“Justification is a matter of imputation (reckoning, charging): the sinner’s guilt is imputed to Christ; the latter’s righteousness is imputed to the sinner (Gen. 15: 6; Ps. 32: 1; Isa. 53: 4– 6; Jer. 23: 6; Rom. 5: 18, 19). Sanctification is a matter of transformation (2 Cor. 3: 17, 18). In justification the Father takes the lead (Rom. 8: 33); in sanctification the Holy Spirit does (2 Thess. 2: 13). The first is a “once for all” verdict, the second a life-long process. Nevertheless, although the two should never be identified, neither should they be separated . They are distinct but not separate. In justifying the sinner, God may be viewed as the Judge who presides over a law court. The prisoner is standing in the dock . The Judge acquits the prisoner, pronouncing him “not guilty but righteous.” The former prisoner is now a free man. But the story does not end here. The Judge now turns to that free man and adopts him as his son, and even imparts his own Spirit to him (Rom. 8: 15; Gal. 4: 5, 6). Here justification and sanctification touch each other, as it were; for, out of gratitude, this justified person, through the enabling power of the Spirit, begins to fight against his sins and to abound in good works to the glory of his Judge-Father. Good works never justify anyone, but no truly justified person wants to be without them (Eph. 2: 8– 10). [17]
White, James R. (2007-05-01). God Who Justifies, The (pp. 74-75). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
[17] William Hendriksen, Galatians (Baker, 1989), 98.
Filed under: Bible Study, Doctrine, Theology Tagged: Bible Study, Doctrine, Gospel, Theology, Truth
