The Indivisible Gifts of Redemption
Justification and sanctification are two sides of the same coin, inseparable gifts of redemption that flow from the unified work of the triune God. Both are expressions of God’s gratuitous mercy, bestowed upon believers through faith alone in Christ alone.
The Unity of Justification and Sanctification
While justification is often seen as a one-time event, sanctification is an ongoing process. However, both are grounded in the same saving intention of God. The New Testament uses the same term to describe both the decisive consecration of believers at their conversion (definitive sanctification) and their ongoing growth in holiness (progressive sanctification). This linguistic connection highlights the integral relationship between justification and sanctification.
The Trinitarian Foundation
The inseparability of justification and sanctification is rooted in the Trinitarian nature of God. The Father’s electing mercy, the Son’s redeeming work, and the Spirit’s regenerating power all work together to bring about the salvation of the elect. As Calvin noted, “It is therefore faith alone which justifies, and yet the faith which justifies is not alone… Wherefore do not separate the whole grace of regeneration from faith.”
The Role of Perseverance
Perseverance is not an optional add-on to justification, but rather an essential aspect of the Christian life. Believers are called to endure to the end, and it is through perseverance that they demonstrate the reality of their faith. As one Baptist confession puts it, “All true believers endure to the end… They shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.”
The Final Judgment
The scriptural teaching on a final judgment according to works precludes any kind of antinomian indifference to the actual righteousness of believers. While believers are justified by faith alone, they will experience a final judgment according to works, where their good works are brought forth as evidence of their faith union with Christ.
The Double Cure
The healing work of Christ produces a “double cure”: the legal deliverance from sin’s consequences and the transformative deliverance from sin’s corrupting influence. This unified work of salvation issues forth from the triune God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Conclusion
Justification and sanctification are inseparable gifts of redemption, grounded in the unified work of the triune God. To make sanctification an optional add-on to justification is to misunderstand the nature of salvation. Rather, justification always and inevitably brings about the sanctification of those justified. As Calvin wrote, “To sum up, the Holy Spirit is the bond by which Christ effectually unites us to himself.”
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