DOCTRINES OF FAITH:
Doctrine 9 / 36: Redemption, Justification, Sanctification
Three terms in the Bible that are similar in meaning and aspect, yet have quite distinct meanings are the words redemption, justification and sanctification. Though all of these terms are directly related to the doctrine of salvation, they are different components of them.
Redemption: To redeem something is to buy something. The redemption of mankind was the purchase of man with the great price of the blood of Jesus Christ. His death was actually a payment for the debt, which sin caused, that was owed to God. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 explicitly says that because the Christian is bought with a price, he is no longer his own. The redemption, the buying, which Jesus did at the cross was for all men (Hebrews 10:29; 1 John 2:2). Again, the redemption of man took place at the cross.
Justification: The justification of a man is when God looks at man, and instead of seeing his sin, sees him in a right standing before Him. A man is justified by putting his faith in Jesus Christ; he is not justified until he does that. Before salvation, a man is a child of wrath by nature, but when he trusts Jesus Christ, his sins are washed away, and God no longer imputes his sin to him. Instead, God reckons Jesus Christ's righteousness to that man's account, and that man has a right standing with God. Redemption took place at the cross; justification takes place when a person is born again.
Sanctification: There are different types of sanctification in the Bible. There is an instantaneous sanctification that takes place at salvation, which is the same as justification. Because God has imputed Christ's righteousness to the believer, instantly the believer is completely holy and sanctified. However, because the believer still is attached to the "old man," he will have a struggle with sin throughout his life. The sanctification process is the conforming of the man into the image of Jesus Christ. As a Christian grows in the grace and knowledge of the Lord, he is being sanctified. Sanctification takes place as the Holy Spirit makes the word of God alive to the believer. And though Christians are commanded to be holy, the old nature still causes him to be less than perfect. 1 John 3:2 declares that when Jesus Christ comes back and appears, then all believers will be changed and will become like Him. At that point, complete sanctification takes place, and as was predestined, all believers will be perfectly conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.
"Such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus."
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