Nuyaka Baptist Church

Justification, Sanctification, and Perseverance
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 6:11- 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1. Justification
a. Justification is the Christian concept that works as a legal declaration from God, acting as judge, declaring us righteous. It is this imparted righteousness that brings us full pardon from our sin, and restores right relationship between us and God.
i. Romans 5:1- Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Imparted righteousness comes at the cost of imparted sin.
a. 2 Corinthians 5:21- 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
b. Justification is an extension of God’s grace, meaning we are not justified by merit, but rather in our trust and faith in Jesus Christ.
i. Ephesians 2:8-9- 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
1. It is important to recognize that as an extension of God’s grace, we can know we don’t deserve justification, and it comes through our faith in him, not our faith in our selves or our own abilities.
c. The doctrine of justification was the central difference between Protestants and Roman Catholics at the time of the Reformation, which began with Martin Luther in Wittenberg, Germany, in 1517, and have continued to this day.
i. Luther and all other Protestants that followed him (including us today) insist that justification comes through “faith alone,” as the Scriptures affirm, while Roman Catholics believe justification comes through faith plus the means of grace, such as baptism, confirmation, the use of the Eucharist during mass, and penance. Protestant thinking says we are justified the moment we believe in Christ as Lord and Savior, while Roman Catholicism says we are not justified until we are completely cleansed of our sins, which happens after we die and are purified in a place called Purgatory.
2. Sanctification
a. Sanctification is the process by which we are made to look more and more like Christ through the working of the Holy Spirit
i. Even though God sees us as righteous due to justification, the truth is we will have to fight our sin daily in the progressive work we call sanctification.
1. 1 John 1:8- 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
2. Ecclesiastes 7:20- 20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
b. Although we will never be completely free from sin in this life, our lives should be marked by regular increases in our sanctification
i. 2 Corinthians 3:18- 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
c. The good news regarding sanctification is it is primarily the work of God
i. 1 Thessalonians 5:23- 23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
d. But we are tasked with taking an active role in our sanctification as well
i. Philippians 2:12-13- 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
ii. Hebrews 12:14- 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
3. Perseverance
a. The truest mark of the Christian is perseverance.
i. John 8:31- 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples
1. Jesus is telling us that evidence of faith is abiding, which is continuing to believe and obey what Jesus commanded.
ii. Paul goes on to further clarify what perseverance truly is:
1. Colossians 1:22-23- 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation[ under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
a. By saying “if indeed you continue in the faith,” Paul is not trying to threaten or scare true believers; instead he is saying that those who don’t truly believe will eventually fall away from the faith they claim to have.
b. Perseverance does not mean we will live perfect lives, but what it does mean is that those struggles we will face in life will actually be struggles.
iii. 1 John 2:4-6- 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
1. A perfect life is not necessary, but a true Christian’s life will continue to show a general pattern of obedience to Christ’s commands and an imitation of His life.

Questions
1. What does it mean to be justified? Do you really believe you have been justified once for all time?
2. What is the difference between justification and sanctification? What are some specific ways in which you can contribute to your sanctification in the future?
3. How do you feel about being tasked with the responsibility of persevering? Why do you feel that way?