Big Words from a "D" Student

What does it mean that God justifies us & sanctifies us?

These two words are what I, (an all "D" student), would call "big words". I'm not much up on "big words" when speaking about God's word. Not only am I not equipped with "big words", but I like to make sure that whomever I may be speaking with can & will clearly understand exactly what I am trying to get across. From children to adults, I want them to say, "That's as simple as I have ever heard the Gospel presented". I believe sometimes that we as Christians use words that non-believers may not understand in relation to God's word. Many times a seminary degree causes a person to feel as if they have to speak from a higher intelligence, may be that people will be impressed & be more likely to listen if they use "big, fancy words". But in reality, everyday people truly want to hear the Bible placed in everyday language. In a way that they can relate to it & it can relate to their life today. With that said, we are about to talk about two "big words" that really need to be looked at & understood for all who have place their faith in Jesus.
Let's start with "justification". What does it mean that God justifies us? "Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men." (Romans 5:18)
For God to justify us, when we turn to Him for salvation, is to say that God makes us free from blame of our sin. I saw a pretty good definition for "justify" that I think sums up what God has done for us, it was "Let of the hook". When Adam sinned, it brought an inherited sin upon us. It's like this… because my mom & dad were sinners; I was born a sinner, in need of saving. That one act of disobedience, which steamed from Adam, "was condemnation for all men". God condemned man for their sin. A good analogy of the word "condemn or condemned" that seemed to really relate to God's view of man is when an inspector condemns a house & deems it uninhabitable, that until it is renovated, it will remain condemned. Now he may love that house, but he can't & will not dwell in it until it is cleaned up & repaired. In the same way God can't dwell in us, until we turn to Him for cleaning & repairs. Until we come to Him for salvation. But after that He says that He will make us justified before Him.
So when we accept Jesus as Savior & Lord, God indwells us in the form of the Holy Spirit, He has forgiven us & made us new, so that He can not only indwell us but also use us.
Now does that make us perfect? No, that's where we come to the other "big word", "sanctification". "But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life." (Romans 6:22) The definition of this word "sanctification" is, to make holy; purify. God when we accept Him as savior & Lord, again He will indwell us & then He will begin the process of making us holy & purifying us. See, when you turn to God, that doesn't make you perfect. You still have that sin nature that you received from Adam. But you are also indwelled with the Holy Spirit, whose job it is to make you pure. This process will take your entire life. It's not done overnight. But as you spend time with God daily, you will grow as a Christian & in doing that God will purify you. Perfection will come when you enter Heaven. It's like the saying salvation is like fishing, God doesn't clean you up & then catch you. He catches you & then cleans you up.
Now if you seem to be struggling in your Christian life. If you seem to fall easily when tempted, you may not be growing. I heard a story once of a little girl who was in bed asleep & her mom heard her fall out of bed & to the floor. Her mom rushed in, picked her up, placed her back in bed & said, "Honey, what happened?" The little girl said, "I guess I stayed too close to where I got in". If you stay "too close to where you got in" the Christian life that is, & you do not dig into the Bible & spend time in prayer, conversing with God…then you will not grow & be much more likely to fall. When you first accept Christ you are a baby in Christ, a newborn. But just like physical life, in your spiritual life you can' t stay health & remain a baby, you must grow to accomplish what God has for you.
Conclusion: When God saves you He makes you right with Him, by justifying you. Then He starts the process of making you into what He wants you to be through sanctification.
So, after God saves you, He will work on you removing the things that get in the way of Him using you & adding the things that will enable you to perform His plan. Remember, justification, then sanctification, so take your time & let God work.


Vern