justification and sanctification? And I believe it will be a great blessing to you 

What is glorification?

Glorification biblically speaking is when a believer will attain to the level of sinless perfection. We are anticipating that day and hour, that we will be free from the presence of sin, and will stand before God holy and without fault before him in love, see (Jude 24) . In that state, we will be completely sinless, perfect and holy in our thinking and actions. On that day, we shall see Jesus face to face at the resurrection morn in our glorified resurrected bodies. I love what Paul wrote by the Spirit: Who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself-- Philippians 3; 21.

Our lowly body on that day shall be fashioned like unto his glorious body, for we shall see him as He (Jesus) is and we shall be like him. Our sanctification in this life is still ongoing like I wrote afore, but it will be completed on the day of our resurrection, when our body will be reunited to our soul and spirit. What a glorious day that day will be, every Christian longs to be free from the presence of sin in our lives, but this dream will become a reality only on the day of resurrection.

Our beloved Apostle wrote this: And these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified-- Romans 8; 30

When you look at the chain of salvation, it is from predestination all the way down to glorification. According to the reasoning of the apostle by the Spirit, he says that the person who is Justified (declared righteous) will be glorified. But as we await in anticipation of this momentous day, let us lay aside whatever that will impede us from running the race set before us-- Hebrews 12; 1

A call to believe 

We see around us every day, unbelievers who are laboring to be accepted of God (Justification) and also trying their very best to please God by the way they conduct themselves in this world (Sanctification) and finally to gain access into heaven (glorification). But of a truth, they are toiling for nothing, because justification, sanctification and glorification are spiritual blessings which can only be obtained by saving faith in the Man Jesus Christ.

Aside faith in Christ Jesus, fear, judgement and eternal separation from God awaits them. Therefore, I beseech you, if peradventure you have no personal relationship with Jesus Christ, with my knees on the ground I encourage you to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus from the depth of your heart and thou shalt be saved-- Romans 10; 13. God bless you 

A thought to ponder 🤔 

Those who are justified (declared righteous) are the only people currently undergoing the process of sanctification

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