Great Doctrines of the Bible
Lesson 22
Justification and Sanctification

Introduction
What we would like to do in this lesson is to make doctrine come alive to you. It is impossible to fully enjoy the blessing of your salvation without a thorough grasp of the vital doctrines embodied in that salvation, such as redemption, reconciliation, propitiation, adoption.

We want you to see that the study of such truths need not be dull. To fully understand and be able to apply these truths to your life is to make Christ and your Christian faith flow and glow with reality.
In this lesson we want to clearly teach the meaning and significance of the primary doctrines of justification and sanctification. May the value of the truths they contain fill your soul with joy.

Importance of this Lesson

• The question that has perplexed man through the ages: “How then can man be justified with God?”
  (Job 25:4), was asked by Bildad the Shuhite. How can a law-breaking, Christ-denying, God-defying, wrath-deserving sinner be declared totally righteous and free of guilt by an absolutely holy God? If it can be done, it is the most remarkable news a person could ever hear, and that news is in this lesson.
• But, while justification is positional, sanctification is practical and relates more to daily living.
• Justification relates to what God declares us to be and how He sees us.
• Sanctification is not only positional in Christ, it is progressive as we grow in holiness of life.
• Because both doctrines are identified with righteousness, we are dealing with both in this one lesson.

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The Lesson

I. JUSTIFICATION

1. Its Meaning
   1. In daily language we often say things like, “There was no justification for what he did,” or “He tried to justify his actions before the jury.” In either case, the usage means “to make right.” His actions could not be “made right,” or “He tried to make right” his actions before the jury.
      • Interestingly, the use of this word in the New testament is much the same. “To justify” and “justification” are directly related to the words, “righteous” and “righteousness” since both derive from very similar Greek words.
      Verb = dikaioo = “to declare righteous” or “to justify”
      Noun = dikaiosune = “righteousness” or “justification”
      Adjective = dikaios = “righteous” or “justified”
   2. Justification contains two elements:
      1. The forgiveness of all sin, guilt and/or blame (Romans 8:1,33; Acts 13:38-39).
      2. The imputation of God’s righteousness and the complete restoration to God’s favor (Romans 3:22, 4:5).
   3. Justification does not make us righteous in a practical sense. It is a judicial, legal act of God whereby He declares us to be righteous when we believe. In other words, it relates to how God sees us the moment we place our trust for salvation in Christ.
      It concerns our relationship to God that was ruined by Adam and sin. It is a return to the full favor, acceptance and blessing of God. It relates to our standing as believers, not our state. Our state is our spiritual condition and relates to regeneration and sanctification.
   4. Justification is the result of a transaction in which the believing sinner and the Lord Jesus Christ change places (2 Corinthians 5:21).
      1. Christ becomes sin! We become righteous.
      2. Christ is so linked to the believing sinner, God reckons our sins to be His. The believing sinner is so linked to Christ, God reckons His righteousness to be ours!!!
   5. Justification is not simply a pardon by the judge. It is restoration of full rights and relationships as though we had never been guilty.
   6. Justification is coming into God’s courtroom, having believed on Christ and having been clothed with His righteousness and hearing the judge of all the earth say, “Not guilty” (Romans 8:1).
2. Its Authority – By whose word and by what right can we claim to be righteous and without guilt or blame in God’s sight? The answer is God Himself (Romans 3:26, 30; 8:33).
3. Its Premise – Where is the origin, by what source are we justified? The answer is “by grace”
   (Titus 3:7; Galatians 5:4; Romans 3:24). If by grace, it must be free, undeserved and by God’s favor in Christ alone.
4. Its Means
   1. By the shed blood of Christ (Hebrews 9:22; Romans 5:9).
   2. By the redemptive work of Christ (Romans 3:24). Justification is not cheap. Christ paid the price!
   3. By the propitiatory work of Christ. This relates to the mercy seat in the tabernacle in the wilderness. When God saw the blood sprinkled on the mercy seat He was satisfied that sin had been confessed and typically paid for. In the blood of Jesus, God sees our sins as paid for. His holiness is satisfied and He can now be “just and the justifier” of all who believe (Romans 3:26).
5. Its Completeness – we are justified from:
   1. All things (Acts 13:38-39; Romans 8:1).
   2. All iniquity (Titus 2:14).
   3. All of our sins were laid on Him (Isaiah 53:6).
   4. All of His righteousness is laid on us (Romans 3:22).
6. Its Method or Procedure
   1. By FAITH alone.
      (Galatians 2:16; 3:8,11; Habbakuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Hebrews 10:38; Romans 3:25-28; 4:2-5).
   2. Suppose a man is thoughtful and kind, he cares for his family, loves his wife, serves good causes in the community, pays his debts, and is morally upright. Why is he not justified?
      1. Because God sees no man as righteous (Romans 3:23; Isaiah 53:6; 64:6).
      2. Because salvation is by grace and therefore cannot be by character or works (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 4:5).
      3. Because works, or Law, were never able or intended to make man righteous or to live righteously.
         1. Romans 3:20 – The “therefore” of this verse assumes that a trial has taken place and a verdict announced. (Read verses 9-12 for the verdict!)
         2. The law exposes sin but provides no remedy and no emancipation. It can only stop our mouths and declare us guilty (Romans 3:19).
      4. Because the law requires perfect obedience (Galatians 3:10; 5:3).
      5. Because then such a man could boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). Note the word about Abraham in Romans 4:2. If by works he could boast, “but not before God.”
      6. So, we are shut up to grace and faith!
      7. Its Certainty or Assurance
         The resurrection (Romans 4:25). All of our hope and assurance is linked to the resurrection of Christ (1 Peter 1:3). The resurrection is the proof that God was satisfied with the work of Christ on our behalf.
      8. Its results
         1. Peace with God (Romans 5:1; Colossians 1:20-21). A peace treaty has been signed in the blood of Jesus! The enmity has been removed, the differences resolved, the barriers to fellowship and communion broken down. The war is over. I am at peace with God
         2. No Wrath! Now or ever!
            1. John 3:36 – “The wrath of God abideth on him.” Not any longer!
            2. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 – Sinners go through the Day of God’s wrath, but not the believer. (Read Romans 5:9.)
         3. Good Works. The justified believer has been “created in Christ Jesus unto good works”
            (Ephesians 2:10). Works never justify, but the justified believer will work (James 2:17, 22).
            • In James 2:14-20, James is speaking of the fruit of justification. Paul looks at the root! They do not contradict each other. James simply says, faith without works is dead. That is, faith that fails to work is no faith at all, and that kind of faith does not save. Paul agrees.
         4. Glory!
            1. Titus 3:7 – having been justified, we are made heirs (Romans 8:17-18).
            2. Romans 8:30 – “whom He justified, them he also glorified.” In God’s eyes, we have already inherited the glory we shall share with Christ.
            3. 1 John 3:2 – We shall be like Him.
               At the rapture or resurrection we shall actually be what God sees and reckons us to be right now.
      9. Once more, how are we justified in God’s eyes?
         1. Romans 3:20 – Not by the deeds of the law.
         2. Romans 3:26-28 – Entirely by faith in the person and work of Jesus.

II. SANCTIFICATION

1. Its Meaning
   1. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, the English words sanctify and holy, in their various grammatical forms mean “to set apart for God.”
   2. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word is “Qdsh” or Qodesh” which basically means “to set apart” or “to make holy.”
   3. In the New Testament, the Greek word is “hagios” in various forms and is translated “holy,” “holiness,” “sanctify,” “sanctified” and “sanctification.”
   4. In both testaments, the words are used for both people and things.
      1. Illustrations in the Old Testament:
         1. Genesis 2:3 – The seventh day is sanctified.
         2. Exodus 19:23 – Mt. Sinai is sanctified.
         3. Leviticus 27:14 – A man sanctifies his house and field.
         4. Joshua 7:13 – Joshua is told to sanctify the people.
         5. Exodus 29:36 – The altar is sanctified.
         6. Exodus 29:44 – Aaron and his sons are sanctified.
            • In every situation, the meaning is to set apart as holy for God. Also, bear in mind that the same word “Qodash” is rendered “dedication,” “consecration,” and “holiness” in addition to “sanctification.”
      2. Illustrations in the New Testament:
         1. Matthew 23:17, 19 – The gold on the altar and the gift laid.
         2. 1 Timothy 4:5 – Food is sanctified.
         3. 1 Corinthians 7:14 – The unbelieving wife of a believer is sanctified.
         4. John 10:36 – Christ was sanctified by the Father.
         5. 1 Peter 13:15 – The believer sanctifies Christ in his heart.
            • Again, in all verses, the meaning is “to set apart for God.”
   5. When used of things, the word “sanctify” does not imply any inner moral quality.
      When used of persons there is a three-fold meaning.
      1. Positional
         1. Believers are viewed as being “in Christ.” The phrase is found 18 times in Ephesians alone.
         2. Positionally, as being “in Christ,” believers are said to be sanctified (1 Corinthians 1:2, and called saints, “holy ones” (Ephesians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:2). Also in 1 Corinthians 1:30, Christ is said to be the believer’s sanctification.
         3. Note in Hebrews 10:10, we see that believers are sanctified forever (once for all)
            “… through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ….”
      2. Practical and/or Progressive - Experientially, believers develop in holiness and grow in grace (2 Peter 3:18):
         1. Through the Word of God (John 17:17; Ephesians 5:26).
         2. By the Holy Spirit working in and through us (2 Corinthians 3:18).
         3. Through God working in us (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
      3. Perfect and/or Prophetic - Perfection must await the coming of the Lord for then:
         1. we shall be changed into incorruption (1 Corinthians 15:51-56).
         2. we shall be like the Lord Jesus (1 John 3:2), and our sanctification will be complete.
2. When is a believer sanctified?
   1. Positionally, the moment we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 26:18) by “faith.” For at that moment we are:
      1. baptized into Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), and
      2. set apart or sanctified in Him (1 Corinthians 1:2 ), and
      3. He becomes our sanctification (1 Corinthians 1:30).
   2. However, practically, progressively and experientially, we become more and more set apart for God – more and more sanctified and holy.
      1. We are to “perfect holiness” in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1).
      2. God has called us to holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:7).
      3. God’s will is that we yield our members to holiness and become the servants of righteousness (Romans 6:19-20).
      4. Teachers and pastors are for the perfecting of the saints until they reach the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13).
3. How are we sanctified?
   1. By the sacrifice and blood of Christ (Hebrews 10:10, 29).
   2. By following Christ’s example (Ephesians 4:20-32; Philippians 2:5).
   3. By cleansing of the Word of God (John 17:17; Ephesians 5:26).
   4. By the power of the Holy Spirt.
      1. The Holy spirit is the agent in our sanctification (1Peter 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 15:16. The Spirit works in harmony with God’s election of us.
      2. The Holy Spirit is also the power by which Sanctification is effected in us (Romans 8:13; Ephesians 3:16; Galatians 5:16

Examination

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