The Jericho Road

Let me posit a theological truth regarding the relation of justification to sanctification: As long as the believer remains “dead in Christ”, that is, remains united by faith to Christ in his death and resurrection, the victory of Christ over sin, death, the world, and the devil keep the believer from the power of these things. (Romans 6). Righteousness is through faith in Christ in both justification and sanctification.

“Works” or moral behaviors that conforms with God’s law of love, very necessary things indeed, are the manifestations of this faith working through love. They are not the righteousness that saves from the wrath of God, but the righteousness that acts in love toward others.

The weakest child of God cannot be overcome by sin if their faith is firmly fixed on Christ alone, on Christ in his death, resurrection, and priestly ministry “for us”.

In fact, the weaker we know ourselves to be the stronger we become in him, if through faith we accept his grace for us. His death to sin is our death to sin, his life to God is our life to God. This is what it means to “eat the flesh and drink the blood” of the Son of God. (John 6.53-56).

Beyond this, the imputed righteousness of Christ is given to cover the sins we commit in ignorance as well as the presence of sin in our flesh, that is, our sinful natures. We are counted as righteous for his sake, therefore, we act in this righteousness for his sake. Such power is provided by his indwelling Spirit that makes the reality of Christ death and resurrection our own reality in this world, in the here and now. Though our bodies are dead because of sin, we are alive in the Spirit through his righteousness (Romans 8.10-13).

The believer, he who has the indwelling Spirit of Christ, the resurrected Christ in him, can never be compelled against his will to surrender to the present power of sin. For sin to be imputed to the believer for condemnation before God, the believer must make a conscious choice to face evil in his own strength. He must act as did Adam when he acted in unbelief.

I repeat, no believer in Christ can be compelled to sin, for Christ in his death has made a way of escape by dying to sin for us. We have his power over sin, death, the world, and the devil when we claim the death and resurrection of Christ as our only hope.

Such faith is given us as we behold Christ crucified for us. If we will abide at the cross we will abide in faith (Gal. 3.1-5).