What Is Justification By Faith ?

Originally Posted by Sam

THREE ASPECTS OF SALVATION

1. JUSTIFICATION: This is a judicial term bringing to our minds a courtroom scene. Man, guilty and condemned before God, is acquitted and declared righteous --but is justified.

I disagree that man is acquitted. God actually has declared us guilty (as Paul tells us in Romans) but our punishment was borne for us by Christ.

2. REGENERATION AND ADOPTION: This suggests a household scene. The soul, dead in trespasses and sins, needs a new life, which new life is imparted by a Divine act of regeneration. The person then becomes a child of God and a member of His household.

The point at which regeneration takes place may be subject to debate. I prefer to put justification and adoption together.

3. SANCTIFICATION: This suggests a temple scene, for the word is connected primarily with the worship of God. Set right in relation to God's law and born again to a new life, the person is henceforth dedicated to the service of God. Bought with a price, he is no longer his own; he departs not from the temple (figuratively speaking) but serves God day and night (Luke 2:37). He is sanctified by God and self-given to God.

There are two aspects of sanctification: 1) being set apart by God for His use (a one-time act that occurs at the point of justification) and; 2) the life-long process of conforming to the image of Christ, part of which includes the serving God that you described.