Why does the Christian life feel like such a paradox sometimes then?
Differentiating the Two (2) Lens:
When looking at the salvific standard established by the authoritative Word of God the systematic comprehension is expressed by what theologians call justification and sanctification. When pastors and teachers stress the pursuit of morality in light of those standards and laws; to be a good person, to not drink alcohol, and to not skip church; outside the work and person of Jesus Christ the church begins to communicate a gospel that is not the Gospel due to the lack of its Christ-centeredness. They begin to preach, consciously and/or subconsciously, that salvation can be obtain through a moral latter. When preachers and teachers do not differentiate between the two ideologies of justification and sanctification we can confuse our congregations and, in many instances, lead them to believe that salvation is based off of works rather than grace.
When discussing a Christian’s responsibility to moral development we must engage the members to understand morality in light of these two theological principles. Morality, for Christians, is not spoken of in one simple plain but rather two rhythmic strands harmonizing interdependently through the course of the Christian life. A misunderstanding of the two theological ideologies can hinder the church’s ability to evangelize as well as edify. When the church presses morality onto the unregenerate person (nonbeliever) they place that person in pursuit of salvation under the law rather than through the work and person of Jesus Christ. First and foremost, the church must communicate the blood of the cross and the power of the resurrection to secure that the unregenerate individual is saved, or justified, by Christ alone prior to their walk toward sanctity. The carriage can not come before the horse.
The downfall is that not many pastors and teachers, let alone believers of Christ, understand the difference.
Justification in the Work and Person of Jesus Christ:
When theologians speak of justification they are communicating that a person can be saved only through the work and person of Jesus Christ. John 14:6 ESV, “6 I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” In the redemptive process man is a passive agent. Redemption is not granted through any ability of man to appease the eternal and infinite God, but rather through God’s unsearchable grace He grants mankind salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8 ESV, “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” Since redemption is not our own doing and is a gift then the notion that prior to salvation we must fix ourselves in order to be Christian is contrary to biblical teaching (heretical to say the least). In the same light, when the church presses a moral pursuit outside the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ they are pressing a Christless Gospel that leads people to be enslaved under the law again.
So to communicate that a person can not be saved by church attendance, by not drinking alcohol, by being heterosexual, by reading their bible, or by being good is in line with sound biblical teaching. Now are these things bad in light of the Christian life? By no means, yet in light of the understanding of justification these “good” things can not bring forth salvation. They are the fruit of salvation not the means to salvation. So, it is extremely vital to understand that morality, in light of the Christian life, flows in two strands which are interdependently harmonized. The first strand is that we have been justified by grace through faith, and the second strand is that through salvation God is conforming us into the image of the Son.
Sanctification in the Work and Person of Jesus Christ:
Sanctification is the process in which the Holy Spirit is conforming us into the image of the Son. This theological principle, the second strand, has a prerequisite in it’s function, justification (the first strand). An individual can not begin their pursuit toward sanctity without a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. This knowledge brings forth the indwelling Spirit that fuels the Christ conformity in the saints. In Christ through the indwelling Spirit the saints becomes His righteousness in which His character permeates forth from our being. Righteousness is not an abstract pursuit but rather on inner transformation which manifests itself through an outward expression of holiness.
As a regenerate individual (a believer), who has been given life through the Son and in the Spirit, biblical fruit must begin to bear as they grow in their relationship with Christ. To have Christ as Lord and Savior and to walk contrary to His ways is strong evidence that the individual’s conversion may not and is not genuine. 1 John 3:24 ESV, “24 Whoever keeps His commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” New life through the Spirit, or regeneration, should breed forth new desires and devotion to God’s ways. This devotion and new desire is not an obligation to follow a list of rules, but rather to pursue ultimate joy which is founded in the function and trust of God’s statutes. John 15:10 - 11 ESV, “10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
Now as preachers and teachers when we stress the imperative of bible reading, engaging in biblical community, embracing the functions of how God has made us, and reflecting in the character of God; these moral pursuits, in light of sanctification, are a means to conform us into the image of Christ. We, Christians, have a duty to uphold these standards and to keep accountable any brother and sister who professes to live as a follower of Christ. 1 Corinthians 5:12 - 13 ESV, “12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. ‘Purge the evil person from among you.’” Accountability is a means to sanctity in that there are blind spots in all of our lives. A mature believer who desires to walk in the Lord should embrace rebuke and seek for discipleship. In this arena of life you can know and be known by a community as a means to grow in one’s affection toward the Lord. Romans 8:29 ESV, “For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.”
Conclusion:
In light of our journey to walk with the Lord Jesus Christ it is imperative that we are able to differentiate between the lens of justification and sanctification as well as be sensitive to how we present the Gospel in light of these theological principles. An inability to do so will result in, as we are witnessing today in our churches, generations who believe that salvation is through a moral pursuit. My hope is that God would use this short article as a means to renew our minds and set our affections back toward cherishing the Gospel and living dependently on the Word. Amen!
