Justification and Sanctification

Justification is God's saving action where he declares a sinner righteous by faith in Christ alone. Sanctification is the process of being made holy i.e., living out the righteousness that God has reckoned to our account. God imputes his own righteousness to you but he will never impute your own sin against you. Faith in Christ alone is the means of salvation. We are not saved because we keep laws, rules, and rituals. We are saved because we believe that Jesus died for our sins and was raised for our justification. Then we are transformed into the image of Christ by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. By one sacrifice God has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The perfecting and being made holy are at the same time a finished and an ongoing work. By the blood of Jesus God has made us perfect forever and at the same time he's working to change our hearts and minds and behavior so that we look like his one perfect Son Jesus and reflect his glory. But your salvation does not depend on your behavior. You can grieve God by misbehaving and he will discipline you but you are still his child and a part of his body. Since you are in him you cannot be condemned and you will not be disowned - he can't disown himself. This security is great motivation to live like Jesus. Knowing your salvation rests on the cross does not make you want to sin, it makes you want to obey him because he loves you.