Justification +Sanctification = Salvation

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

There is much confusion about grace in the religious world today. Most Christians in the post-modern world believe that grace frees us from the need to be righteous. After all, we are saved by grace and not our works, right? So our works must not be necessary.

But the Book of Romans, the primer for grace, teaches that we shall all be judged by our works. We are told in this passage from the grace primer that Jesus died in order that we might be righteous, not that we should avoid it. The question is not whether or not we have to be righteous, but how to attain it.

Romans tells us that the entire purpose of the old Law was to reveal to us our need of a Savior. We know what God expects, but we cannot do it; our flesh is simply too weak and easily enslaved by sin. That is why we need grace - not to free us from righteousness, but to free us to be righteous.

We can never attain righteousness in our own weak flesh. But God still requires it of us. Grace has given us the Holy Spirit to live inside us and make righteousness possible. Thus Grace has set us free from the fear of failure. Through the Holy Spirit, we CAN be righteous in our daily life.

Grace has not freed us from law and master; Grace has wrought a change in both. Grace has broken the chains of sin and death. Grace has delivered us to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We now follow the law of the Spirit of life. We still have law, but the Spirit enables our obedience. Because God’s whole design in Jesus Christ was to fulfill righteousness in us. The salvation plan was never designed to free us from righteousness, but to free us from sin.

There is no need to fear the process. The price has been paid for our righteousness through the Blood. There is no fear of condemnation; failure is not possible. The Blood of Jesus cleanses us from our sin and the Holy Spirit changes us from within!

How wonderful that Jesus paid for our mistakes! How exciting that we can live life renewed by the Holy Spirit! God has done so much more for us than forgive us of our sins. He has put himself inside of us to recreate us in his image. Thank you God that Salvation includes Sanctification as well as Justification.