photo #6637288

PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE The accompanying chart generally shows the past, present and future work of Christ in believers. Since I teach that true Christians will produce some level of fruit (Mat. 7:20; II Cor. 5:17), I am often accused of not understanding the difference between justification and sanctification. That, of course, is utter nonsense. No one is saved by sanctification, only by the justification received by virtue of their faith in Christ (Rom. 5:1, 9). My point is only that there WILL BE some level of sanctification, if the person experienced genuine justification: "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philip. 1:6) It doesn't say that He might or might not perform it; it says that He WILL perform it. At least SOME sanctification WILL follow true justification, just as glorification WILL follow in the future. It's a threefold plan. Skipping the middle truth is just plain heresy . . . but it keeps the number count up. 😉