Justification, Redemption, Sanctification & Salvation

[Preachers12]

Peace be with you.



I have noticed that in several areas of difference between Catholics and non-Catholics, the terms “justification,” “redemption,” “sanctification” and “salvation” being used. This leads to much confusion as each person may be thinking of very different things when using/reading these terms.



In hopes of better understanding the semantics involved, I would like to see how our Christian brethren are defining these terms. Perhaps this will help us, at least in a few instances, from talking about very different things without even knowing it!



With that said. How do you define:



Justification

Redemption

Sanctification

Salvation



And, how are they related to each other?



God Bless,

P12

 

[Bruce S]

For openers: [TINY excerpt, from a longer article:]

What Does the Bible Teach
Concerning Salvation? --- Part 2
by Dr. John Ankerberg and Dr. John Weldon​

​

Biblically, true salvation—in the sense of our right standing before God and forgiveness of all sins—occurs at a point in time (the point of receiving Christ as personal Savior) even though the practical implications of salvation (e.g., progressive sanctification or growth in holiness) are worked out over a lifetime. Thus, 1) complete reconciliation with God (full forgiveness of sins and cancellation of the penalty of sin); 2) regeneration (being made spiritually alive to God and the imparting of eternal life) and 3) justification (the crediting of Christ’s full and complete righteous to the believer) all occur in an instant, at a moment in time. Further, they are irrevocable since they are all gifts from God and God says that He never takes back what He gives: "for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable" (Rom. 11:29).

Catholicism, on the other hand, teaches that a right standing before God is something that does not happen fully in this life, nor can it occur in a moment of time. For Catholics, salvation is something that comprises a lengthy process that is only earned after a lifetime of good works and obtained merit and—in all likelihood—purgatorial suffering after death.

http://www.ankerberg.com/Articles/roman-catholicism/RC0903W3.htm [full article can be found here]

this is not my personal opinion but comes close to what some protestants believe is a differentiating factor.

 

[Oblio]

Bruce, I know it is not your opinion, but did you have to mix straw in with your quote ?

For Catholics, salvation is something that comprises a lengthy process that is only earned after a lifetime of good works and obtained merit ...

 

[Bruce S]

Bruce, I know it is not your opinion, but did you have to mix straw in with your quote ?

Ah...

Well, maybe. Strawmen are such handy targets in this season of Scarecrows and Pumpkins.

But, the differences are important, and one has to acknowledge that the OP did ask for the differences to be explained. I'm just following that request, straw and all...

 

[Bruce S]

Another "snippet" from another LONG article, sans straw:

It is crucial to understand that once terms such as "faith," "grace," "salvation," "redemption" and "justification" are filtered through larger Catholic theology, they become so altered they lose their biblical meaning. For example, the manner in which words are used in Canons 1-3 of the Council of Trent on justification sound biblical1—but once interpreted in light of larger Catholic theology, they mean something entirely different than what the Bible means.

Catholics themselves frequently admit their interpretation of biblical words differs from that of Reformation Protestantism. For example, The Papal Encyclicals agrees: "Faith has different meanings for a Catholic and a Protestant."2 Thus, "... in this faith sacraments and good works are included."3

But this distinction in meaning frequently goes unnoticed by both Catholic and Protestant laymen. Keating is entirely correct when he points out, "As in so many matters, fundamentalists [e.g., conservative Christians] and Catholics are at loggerheads because they define terms differently."4 Keating provides us with two examples: 1) he defines redemption as something distinct from salvation and 2) he sees faith as mere intellectual assent to Church doctrine:

See, we talk two linguistic languages here, we like Mormons/Christians, use the SAME words, but they have vastly different MEANINGS for the same words. That leads to massive confusion.

Link to FULL TEXT ARTICLE: http://www.ankerberg.com/Articles/roman-catholicism/RC0403W3.htm [as requested we henceforth now do]

 

[Lanakila]

Thank you Bruce for using proper article posting techniques, and giving credit per the copyright laws.

 

[Oblio]

But, the differences are important, and one has to acknowledge that the OP did ask for the differences to be explained

With that said. How do you define:



Justification

Redemption

Sanctification

Salvation



And, how are they related to each other?

Since this is the PRE forum, by necessity you is Protestants. IOW, how do Protestants define the terms, not how do Protestants think Catholics define the terms or their soteriology. Nor did it ask for Protestants to expain the differences between their belief and Catholics, but only their definitions of the terms. To do anything else is to bait our Catholic brothers in a forum where it is loudly complained that they barge in at every opportunity. IMO of course

 

[Oblio]

See, we talk two linguistic languages here, we like Mormons/Christians, use the SAME words, but they have vastly different MEANINGS for the same words. That leads to massive confusion.

How about explaining what they mean to Protestants alone

 

[Knight]

Here is what I have been taught:

Justification: The point at which a sinner is declared righteous before God through repentance and faith in Christ.

Redemption: The payment for sins. In this context this would be Jesus' work on the cross.

Sanctification: The process whereby a new creation in Christ is made perfect in obedience to God. Meaning, as we grow in our walk with Christ we also grow in obedience. Note that this is the process. We will not reach the goal until we are with Christ.

Salvation: The overall process whereby a sinful, fallen man is redeemed through Christ, justified by God, and sanctified through the Holy Spirit.

 

[Oblio]

Here is what I have been taught:

 

[Knight]

Something funny about that???

 

[Oblio]

No, it was a smiley, a thanks for answering the OP. I meant no offense.

 

[Knight]

Sorry, I've been dealing with sarcasm on other threads....

I did not mean to transfer that to you.

 

[Oblio]

No problem, I have too

 

[Preachers12]

Peace be with you.

Just a bump up to see if anyone may add more thoughts.

God Bless,
P12

 

[Bayhawks83]

i didnt know there were two threads about this i wrote my thoughts here:

http://www.christianforums.com/t66148