The Difference that Justification makes on Sanctification
WITHOUT Justification: Anger, Denial, and Pain of the
outward man
WITH Justification: Joy, Acceptance, and Compassion of the
inward man.
You’ve probably heard of C.S. Lewis. He is perhaps the most
famous Christian apologist, that is, someone who defends the Christian faith.
During his lifetime he often used allegorical literature to show the validity
of Christianity, writing through fiction to impress spiritual truths of the
Bible upon his readers. In a way, Lewis’ approach was often like Christ’s,
using parables to get the meaning across.
In one of his most famous books called The Great Divorce, Lewis pictures the possibility of people from
heaven and hell getting a chance to interact with one another. He is upfront
that it is obviously fiction, the Bible is clear that there is no connection
between heaven and hell. But Lewis looks at what it might be like if it were
possible, and especially for the purpose of investigating the reasons why
people reject God. The book begins by describing a magical bus ride that
transports a group of people from hell to heaven. The people are given the
chance to stay if they like, as their conversations with residents in heaven
are chronicled by the book. Each chapter looks at a different person and their
interaction with someone in heaven. Some are strangers, some know each other
from their lives on earth.
In one encounter a husband and wife meet one another. Their
relationship is not immediately known to the reader but it is clear that they
recognize each other. The husband, from hell, is pictured as a dwarf that is
chained to a much larger person. As his wife, who is in heaven, speaks with him
she asks for his forgiveness for all the mistakes she made in life. As she
converses with him she is accompanied by a grand host of other people,
representing those whom she influenced and strengthened in the Christian faith
in the world. One can immediately tell she bears some responsibility that she
was able to positively encourage so many others but that her own husband did
not believe.
Her husband is pictured as a dwarf, not because he was one
in real life, but because he is dominated by his anger and resentment. The larger,
ghost-like figure that the dwarf is leading around is
a picture for his resentment which he carries around with
him. As his wife talks with him there is a moment of hope that the husband can
let go. The dwarf actually lets go of the chain for a moment, but in the end he
is not willing to completely let the hatred go. Eventually, the dwarf gets
smaller and smaller until he can no longer be seen. The man has been completely
absorbed by his anger until it overshadows his very existence.
The narrator of the story revealed the moral at the end by
saying, “The demand of the loveless and the self-imprisoned that they should be
allowed to blackmail the universe: that till they consent to be happy (on their
own terms) no one else shall taste joy: that theirs should be the final power;
that Hell should be able to veto Heaven."
Lewis was obviously picturing here the danger of holding
grudges and allowing anger to control our lives. He wanted to show the reader
how it is the kind of attitude that leads a person to hell and even
hypothetically given the chance to change, many would not. You might think it’s
absurd that person in hell would deny a chance at heaven for any reason. But,
that very thing happens every day here on earth as many refuse to turn from
evil and have life through Jesus Christ. Lewis’ story is a somber reminder of
the importance of justification by faith in Christ when it comes to
sanctification in the Christian’s life. We read from 2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our
outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far
more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the
things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things
which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
If we understand sanctification as our Christian life by
faith, our great struggle is a lot like the husband from Lewis’ book. We
wrestle with two natures – the one according to sin and the one according to
faith. Paul described it the same way to the Corinthians by using the
distinction of the outward man and the inward man. Paul was pointing to even
more though. The context of his discussion centered around persecution, which
literally attacked the physical body, the outward man. Yet, the cause of
persecution goes back to sin, the spiritual ailment that afflicts our natures
and our hearts.
An even greater distinction is that the outward man
perishes, whether referring to our sinful body or our Old Adam; and the inward
man, the New Man of faith, endures. For the man in the Lewis’ book, he was
overcome by the outward man. This was pictured by the sickly, ghostly man that
he carried around bound by chains. Eventually, who he really was vanished under
the weight of his grudge.
One of the saddest elements of Lewis’ depiction of this is
the man’s inability to be honest about his situation. In his estimation
everything was fine. In fact, he felt that is was entirely natural for him to
be bitter toward his wife. As the narrator explained, he felt justified in
“blackmailing” the entire universe, so that they would feel as miserable as he
did. If it was up to this man, he would even veto heaven itself so that no one
could be happy.
This story reminds us to the most important aspect of our
sanctified Christian lives – they are built on justification by Jesus Christ. Without Justification, a person will never
completely be sanctified. Without
justification our response to sin is filled with anger, denial, and pain; first
directed toward God and soon thereafter directed at others. And without justification, these symptoms of
sin threaten to destroy who God created us to be.
In contrast, faith in and reliance on justification by
Christ leads to a completely different life. Jesus consumes our anger, denial,
and pain and replaces it with joy, acceptance, and compassion. Justification
changes our lives; both in our relationship with God and in relationships with
others. God would have us remember today that each direction is possible.
Either the outward man is growing or the inward man is growing; it’s one or the
other and our association with Jesus determines which one.
We know very well how great of a struggle there is between the
old man and new man. We are created to follow the new man, yet we also inherit
sin that would have us follow the old man. We know the natural law of God in
our hearts, yet we also learn sinful behaviors from our family and from the
world. Paul wrote about this struggle in one of the most personal sections of
Scripture, from Romans 7: For
I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another
law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into
captivity to the law of sin which is in my members (Romans 7:22-23).
The struggle is that we know what is right and we, by faith
inwardly, want to do what is right. But, we fail again and again. Have you ever
heard those horror stories about someone who undergoes surgery and seems to
respond properly to the anesthesia but in reality can feel everything
happening? The patient’s muscles are relaxed so they can’t move but they can
still feel pain. What a terrible thought! That’s what our struggle with sin is
like and the more you know about God’s Word the more painful your sins are. We
know what to do but we are helpless on our own. It’s like feeling the pain
without being able to do anything about it.
What’s interesting is that this prospect is not even the
most dangerous element of this struggle. Not being able to combat sin is one
thing, but at least you know you can be honest about the danger. And the Bible
is absolutely full of hope through Jesus Christ. It’s a painful battle but at
least you know what you’re fighting and Who holds the key to victory.
The much more dangerous element of our sanctified lives is
in those areas we have a hard time being honest about. What are those things
that we are in denial about? This was ultimately the downfall of the husband in
Lewis’ story. He was numb to the danger. He had spent so much time justifying
it in his own mind, by blaming others and making excuses, that he no longer
felt it was wrong. He had actually convinced himself that he had the right to
think something sinful; hence being chained to and controlled by his own
grudge. And in the end, he wanted everyone else to feel his pain.
What are the areas
that you might be numb to? We all have them, though we often do
whatever we can to ignore them. What are some things that God might be calling
out on, but you keep making excuses for? Could it be lack of contentment? Could
it be unwillingness to obey His Word? Could it be dissatisfaction with your
situation in life? Could it be like the husband, a long-standing grudge against
someone? You are probably thinking of one right now or several. You probably
feel justified in hanging onto it, like a chained pet you’re carrying around.
It’s always there to reassure you if you feel convicted by God’s Word. It’s
always there to offer good reasoning if a Christian friend exposes the problem.
Some people are willing even to destroy their closest relationships in life to
keep hanging on. Remember, either the inward man or the outward man is growing.
We get an even better example of this in the Bible, which
shouldn’t surprise us, and it comes from two individuals in Luke’s Gospel. The
first is the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable about worship. You know the story well.
The Pharisee said, “God, I thank You
that I am not like other men – extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even this
tax collector.” For this Pharisee, the justification he trusted in was his
own as he compared himself, not with God’s moral law, but with other sinners
that he felt better than. His outward man was flourishing, his inward man was
denied the true Gospel of substance.
The second person of Luke’s Gospel was Zacchaeus, not just
a tax collector, but a chief tax collector. He was one of the first people that
men like this Pharisee would have despised. Zacchaeus said, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the
poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore
fourfold (Luke 19:8).” Rather than wanting the attention of others,
Zacchaeus was focused on his Lord Jesus. And Jesus’ reply says it all, "Today salvation has come to this
house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 "for the Son of Man has
come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Both men claimed to have sanctification. Yet, they found
their source of justification in vastly different places. As a result, their
sanctification was different too. But, not from outward observation. To many,
the Pharisee was a better person than Zacchaeus. But, Jesus was looking at the
inward man, the place where all Godly sanctification is found. Why did they end
up in such vastly different places? The Pharisee was numb to his sin, Zacchaeus
was honest about it. The Pharisee denied his sin. Zacchaeus brought it to
Jesus. The Pharisee continued on in his pain and affected others with it.
Zacchaeus continued on in forgiveness and renewal and affected others with it.
What a different justification in Christ makes in
sanctification. Without Christ we wouldn’t be able to tell this difference
between an action done in selfishness and sin and one done in humility and
repentance.
We asked earlier about what areas you might be in denial
about. As your pastor, I welcome you to come to me with those burdens and concerns,
but you don’t have to. Every sin is a personal thing between you and God – go
first and always to Him. We all have different answers to that question. But,
one more worth asking is always the same for us: What has Jesus done for me?
There is no doubt there. He suffered and died for your sins. In contrast to
Lewis’ story, Jesus doesn’t just encourage us to deny ourselves, He gives us
the power to do so. He has justified the world. He has paid the penalty. He has
paved the way for you to receive His eternal blessings. What has Jesus done for
you? He has justified you – declared you to be not guilty of those things for
which you were guilty. This is His gift of grace, and through it our new man,
inwardly, is created, renewed, and strengthened. Amen.
The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will
keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
