|
The Goal of Justification |
|
The message of salvation becomes distorted and confused when we are told to “clean up your act and then God will save you.”
Justification is not sanctification. However, justification always leads to sanctification. We are not saved because we are good. We are saved because we are lost sinners who are not good. Jesus declares “no condemnation,” and then He sends us out to live a holy life. No one can clean up their life and then come to Jesus. It is always the other way around. He saves us, and then the Holy Spirit does a progressive work of sanctification in us for the rest of our lives.
The law was not able to produce righteousness in people in order for them to be saved. Jesus went to the cross and accomplished that for those whom He came to save. God saved us apart from good works so that we might be able to produce good works.
The death of Jesus dealt with our penalty for sin, the power of sin was broken, and then when He comes we will be removed from the presence of sin.
Related Items:
|