Sanctification vs. Justification

        Sanctification and justification are two terms that are easy to confuse, yet they both play vital roles in the life of a Christian.
        Let's start with justification. Justification is the act of God whereby humankind is accounted free from guilt of penalty of sin. For Christians, this starts when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, and what He has done. His sacrifice then covers our sin, and we are justified and made holy. Being holy doesn't mean we aren't sinful, but that all your sins, past present and future are already paid for, and you don't have to accept the consequences.
        Sanctification begins after justification. While your sins have been covered by the blood of Christ, Christians are called to be transformed by the renewing of their minds, into the image of Christ. Romans 6:1-2 says "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" Thus, sanctification is the process by which you allow Christ to transform your characteristics to resemble His own.
         While these two ideas are different, they are both key to the Christian faith. In one you are made holy, and in the other you give proof of that. You cannot have justification without sanctification, of sanctification without justification.