Question 32

What do justification and sanctification mean?

Children: Justification means our declared righteousness before God. Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness.

Adult: Justification means our declared righteousness before God, made possible by Christ’s death and resurrection for us. Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness, made possible by the Spirit’s work in us.

1 Peter 1:1–2 ^[1]
Greeting Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. (ESV)

Catechesis

New City Catechism

Question 32

Question 32

Scripture