Justification vs. Sanctification — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 7, 2024
Justification is a legal declaration by God of a believer's righteousness through faith, while sanctification is the ongoing process of spiritual growth and moral improvement.
Difference Between Justification and Sanctification
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Justification refers to the act where God declares a believer righteous, a status granted through faith. Sanctification, on the other hand, involves a gradual transformation into a holier lifestyle after justification.
Justification is immediate and complete when someone places their faith in Christ. In contrast, sanctification is a progressive, lifelong journey of becoming more aligned with God's will.
Justification is external and positional, granting a righteous status before God. Sanctification is internal and involves practical change, affecting how believers live their daily lives.
Justification rests on Christ's finished work, not human effort. Sanctification, however, requires active cooperation between God and believers, who strive to resist sin and pursue goodness.
Justification brings peace and reconciliation with God instantly, while sanctification leads to a deeper fellowship with God as believers mature in faith and character.
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Comparison Chart
Timing
Instant
Gradual, ongoing
Nature
Legal declaration
Practical transformation
Source
Faith in Christ
Cooperation between God and believer
Status
Declared righteous
Growing in personal holiness
Scope
Position before God
Daily conduct and character
Compare with Definitions
Justification
Legal declaration of righteousness.
Justification assures believers that they are declared righteous before God.
Sanctification
Process of becoming holy.
Sanctification helps believers grow progressively in moral purity.
Justification
Immediate change of status.
With justification, the sinner's standing changes from guilty to acquitted.
Sanctification
Daily transformation.
Sanctification requires daily dedication to resisting sin and doing good.
Justification
By faith alone.
Christians believe justification occurs through faith, not by works.
Sanctification
Cooperative effort.
Sanctification is a joint work between God's Spirit and human will.
Justification
Basis for peace with God.
Justification provides reconciliation and peace between God and humanity.
Sanctification
Practical outworking of faith.
Through sanctification, believers demonstrate their faith in actions.
Justification
Position in Christ.
Through justification, the believer is seen as righteous in Christ.
Sanctification
Pursuit of God's will.
Sanctification is marked by a desire to increasingly align with God's will.
Justification
The act of justifying.
Sanctification
To set apart for sacred use; consecrate
The preacher sanctified the ground as a cemetery.
Justification
The condition or fact of being justified.
Sanctification
To make holy; purify
They felt the spirit had descended and sanctified their hearts. They sanctified the body with holy oil.
Justification
Something, such as a fact or circumstance, that justifies
Considered misgovernment to be a justification for revolution.
Sanctification
To give religious sanction to, as with an oath or vow
The wedding ceremony sanctifies the marriage.
Justification
(countable) A reason, explanation, or excuse which someone believes provides convincing, morally acceptable support for behavior or for a belief or occurrence.
Sanctification
To give social or moral sanction to
"The only books I wanted to read as a teenager were those sanctified by my elders and betters" (David Eggers).
Justification
The forgiveness of sin.
Sanctification
(theology) The (usually gradual or uncompleted) process by which a Christian believer is made holy through the action of the Holy Spirit.
Justification
The alignment of text to the left margin (left justification), the right margin (right justification), or both margins (full justification).
Sanctification
The process of making holy; hallowing, consecration.
Justification
The act of justifying or the state of being justified; a showing or proving to be just or conformable to law, justice, right, or duty; defense; vindication; support; as, arguments in justification of the prisoner's conduct; his disobedience admits justification.
I hope, for my brother's justification, he wrote this but as an essay or taste of my virtue.
Sanctification
Blackmail.
Justification
The showing in court of a sufficient lawful reason why a party charged or accused did that for which he is called to answer.
Sanctification
The act of sanctifying or making holy; the state of being sanctified or made holy;
God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.
Justification
The act of justifying, or the state of being justified, in respect to God's requirements.
Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.
In such righteousnessTo them by faith imputed, they may findJustification toward God, and peaceOf conscience.
Sanctification
The act of consecrating, or of setting apart for a sacred purpose; consecration.
Justification
Adjustment of type (in printing), or of the final spacing of printed text, by spacing it so as to make it exactly fill a line, or line up at one edge of the allotted portion of the printed page; adjustment of a cut so as to hold it in the right place; also, the leads, quads, etc., used for making such adjustment; as, left justification is the most common format for simple letters, but left and right justification is typically used in books.
Sanctification
A religious ceremony in which something is made holy
Justification
Something (such as a fact or circumstance) that shows an action to be reasonable or necessary;
He considered misrule a justification for revolution
Justification
A statement in explanation of some action or belief
Justification
The act of defending or explaining or making excuses for by reasoning;
The justification of barbarous means by holy ends
Common Curiosities
Is justification a process like sanctification?
No, justification is a one-time legal declaration, unlike the continuous process of sanctification.
Can someone be justified but not sanctified?
All justified believers are called to sanctification, although their progress may vary.
What initiates justification?
Justification is initiated when an individual places faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.
Is sanctification necessary for salvation?
Sanctification is a sign of salvation, demonstrating the believer's growth, but justification is what secures salvation.
Is sanctification ever instantaneous?
Some initial aspects of sanctification may occur rapidly, but the overall process is lifelong.
When does sanctification begin?
Sanctification starts immediately after justification and continues throughout a believer's life.
What is positional sanctification?
Positional sanctification refers to a believer's secure, set-apart status due to their faith in Christ.
How are justification and sanctification linked?
Justification declares righteousness, while sanctification evidences that declaration by transforming a believer's character.
Do works play a role in justification?
No, justification is based solely on faith in Christ, while works play a role in sanctification.
Can sanctification be complete in this life?
Believers generally continue growing in sanctification throughout their lives, not reaching perfection until heaven.
Does sanctification affect one's relationship with God?
Yes, sanctification enhances the believer's relationship with God through deeper fellowship and obedience.
What is progressive sanctification?
Progressive sanctification is the ongoing growth in holiness and alignment with God's character.
Why is justification necessary?
Justification is necessary because it reconciles humanity to God, removing the guilt of sin.
How does justification affect one's eternal destiny?
Justification ensures a secure standing before God, granting the promise of eternal life in His presence.
How does the Holy Spirit aid in sanctification?
The Holy Spirit guides, convicts, and empowers believers to live according to God's will.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
