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Are you confused when you hear these two words? If so, you are not alone.

It can be like the old arguement about which came first - the chicken or the egg. It involves the principle referred to in the old cliche that asked the question, "which had you rather have...justice or mercy?" The wise would do well not to ponder the answer too long...justice is much easier to administer than mercy.

Part of the difficulty is that the two words sound so much alike, and look somewhat alike. Because of this, when one attempts to explain the differences, there can be much confusion. Especially in attempting to remember which is which.

Sanctification refers to the relationship Israel and all of God's servants had during the Old Testament era. God dealt with humanity differently than during the New Testament era. Jesus had not come.

The word sanctify means that someone - or a segment of a society - is "set apart" for a particular purpose. To be sanctified meant to be set apart for a purpose to be accomplished. Failure was not an option, and rarely was a failure considered to be "justified".

There must be a "Justifier".

Unknown to most of humanity, there was a glimmer of hope for forgiveness . God knew the limitations of humanity. In fact, he expected it. He had planned it from the beginning.

There would come a time eons later when God would solve humanities problem. God always wanted mankind to live forever with Him. But in order to be just, there must be someone to justify. Humanity cannot justify itself. There must be someone to save humanity from eternal destruction - someone who could pay the penalty so that those who would accept their penalty of eternal death in their place.

In order for God to be true to who he is, there must be an intercessor. There must be a Justifier, someone whose life was worth all of humanity. For a perfect God - perfect in justice, and perfect in mercy - there was only one solution. The Son of God agreed to pay mankind's eternal death penalty in its stead. Jesus Christ whose life is worth more than all mankind, was willing to die in its stead.

God was justified in destroying all humanity. But Jesus Christ volunteered to save those sanctified through sin unto death, by dying so their penalty of death could be removed. Therefore, humanity can now be saved from being set apart and sanctified for eternal death, to being sanctified for eternal life by believing in Jesus Christ as it's Savior.

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit agreed. The Son would pay our penalty for us, in our stead. When one believes in Jesus Christ, he is thereby sanctified (called and chosen), and justified by the belief in Jesus Christ.

Those who were set apart (sanctified) for death, can now repent and be justified (set apart) for eternal life by believing in the Justifer, Jesus Christ, who can now give the gift of eternal life through repentance and believing in Him...

If you have believed in Jesus Christ as your savior, you are both sanctified and also justified unto eternal life.

" For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was [a]aware and [b]loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren. And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being]. What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?]" - Romans 8:29-31 (AMP)

"Bible verse and quote" from Jan Couns

Bible and Quote - March 17-21