She speaks of our being "set right" and "kept right" with God. Isn't this speaking of justification and sanctification? If not that, what?

OK, till now I see that for this subject of Justification, all who posted here are in common, including what I have posted. So, I may say that this is the SDA’s view regarding Justification. No one has a different view.

But, what is explained here by you seems to me is just for Christ believers ONLY, because the Initial Justification is credited to those who believe in Christ, a justification by faith. Then, sanctification begins to sanctify the person, to recreate him back in the image of God and finally at the judgment day, he is justified for his doing as according to Ten Commandments. “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.”

The 1st is Justification by faith and the 2nd is justification by works.

Both are only for Christ believers only.

Am I right?

In His love

James S

Yes, Jesus cannot justify saving anyone who refuses to confess and forsake their sins. Sanctification is the lifelong process of maturing in the fruits of the Spirit, becoming more and more like Jesus.

This was primarily for MM, although it's been long enough since I originally asked the question that I'm forgetting why I'm asking this. But inertia compels me to keep trying, even if I can't remember why.

She speaks of our being "set right" and "kept right" with God. Isn't this speaking of justification and sanctification? If not that, what?

Although it is true that 'faith without works is dead' the greater truth is that works never save; they never justify or sanctify. (And I don't think anyone here is saying that works save.)

Christ is always our righteousness at every stage. In the acts of bearing fruit - good works, patience under trial etc., - we grow, or rather Christ grows in us. It is only because we are united to Him the true vine that we bear fruit. Everything in the Christian life is a work of grace. It is the response of a grateful heart for the mercy it has received.

We’re told, 'The just shall live by faith', which is to say, the living, the inner life, is all of faith. This faith is defined by EGW as one that works by love and purifies the soul. Abraham, the father of the faithful was reckoned as righteous, justified, when he reached out in faith and grasped the promises of God’s mercy. His works flowed out as a result of his active, persistant faith that openned his heart to the grace and power of the Holy Spirit.

Nice post Mark. The following statement from the SOP comes to mind as well:

Quote:

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It is not the fear of punishment, or the hope of everlasting reward, that leads the disciples of Christ to follow Him. They behold the Saviour's matchless love, revealed throughout His pilgrimage on earth, from the manger of Bethlehem to Calvary's cross, and the sight of Him attracts, it softens and subdues the soul. Love awakens in the heart of the beholders. They hear His voice, and they follow Him.(DA 480)

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It is an appreciation of God's love, an admiration of His character, which binds our hearts to Him in faith.

TE: She speaks of our being "set right" and "kept right" with God. Isn't this speaking of justification and sanctification? If not that, what?

MM: Tom, I couldn’t find where she used those terms to describe J&S. But I like them just the same. Justification sets us right, and sanctification keeps us right. The two work hand in hand as we grow in grace, mature in the fruits of the Spirit – become more and more like Jesus.

We do not, however, become more justified as we grow in grace. Sanctification means maturing in the fruits of the Spirit. That’s all. It doesn’t mean anything else. And this process of maturing will continue throughout eternity. Nevertheless, we will never equal the level of maturity Jesus reached while He was on earth.

We are like candle light, but Jesus is like sunlight. “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Proverbs 4:18. The incandescent difference we experience as we shine more and more is not measured in darkness, instead the difference has to do with depth and degree of maturation. Again, eternity isn’t long enough for us to shine like sunlight.

Matthew
5:14 Ye are the light of the world.
5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Luke
11:34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when [thine eye] is evil, thy body also [is] full of darkness.
11:35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
11:36 If thy whole body therefore [be] full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.

Ephesians
5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

1 Thessalonians
5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

1 John
1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

DA 300
The proud heart strives to earn salvation; but both our title to heaven and our fitness for it are found in the righteousness of Christ. {DA 300.1}

MYP 35
Righteousness within is testified to by righteousness without. He who is righteous within is not hard-hearted and unsympathetic, but day by day he grows into the image of Christ, going on from strength to strength. He who is being sanctified by the truth will be self-controlled, and will follow in the footsteps of Christ until grace is lost in glory. The righteousness by which we are justified is imputed; the righteousness by which we are sanctified is imparted. The first is our title to heaven, the second is our fitness for heaven.--Review and Herald, June 4, 1895. {MYP 35.2}

TE: She speaks of our being "set right" and "kept right" with God. Isn't this speaking of justification and sanctification? If not that, what?

MM: Tom, I couldn’t find where she used those terms to describe J&S. But I like them just the same. Justification sets us right, and sanctification keeps us right. The two work hand in hand as we grow in grace, mature in the fruits of the Spirit – become more and more like Jesus.

The quote is from ST 1/20/90. I like them too. Anyone can understand "set right" and "kept right." People have more problems with "justified" and "sanctified."

We do not, however, become more justified as we grow in grace. Sanctification means maturing in the fruits of the Spirit. That’s all. It doesn’t mean anything else.

Sure it does. Just to name one, it means becoming more like Jesus.

And this process of maturing will continue throughout eternity. Nevertheless, we will never equal the level of maturity Jesus reached while He was on earth.

I agree with this.

We are like candle light, but Jesus is like sunlight. “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Proverbs 4:18. The incandescent difference we experience as we shine more and more is not measured in darkness, instead the difference has to do with depth and degree of maturation. Again, eternity isn’t long enough for us to shine like sunlight.

I agree with this too. Another way of putting it is that we are like mirror scraps, of little value of itself, but able to reflect the light of the sun, so bright as to blinding to those who gaze at it.

Quote.
Bad concept! Bad Bookkeeeping!
Sorry James, there is just something awful wrong in the way of your statement.
I will say it this way and you see if your concept can fit into this.
Unquote.

Why it is only you that complaint? I think that everybody here agrees with the concept of Justification I shared from some one view. If there is something wrong with that view, tell me where it is.

Quote.
First it takes to be born. Second the one that is born needs to be nurtured, fed, clothed and grow in wisdom and stature. Both are the work of the parent. Growth is the natural result.
Unquote.

I don’t understand this, where and when we got justified?

In His love

James S