Justification is the new creation of the new man, and sanctification his preservation until the day of Jesus Christ

Justification is the new creation of the new man, and sanctification his preservation until the day of Jesus Christ

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian and pastor, was a key figure in the resistance against the Nazi regime during World War II. His theological writings and teachings continue to inspire and challenge Christians around the world today. One of Bonhoeffer's key theological concepts was the idea that justification is the new creation of the new man, and sanctification is his preservation until the day of Jesus Christ.

Justification, according to Bonhoeffer, is the act of God declaring a person righteous through faith in Jesus Christ. This act of justification is not based on anything the individual has done, but rather on the grace of God. Bonhoeffer believed that this act of justification is the beginning of a new creation in the believer. It is a transformation from the old self to the new self, from a life of sin and separation from God to a life of righteousness and communion with God.

Sanctification, on the other hand, is the ongoing process of growth and maturation in the Christian life. It is the preservation of the new man until the day of Jesus Christ, when he will be fully transformed into the likeness of Christ. Bonhoeffer saw sanctification as the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer, guiding and empowering them to live a life that is pleasing to God.

For Bonhoeffer, justification and sanctification were inseparable. Justification was the beginning of the Christian life, the moment when a person is declared righteous before God. Sanctification was the ongoing process of growth and transformation that followed, as the believer sought to live out their faith in obedience to God. Bonhoeffer believed that both justification and sanctification were essential for the Christian life, and that they worked together to bring about the fullness of salvation in the believer.