Imputes - To apply, ascribe, or attribute to another
Infuses - To work or pour into; to instill by continual application
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These distinguishing traits are as follows:
| SEVEN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN JUSTIFICATION AND SANCTIFICATION
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| Justification:
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Sanctification:
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1. Regards the person's state
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Regards the person's condition
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2. Is a legal/judicial act
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Is a moral/renewing act
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3. Concerns pardon from the guilt of sin (bloodshedding)
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Concerns washing from the pollution of sin (water-washing)
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4. Imputes Christ's righteousness;
declares the person righteous
("making-righteous")
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Infuses Christ's righteousness;
makes the person holy
("makingholy")
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5. Is equal in all - all receive full pardons
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Differs in degree - all are sanctified, but to different extents
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6. Is God's work outside of a person - a work for and applied to him
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Is God's work within a person - a work in him
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7. Is instant and complete
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Is gradual and life-long
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While justification and sanctification are distinct benefits, yet both have much in common. Both are: received by free grace, possible only through Christ's merits, precious benefits of the Covenant of Grace, given only to God's elect, necessary to appear before God, and inseparably united.
The story on the following page provides a simple example help illustrate the differences between justification a sanctification.
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