| Justification* | Sanctification |
|---|---|
| Justification is free (John 4:1). | Sanctification in costly (Luke 14:25-33). |
| Justification is instantaneous (John 3:8). | Sanctification is a life-long process (John 8:31). |
| Justification is by faith (Eph 2:8). | Sanctification is by faithfulness (1 Cor 4:2). |
| Justification is not of works (Eph 2:9). | Sanctification is of works (Eph 2:10). |
| Justification involves Christ’s love for me (John 3:16). |
Sanctifcation involves my love for Christ (1 John 4:19). |
| Justification concerns Christ’s righteousness (2 Cor 5:21). |
Sanctification concerns my righteousness (Luke 14:25-33). |
| Justification involves my position in Christ (Col 2:11-14). |
Sanctification involves my practice (Col 3:1-11). |
| Justification considers what God has done (1 Cor 15:3-4). |
Sanctification considers what I am doing (Luke 14:25-33). |
| Justification is God’s commitment to me (1 John 5:9-13). |
Sanctification is my commitment to God (John 14:15). |
| Justification requires obedience to one command: to believe the Gospel (Acts 6:7). |
Sanctification requires obedience to all of Christ’s commands (Matt 28:19-20). |
| Justification focuses on the cross which Jesus took up once and for all (1 Cor 1:18). |
Sanctification focuses on the cross which I am to take up daily (Luke 9:53). |
| Justification is finished at the moment of faith (John 5:24). |
Sanctification is not finished unil I go to be with the Lord (1 Cor 9:24-27). |
*The word justification in this chart is used to refer exclusively to eternal salvation from hell. This is what is sometimes called past salvation. The Bible also speaks, of course, of other types of salvation, including deliverance from the power of sin now and from the presence of sin in the future. The general idea for this chart was suggested by a reader.
Source: Danny Akin, precise bibliographic information needed.
