Salvation, Santification and Justification

[Leah]

What is the difference between the three? How do we know if all three apply to us, as christians?

 

[Teke]

What is the difference between the three? How do we know if all three apply to us, as christians?

Sanctification, justification and glorification are all part of salvation. Or as we eastern christians term it, "transfiguration by grace".
No need to micro manage the simple truth.

 

[Paleoconservatarian]

Salvation is a broader term that includes both justification and sanctification. Justification is God's declaration of one's right standing with Him. Sanctification is the process by which He sets His people apart from the world, bringing them toward the standard of holiness that He requires.

 

[Leah]

Salvation is a broader term that includes both justification and sanctification. Justification is God's declaration of one's right standing with Him. Sanctification is the process by which He sets His people apart from the world, bringing them toward the standard of holiness that He requires.

Thank you.

 

[DevotiontoBible]

What is the difference between the three? How do we know if all three apply to us, as christians?

I like the way the New Living Translation changes these theological terms into something more understandable. It doesn't change salvation but it changes sanctification to made holy and justification to made right with God. You can be assured that the Bible teaches that all three apply to us as Christians.

 

[Tonks]

Catholics deal with it in a similar, yet somewhat different way (how's that for clarity...?)

We are justified by grace.

The theology of the Church holds that Christ’s passion not only merited the forgiveness of sin, but also the gift of grace. Grace, wrought by the Holy Spirit, is a gift that heals the soul and sanctifies it. Sanctifying grace, the grace that communicates supernatural life into the soul, is received through the sacrament of Baptism. Baptism marks the beginning of justification by forgiving all personal and original sin as well as communicating sanctifying grace. Through the grace of the Holy Spirit, a person receives supernatural disposition to live and act with God’s call.

We also separate initial justification and continuing justification - of which santification is a part.

As opposed to our Protestant brethren (and I realize I may be painting with a broad brush here) justification is not a declaration of one's righteousness but an actual interior purification of the soul. Justification truly makes the soul just through grace. Thus the sanctification of the soul is a necessary part of justification. Sin is not covered or concealed, but is literally cleansed away by purification of sanctifying grace. Justification consists of one act of God that includes forgiveness of sin and sanctification of the soul. Thus a justified person is truly made pleasing to God.

 

[a_ntv]

What is the difference between the three? How do we know if all three apply to us, as christians?

Salvation and justification are not important at all: they are only intermediate steps.

Catholics give to santification a huge meaning: to became Christ-like, that is by far more than to have a declaration of one's righteousness.

To be One in Christ, to be Christ-like: that is our true target, not simply be justified.

 

[Tonks]

Salvation and justification are not important at all: they are only intermediate steps.

Incorrect. Justification - particularly inital justification - is extremely important. I trust you're familiar with Baptism.

Catholics give to santification a huge meaning: to became Christ-like, that is by far more than to have a declaration of one's righteousness.

Santification is part of justification - not the other way around.

To be One in Christ, to be Christ-like: that is our true target, not simply be justified.

What do you think that justification is?????? All of the above is wholly incorrect.

 

[Cribstyl]

What is the difference between the three? How do we know if all three apply to us, as christians?

Salvation is a plan of God to saved us from the penalty of sins. We're saved by God's unmeritted favor called grace, through believing that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. It is God alone who saves through Jesus Christ. There is no other Name given among men by which we're saved. Salvation is a free gift, it's not of any work that man can boast about. It's recieved by faith through prayer.

Justification is the process of God judgement whereby , having repented of our sin, We're forgiven of our sins. by fiath in His atoning sacrifice and declared as righteous, being clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ by faith in His life, death and resurrection. It is recieved by faith through prayer.

Sanctification is a process whereby we're made clean. Jesus died that His blood would wash away our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, So, to be sanctified is to be set apart unto Holy use. God has declared, "Be ye Holy for I am Holy" Baptism is sign of obedience and sanctification, it symbolyzes being cleanse and raised up a new creation unto God.




Peace
CRIB

 

[a_ntv]

Incorrect. Justification - particularly inital justification - is extremely important. I trust you're familiar with Baptism.

Yes, my first statment is incorrect

Santification is part of justification - not the other way around.

What do you think that justification is?????? All of the above is wholly incorrect.

The three terms, salvation, justification, santification, are typical of protestantism, so not used in catholic teaching out from protestant countries, like US.

- the term justification is never used in catholic theology. So you are free to give it the meaning you want.
- Salvation, in standard catholic teaching, is used only when you go in heaven after death.
- Santification is a few time used, but it means became Christ-like, that is more than simply enter in the state of grace, and different from and more than salvation
The dynamic of in-out from the state of grace, is not described by catholic using these three term.

But, I repeat, probably these are difference in terms between Europe and US, where the presence of protestants is overhelming and so also catholic shall use their strange and misleading terminology

 

[mike1reynolds]

Sanctified refers to God’s sanction. It is an act of God while justification is an act of man. They go hand-in-hand but sanctified is a top down term, from God to man, while justified is a bottom up term, from man to God. Justification is a state of being brought about by someone’s actions while sanctification is something that can only be done by priests or God. We are justified by faith and works while Jesus and God sanctify us, we do not sanctify ourselves directly. We can earn sanctification through justifying ourselves which we do directly. It is two sides of the same coin, like calling out to God and getting an answer. Justification is the act of calling and sanctification is his answer. So they are Trinitarian synonyms, entirely synonymous from one perspective and antonyms from another perspective. But I think that there is something to be said for a_ntv's assertion that there is a higher bar for sanctification than for justification such that you can be justified from time to time without being sanctified, and that being sanctified requires being justified the great majority of the time.

What is the difference between grace and sanctification? That is my question.

 

[JVarner83]

Sanctified refers to God’s sanction. It is an act of God while justification is an act of man. They go hand-in-hand but sanctified is a top down term, from God to man, while justified is a bottom up term, from man to God. Justification is a state of being brought about by someone’s actions while sanctification is something that can only be done by priests or God. We are justified by faith and works while Jesus and God sanctify us, we do not sanctify ourselves directly. We can earn sanctification through justifying ourselves which we do directly. It is two sides of the same coin, like calling out to God and getting an answer. Justification is the act of calling and sanctification is his answer. So they are Trinitarian synonyms, entirely synonymous from one perspective and antonyms from another perspective. But I think that there is something to be said for a_ntv's assertion that there is a higher bar for sanctification than for justification such that you can be justified from time to time without being sanctified, and that being sanctified requires being justified the great majority of the time.

What is the difference between grace and sanctification? That is my question.

Grace is the means for salvation.


Grace = God's unmerited love

Sanctification however, is a "setting apart" you reach this stage in your Christian walk when you have FULLY submitted yourself over to Jesus Christ.

When you quit trying to work your way to heaven, and you trust in only Jesus Christ as your way to heaven then you become sanctified or "sealed". Once you reach this point, you can become a greater influence on others and you FEAR nothing, not even the Lord because you KNOW HIM.

You can be saved but not sanctified, remember when your saved you start as a small child and you grow to the point you fully understand the plan of salvation and how it revolves around Jesus Christ.

Hope this helps

 

[Davidnic]

It is a long and thick read but there is a joint declaration on Justification by the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church. It has recently also been accepted by the World Methodist Conference.

Here is the original document (link)

Here is the annex to the document with agreed upon revisions (link)


It really covers how the the General Protestant and Catholic theology meet on the concept and really do agree.

 

[Tonks]

- the term justification is never used in catholic theology. So you are free to give it the meaning you want.

Incorrect again. Catholics are justified by grace. You may want to look at the section in the CCC titled Justifiacation and Grace

- Salvation, in standard catholic teaching, is used only when you go in heaven after death.

Correct, broadly.

- Santification is a few time used, but it means became Christ-like, that is more than simply enter in the state of grace, and different from and more than salvation
The dynamic of in-out from the state of grace, is not described by catholic using these three term.

Not really. We break down justification between initial justification and continuing justification - state of grace - a process served by santification. It is similar to the Orthodox concept of theosis (a powerful theology, if I do say so myself). We differ from Protestants that have justification as more of a forensic declaration - but we certainly use the term. A lot. I suggest looking at anything produced by the Vatican on the topic.

Scripture bears out this close identification between justification and sanctification:

For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. (Rom 6:19)

And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor 6:11)

Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and let the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and let the one who is holy, still keep himself holy. (Rev 22:11)

For Catholics all of salvation (sanctification included) is sola gratia, by God's grace alone. Grace is understood as "a gift from God to man, not due from God, and not merited by man." But Catholics conceive of grace somewhatdifferently than Protestants. Grace includes God's favor, a change of his disposition towards us, but is not limited to this. What Catholics call sanctifying grace is more exactly God's own supernatural life given to us as a gratuitous gift. But since it is actually a gift given (Rom 5:15-17) and not merely a change in God's attitude towards us, grace achieves real changes in us. Sanctifying grace "is a constant supernatural quality of the soul which sanctifies man intrinsically and makes him just and pleasing to God."

So the Catholic view of sola gratia does not exclude human action that contributes to salvation, since all such action is done exclusively by His grace.

As St. Augustine says:

God works in man many good things to which man does not contribute; but man does not work any good things apart from God since it is from God man receives the power to do the good things he does. (Contra. Duas Ep. Pel. II 9:21)

For us, the Trentian rubric says:

Jesus Christ himself continually imparts strength to those justified, as the head to the members and the vine to the branches, and this strength always precedes, accompanies and follows their good works, and without it they would be wholly unable to do anything meritorious and pleasing to God (Decree on Justification 16).

It may surprise some Protestant Christians to know that Catholics can believe in justification by faith alone. But it requires some definitions that may be unacceptable to some:

Catholics can speak of justification by faith or even of justification by faith alone insofar as they teach, as do Lutherans, that nothing prior to the free gift of faith merits justification and that all of God's saving gifts come through Christ alone. Catholics stress, however, that the indwelling Holy Spirit brings about in believers notonly assent and trust but also a loving commitment that issues in good works. In Catholic theology it hastherefore been customary to hold that faith, to be justifying, must be accompanied (or perhaps, better,intrinsically qualified) by the gift of love (caritas).

But, I repeat, probably these are difference in terms between Europe and US, where the presence of protestants is overhelming and so also catholic shall use their strange and misleading terminology

This has nothing to do with differences between the US and Europe. Read the Church documents - particuarly the CCC on justification or the joint declaration posted here. From a Catholic POV I believe that it only covers what we consider initial justification (i haven't read it in a while).

 

[a_ntv]

Incorrect again. Catholics are justified by grace. You may want to look at the section in the CCC titled Justifiacation and Grace
...
Not really. We break down justification between initial justification and continuing justification - state of grace - a process served by santification. It is similar to the Orthodox concept of theosis (a powerful theology, if I do say so myself). We differ from Protestants that have justification as more of a forensic declaration - but we certainly use the term. A lot. I suggest looking at anything produced by the Vatican on the topic.

I agree with you perfectly on doctrine.

But please believe me that in 37 years of attending catholic church and lessons, no one here ever used the word 'justification'.
In fact the focus is on the 'continuing justification' (with your words), santification (with my usual word), the process to became Christ-like (yes almost the same of theosis) rather than the initial justification.
The dynamic of in-out from the state of grace is called conversion or repentage vs mortal sin, or with the sacraments names: baptism, absolution.
I was teached that to enter in the 'state of grace' is only the starting point, and to not proceed in christian life means to give in.

As I wrote, because we dont have a protestant backgroud in my country, the catholic theology is not explained as a difference from the protestant undestanding, and this creates in me some difficoulties on terms. In that I'm sorry if my post was misunderstood .

 

[Tonks]

I agree with you perfectly on doctrine.

But please believe me that in 37 years of attending catholic church and lessons, no one here ever used the word 'justification'.
In fact the focus is on the 'continuing justification' (with your words), santification (with my usual word), the process to became Christ-like (yes almost the same of theosis) rather than the initial justification.
The dynamic of in-out from the state of grace is called conversion or repentage vs mortal sin, or with the sacraments names: baptism, absolution.
I was teached that to enter in the 'state of grace' is only the starting point, and to not proceed in christian life means to give in.

I was purposely staying out of the Sacramental stuff....for obvious reasons. The way that I look at it is the continual justification is the state of grace that we wish to maintain and santification is the manner in which we achieve it.

As I wrote, because we dont have a protestant backgroud in my country, the catholic theology is not explained as a difference from the protestant undestanding, and this creates in me some difficoulties on terms. In that I'm sorry if my post was misunderstood .

Eh, I probably came off a bit harsh (shocking, I know).

 

[Leah]

Salvation is a plan of God to saved us from the penalty of sins. We're saved by God's unmeritted favor called grace, through believing that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. It is God alone who saves through Jesus Christ. There is no other Name given among men by which we're saved. Salvation is a free gift, it's not of any work that man can boast about. It's recieved by faith through prayer.

Justification is the process of God judgement whereby , having repented of our sin, We're forgiven of our sins. by fiath in His atoning sacrifice and declared as righteous, being clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ by faith in His life, death and resurrection. It is recieved by faith through prayer.

Sanctification is a process whereby we're made clean. Jesus died that His blood would wash away our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, So, to be sanctified is to be set apart unto Holy use. God has declared, "Be ye Holy for I am Holy" Baptism is sign of obedience and sanctification, it symbolyzes being cleanse and raised up a new creation unto God.




Peace
CRIB

Thank you, too.