Justification is possible, therefore, because it is always accompanied by regeneration and union with Christ, and is followed by sanctification. But this is a very different thing from the Romanist confounding of justification and sanctification, as different stages of the same process of making the sinner actually holy. It holds fast to the Scripture distinction between justification as a declarative act of God, and regeneration and sanctification as those efficient acts of God by which justification is accompanied and followed.
Both history and our personal observation show that nothing can change the life and make men moral, like the gospel of free pardon in Jesus Christ. Mere preaching of morality will effect nothing of consequence. There never has been more insistence upon morality than in the most immoral times, like those of Seneca, and of the English deists. As to their moral fruits, we can safely compare Protestant with Roman Catholic systems and leaders and countries. We do not become right by doing right, for only those can do right who have become right. The prodigal son is forgiven before he actually confesses and amends (_Luke 15:20, 21_). Justification is always accompanied by regeneration, and is followed by sanctification; and all three are results of the death of Christ. But the sin-offering must precede the thank-offering. We must first be accepted ourselves before we can offer gifts; _Heb. 11:4_--"_By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts._"
Hence we read in _Eph. 5:25, 26_--"_Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; that he might sanctify it, having cleansed_ = [after he had cleansed] _it by the washing of water with the word_" [= regeneration]; _1 Pet. 1:1, 2_--"_elect ... according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit_ [regeneration], _unto obedience_ [conversion] _and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ_ [justification]"; _1 John 1:7_--"_if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin_"--here the "cleansing" refers primarily and mainly to justification, not to sanctification; for the apostle himself declares in _verse 8_--"_If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us._"