THREE STEPS TO GLORY: JUSTIFICATION, SANCTIFICATION AND GLORIFICATION
THERE IS A DESPERATE FAMINE FOR THE WORD OF GOD IN TODAY’S CHURCH. People are actually being taught that academic faith without any conviction of sin can save them. The great truth of “Justification by Faith” has become “Religion by Rock,” and I do not mean “The Rock of Ages.” The Bible proudly declares “God hath chosen by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” It still takes an old fashioned anointing by the Holy Ghost to bring sinners to transforming faith. A religious conversion without the cleansing power of Christ’s Blood and the authority of the Spirit is like a still-born birth. There is no life, just death.
A Born-Again person is immediately a fool for Christ. “Justification” is the Biblical word for a saving experience. Not one righteous deed is required for Jesus Christ to justify a repentant sinner. When you come to Christ, all you need is empty hands. If there is one word of boasting about what you deserve, you are disqualified. Justification is one of the Bible’s most powerful truths. This is why Jesus Christ died on the Cross. It was to take your place and become the Father’s whipping post. The Father crucified His Son so you could be free of your sins. Jesus’ death was vicarious. He was declared guilty of your sins. It was the Father that made that decision and gave His Son as our sacrifice.
A justified soul is free of guilt, utterly and totally. It is though they never sinned. The joy that floods a newly justified person is heavenly. You almost need to hold them back so they do not get raptured. The Roman’s Road says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:1-2, 5) The guilt of sin is one of the strongest negatives in Holy Scripture. It breaks the human spirit, depresses natural joys, and it renders the sinner a burdened, debilitated soul and spirit. It’s living death, but Justification, dissipates every ounce of this heaviness and spiritual death. A justified soul is as free as the birds.
Sanctification should occur almost immediately following justification, and would if our ministers would preach it as they should. The same blood that justifies, also sanctifies. A saved soul is now without guilt and overwhelmed with joy. That joy will never be lost if the justified soul follows on after the sanctified life. Apostle Paul warned the Thessalonians to go forward after this work of grace. He said, “Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesying. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” (I Thessalonians 5:19-24)
The Son of God left no doubt that He has provided for us to be free from the powers of the world by being sanctified. “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (St. John 17: 15-17) Every “Born-Again” or “Justified” person needs to continue on in God’s grace and be free from the control of the Adamic nature. Yes, we will be taunted by that old nature until we are glorified at the coming of Christ, but we will win if we keep the body under Sanctifying Blood. The great Apostle said it best. “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (I Corinthians 9:27) The Christian life is joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Ed Wood
I certainly believe in everything the Bible tells us about Jesus – who he is, what he accomplished, and what his ultimate plan is fo the future. I look forward to the time when I get to meet him face to face, as he said all believers would.
I’ve often heard about “joy” experienced by believers so I don’t know if it’s a question of semantics or what, but I have to tell you I think I’m missing something here when it comes to “joy.” Now there are those moments when God’s Presence seems particularly close and we get a brief glimpse of a reality so much bigger and better than this existence, but for the most part I’ve personally found life down here is one big series of disappointments.
I look around and see where this planet and our race has ended up and am frustrated because God gave us the potential to be so much better than we have been if only we had listened to him along the way. And, to be completely honest, I know that’s just as true for me as an individual.
When I read the prophets of the Old Testament, and the accounts of those giants of the faith in the New, it seems they experienced the very same thing. Jeremiah is often called “the weeping prophet,” and rightly so. Paul’s own frustration is often clearly evident, particularly in his letter to the Galatians as they slipped back into a false works-based doctrine.
Most signifcantly, Jesus himself wept when he looked at Jerusalem, considered its history of killing God’s Prophets and saw where it would lead this troubled city, no doubt well aware that the very same fate was to befall him very shortly in the worst possible way imaginable. And as I read the three versions of the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, I can imagine him standing on that hill, his eyes filled with sadness as he looked far off into a future which could have been so different if only we’d wised up between then and now.
I know the Rapture and ultimately Revelation 21 and 22 are coming, and this gives me the assurance of that the joy which is in such short supply now will be unending and immeasurable up ahead. I suppose that’s what REALLY counts, right?
Sheree D. Price
I agree Brother Wood with you…I completely understand.
Just wanted to share something that may encourage you,
regarding joy. For me, the joy that floods my soul as I seek
Jesus and The Holy Spirit reveals Him and shows His love
to me – His awesome, wonderful love, I get so full of joy that
I feel like I am about to explode! When I open my Bible and the
Scriptures come alive and I feel as tho the Father is speaking
directly to me – and my heart is just overwhelmed, it is a joy
unspeakable and full of glory!! In those times, I can say, it’s like
that old hymn “In The Garden” comes to life! “He walks with me
and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own, and the joy
we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known!” It is
other wordly!!! In His Presence there is fullness of joy!
But, then reality sets in as you go about your daily routine, and it
all becomes so sad. You look around and see all the tremendous
need…the people who are lost and duped by Satan, the hate and
the lies and the sickness, disease, sorrows and tradgedies of this
life. Storms and floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, crime,
horrific abuse to children and the elderly, human suffering that is just
unfathomable. The news stories are just to much to bear. I’ve gotten
to the point that where I cannot read or hear it anymore, it’s just to
much. But, then, again, I steal away to my prayer closet and talk to
Jesus, and I am so awestruck, that He chose me to know Him! Why
me I wonder? Why did he reach down His hand in Sovereign Power
and touch my cold heart, unstop my deaf ears and cause my blinded
eyes to see? And the joy that floods my soul again…what I have come
to believe is that as we experience the saddness of this present life and
get feeling wierd, it’s that the Spirit of the Lord is allowing us to feel what
our Father feels – a grief and saddness for the lost. It’s the compassion
of Jesus Christ and it allows us to reach out to help in any way we can
to try to show the love of God to this sin sick, hurting world. We are
extensions of His love to those that God will bring to our spheres of
influence, to our very doorstep! The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers
are few! But each of us can reach one at a time and try to make a
difference in the Name of Jesus in this generation, to live for the glory
and honor of our Lord! To just surrender our lives as living sacrifices to
be used as led and guided by the Holy Spirit as vessels fit for the
Master’s use!!!
Sadly, not all will listen or care, but there are some who do, and when
that happens, it’s so wonderful! Jesus is glorified and Satans
kingdom is diminished bit by bit. For me, as I am eagerly awaiting,
expecting and LONGING for His appearing, I simply say, Lord Jesus
what can I do today to please you, to make a difference, use me Lord
and amazingly as He does, the joy that I have, the world didn’t give it
and the world can’t take it away! Blessings to you Brother Wood, and all
today in the glorious Name of our Lord Jesus Christ!! Hallelujah!
Bill Scudder
Sanctification ia N ONGOING WORK AFTER WE ARE SAVED. wE ARE NOT COMPLETELY SANCTIFIED ALL AT ONCE BUT IS ONGING UNTIL THE RETURN OF cHRIST. tHEN WE WILL BE LIKE hIM. iT IS SAD THAT SOME CHURCHS TEACH THIS AND THAT IF YOU SIN YOU HAVE TO GET SAVED AGAIN. tHIS CAUSES MANY TO JUST GIVE UP AND SAY “WHATS THE USE?” nO ONE CAN LIVE A OPERFECT LIFE IN THIS FLESH.
wE ARE JUSTIFIED AS YOU SAY. bUT IT IS NOT AN ON AND OFF jUSTIFICATION.
Sandra
I can understand what you’re saying. We live in a world that stresses happiness, being in control, ‘improving’ our lives, living the American Dream (whatever that is) and fearing anything that attacks our personal comforts. Perhaps you’re confusing joy with happiness? Our “JOY” no man can take from us! Jesus “endured the cross for the JOY set before Him”. It was the RESULTS of the cross which gave him encouragement to endure. While our world has tunnel vision…the Christian has eternal vision! The mature Christian knows that. We can do (and endure) all things through Christ. The servant is not greater than his Master. If Jesus suffered these things, we are (proud and willing) to suffer them too. Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. This life is short. Eternity is forever. It’s not about us. God Bless.