Justification, Sanctification and Salvation

[lsette]

Can some one explain to me what justification and sanctification is. And how they are related to salvation.

Also would like to know why as Catholics do we continue to work toward our salvation instead of just accept Jesus as our savior one time and be good as the fundamentalists do. Please include some bible quotes!

 

[fhansen]

Salvation is a cooperative effort. Because while man cannot possibly be saved without God, God nonetheless deems it right and good not to save us without us, without our consent as Augustine put it. So we follow and imitate Jesus, taking up our cross; we strive.

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Phil 2:12-13

"I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus". Phil 3:10-14

 

[De_Maria]

Can some one explain to me what justification and sanctification is.

[/quote]

I’ll do my best.

Justification
In the legal sense, justification means to be righteous in the eyes of the judge. In court, for example.

In theology, justification means to be righteous in the eyes of God. That is why the Church Teaches that a person who does good deeds is just in the eyes of God.

In a secondary sense, justification means to be declared free of sin or to be cleansed of sin.

Sanctification

The secondary sense of justification is the primary sense of sanctification. To be sanctified is to be washed of all sin and thus to be made holy.

Sanctification also means to be consecrated or dedicated for holy purposes… Or to be set aside for holy purposes.

In the Christian sense, (not Protestant), they both occur at the same time. Whenever one is justified, one is sanctified.

That is why Scripture says:

Luke 11:41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.

In other words, when you do a good deed (give alms) you are cleansed of your sins (justified and sanctified).

And how they are related to salvation.

Nothing impure, nothing that is stained of sin, will enter heaven. Thus, if we want to see God, we must be righteous in His eyes:

Romans 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

And we must be holy:

Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Also would like to know why as Catholics do we continue to work toward our salvation instead of just accept Jesus as our savior one time and be good as the fundamentalists do. Please include some bible quotes!

Because that is God’s will:

Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Romans 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Protestants are following man made traditions. The Catholic Church Teaches the Wisdom of God:

Ephesians 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Does that help?

 

[lsette]

Thank you, this helps a lot!

 

[lsette]

Thank you, I love the verse you used Phil 3:12-14

 

[Trishie]

For further thought, if you desire it, and of course, for sanctification, you can also ‘read’ grace and holiness":
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c3a2.htm

[Justification by Grace](http://www.saintaquinas.com

[Catechism of the Catholic Church,Justification, Sanctification and Salvation](http://catechism of the Catholic Church,Justification, Sanctification and Salvation)
/Justification_by_Grace.html)
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p123a9p3.htm

 

[lsette]

So if to be sanctified is to be washed of all sin and made holy, does one need to be in heaven to be sanctified or can this be achieved here on Earth.

 

[De_Maria]

So if to be sanctified is to be washed of all sin and made holy, does one need to be in heaven to be sanctified or can this be achieved here on Earth.

It can be achieved here on earth. That is why the Church canonizes Saints. In order to show us that we can do it, too.

2030 It is in the Church, in communion with all the baptized, that the Christian fulfills his vocation. From the Church he receives the Word of God containing the teachings of “the law of Christ.” From the Church he receives the grace of the sacraments that sustains him on the “way.” From the Church he learns the example of holiness and recognizes its model and source in the all-holy Virgin Mary; he discerns it in the authentic witness of those who live it; he discovers it in the spiritual tradition and long history of the saints who have gone before him and whom the liturgy celebrates in the rhythms of the sanctoral cycle.