Do you wish you knew more about theology, but struggle to understand some of the complex terms such as justification, sanctification, and glorification? Pastor Robby Gallaty shares what these terms mean in light of God’s work in our lives and why it’s important for all Christians to have a basic understanding of them.
Justification
Justification is a one-time event occurring when we receive salvation and enter into relationship with God.
“Justification occurs when God frees us from the penalty of sin. It is the moment God declares us righteous because of the sinless, perfect life of His Son Jesus. You and I didn’t earn that status, we can’t do anything for ourselves to be declared righteous. As Isaiah says, our righteousness is like filthy rags to God, but because of the righteousness of Jesus, God declares us righteous and justified.”
Through justification the penalty of sin has been eternally eliminated. However, our journey as Christians and our battle against sin is just beginning.
Sanctification
Even though we are justified, we still wrestle with a sinful nature that wages war inside of us.
“God’s sanctification is Christ freeing us from the power of sin in our everyday lives. It’s the process that God is working in our lives to conform us to the image of His Son.”
God’s sanctifying work in our lives begins the moment we are justified and He continues to sanctify us until His work is completed when we enter into glory with Him.
Glorification
“Glorification is when we will one day be free from the presence of sin. It’s the fulfillment of our salvation or the end of our Christian life when we’re going to leave this earth and we’re going to be in a glorified body in the presence of Christ. Our faith will be sight. One day we will see and know all things in Christ.”
God’s work of justification, sanctification, and glorification, work in tandem to bring us from being utterly lost and apart from God to spending eternity with Him in heaven.
Robby Gallaty is the senior pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He was radically saved out of a life of drug addiction on November 12, 2002. In 2008, he founded Replicate Ministries to educate, equip, and empower believers to make disciples who make disciples. Robby and his wife, Kandi, are the proud parents of two sons, Rig and Ryder.
What it means to bear fruit with Robby Gallaty
