THE JOURNEY OF FAITH: DISTINGUISHING JUSTIFICATION FROM SANCTIFICATION

Few ideas in Christian theology arouse as much interest and dispute as justification and sanctification do. Though these terms are foundational to the faith, they often cause confusion due to their intertwined yet distinct natures.

DID JESUS HAVE TWO SEPARATE BUT UNITED NATURES, TWO NATURES THAT SOMETIMES CONFLICTED, OR ONE NATURE?

Jesus Christ has what we call the “hypostatic union.” This means that in the one person of Jesus Christ, there are two distinct natures: one divine and one human. These natures are united in a single person without mixing or altering each other. So, Jesus is fully God and fully man at the same time, and these two natures coexist perfectly without conflict.

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BELIEVER’S VICTORY IN CHRIST

Too often, pastors and ministers of the gospel present the believer as someone still struggling to escape the dominion of the evil one. But this is a distortion of the truth. Yes, discipleship must be emphasized, but never at the expense of the believer’s liberty in Christ. Projecting the power of the devil over the believer is not biblical.

NO CONDEMNATION? ANOTHER LOOK AT ROMANS 8:1

The problem associated with Rom 8:1 is that most translations rely on a shortened Greek text that reads thus: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” However, 98% of existing Greek manuscripts conclude verse 1 with a qualifying clause: “who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” That is reflected in several English translations (KJV, NKJV, MEV, WEB). Some would settle this discrepancy based on external evidence—that is, the most numerous manuscripts (98%) or the oldest (2%). That debate is beyond the scope of this paper.

ARE DEMONS REGIONALLY DIFFERENT?

This evening, I had a conversation with a friend that left me thinking.

We were discussing the style of prayer common among many African believers—a style that feels like daily combat with invisible enemies. In these gatherings, believers are urged to fight with aggressive declarations as if demons lurk behind every shadow.

My friend, a lady, justified this approach in an interesting way. She argued that African prayers sound more combative than Western prayers because the demons themselves are different. According to her, demons in Africa are more stubborn and wicked, while those in Europe and America are gentler in how they deal with people.

But is it true that demons differ by geography? Who first taught such a thing?

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