Theology II: Ordo Salutis (part 2)
Union with Christ, Justification, and Sanctification with Dr. Jeremy Kimble, Associate Professor of Theology at Cedarville University — How justification differs from sanctification, why adoption matters, and practical ways to persevere in holiness
Dr. Jeremy Kimble explains justification as a once-for-all forensic declaration, adoption as entrance into God’s family, and sanctification as the ongoing, squiggly-but-upward process of being made like Christ — with pastoral examples, Scripture (Romans, Luke, Ephesians, 2 Corinthians), and concrete means of grace to help students grow.
https://cedarville.edu/BibleMinorProject
0:06 Cedarville announcement and real-world experiences
0:22 Soteriology recap — foreknowledge, predestination, calling, regeneration, conversion (faith + repentance)
1:35 Today’s focus: justification and sanctification; preview of perseverance and glorification next session
3:04 Justification defined — forensic declaration of not-guilty; courtroom illustration and Second Corinthians 5:10
12:03 Luke 18 parable — humility and being justified rather than self-righteousness
13:41 Romans 4 — Abraham as example of justification by faith alone
15:52 Protestant vs Roman Catholic views on justification and the role of sacraments
23:36 Luther’s discovery — imputed righteousness and assurance by faith alone
27:52 Justification vs sanctification — declaration vs ongoing transformation; Romans 5:1 and expected peace with God
28:58 Adoption explained — Romans 8:14–17; heirs with Christ and family imagery of the gospel
31:32 Sanctification defined — put off old self, renew mind, put on new self (Ephesians 4); overall upward trajectory with setbacks
34:06 Hindrances to growth — unbelief, bad company, pride, distracting weights; flee evil and pursue holiness (2 Cor 6, Heb 12)
36:31 Means of grace for sanctification — Scripture, prayer, solitude, fasting, community, worship, evangelism, Christian biography
39:57 Final charge — persevere in the local church; exhort one another and don’t forsake gathering
Dr. Kimble emphasizes that justification is an objective, legal declaration by God (not a becoming) grounded in union with Christ and received by faith — imputed righteousness credited to our account. Adoption changes our identity: children and heirs who cry Abba Father. Sanctification is both positional and progressive: saints are declared holy in Christ yet called to daily mortification of the flesh and renewal of the mind. The lecture addresses theological tensions (Hebrews 6 warnings, John 10 assurances), contrasts Protestant sola fide with Roman Catholic sacramental process, and offers pastoral help for those who struggle to find a single “moment” of conversion. Practical application includes diagnosing growth over years (not weeks), asking wise counselors, cultivating means of grace, and refusing patterns that hinder holiness. The session closes by directing students to persevere in the local church as a central means of spiritual formation.
Admissions https://www.cedarville.edu/Admissions
Financial Aid https://www.cedarville.edu/FinAid
Plan a campus visit https://www.cedarville.edu/Visit
Academic programs https://www.cedarville.edu/Academics