WE ENDED YESTERDAY with the question: Is washed, sanctified, justified, the right order? Or should justified come first? For a long time I thought the order was wrong, but I’ve come to the conclusion that the order is profoundly and significantly right.
If to be justified comes first, theologically speaking, then you might be justified in the sight of God. In His sight you are justified through forgiving grace. He sees you as no longer a sinner but as righteous. While this may be true in the sight of God, we are not yet justified in the sight of men nor in our own sight—not until we know that we are washed and sanctified. The washing and the sanctifying is the justification before men and before ourselves. Men, and we ourselves see, that we are different—washed and sanctified—and therefore justified. We stand righteous, not only before God but before men and ourselves.
The justification is based not only on a supposed transaction between you and God, but it is also based on the manifest fact of your being washed and sanctified. The all-round facts between you and God, you and man, and you and yourself justify the claim of change—you are changed; the facts say so. Therefore the justification is based on facts—facts that are manifest—you were washed, you were sanctified. It is an all-round justification based on facts.
The justification that is based only on being made righteous before God lacks complete justification if it is not based also on being washed and sanctified. It lacks verification in fact. Therefore the justification that is based only on a transaction between the soul and God lacks the verification in life of being washed and sanctified. This justification, coming last, is a more complete justification.
O God, my Father, I feel reconciled with Thee and therefore justified, but I am doubly assured by the washing and the sanctifying. This is full justification, therefore, full assurance. My whole being cries gratitude. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: I am washed and sanctified, and therefore justified before God and men and myself.
