--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Expressed in theological terms, “In…" description: "\"“Expressed in theological terms, “In justification our own works have no place at all, and simple faith in Christ is the one thing needful. In sanctifi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/michael-l-brown-17285_justification_expressed-in-theological-terms-in-justif_16346.jpg" --- # Expressed in theological terms, “In justification our own… ![“Expressed in theological terms, “In justification our own works have no place at all, and simple faith in Christ is the one thing needful. In sanctification our own works are of vast importance and God bids us fight, and watch, and pray, and strive, and take pains, and labour.”34” quote by Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/michael-l-brown-17285_justification_expressed-in-theological-terms-in-justif_16346.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/michael-l-brown-17285_justification_expressed-in-theological-terms-in-justif_16346.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/michael-l-brown-17285_justification_expressed-in-theological-terms-in-justif_16346.jpg) > ““Expressed in theological terms, “In justification our own works have no place at all, and simple faith in Christ is the one thing needful. In sanctification our own works are of vast importance and God bids us fight, and watch, and pray, and strive, and take pains, and labour.”34”” [Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Justification is a legal declaration of righteousness based solely on faith, while sanctification is the progressive transformation that requires active effort and spiritual disciplines. **In simple terms:** Faith alone justifies; works shape sanctification. Key Takeaway Faith secures salvation; effort sustains holiness. Themes theology soteriology spiritual growth faith vs works Christian discipline Mood reflective hopeful Type theological didactic When to use this quote - personal prayer - Bible study - community service - spiritual mentorship - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts justification sanctification faith works Practical Applications - preaching on salvation - designing discipleship programs Questions to Reflect On - How does one balance reliance on grace with the call to active obedience? - What practices best reflect the sanctifying work of faith? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Justification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justification/) [Justification Works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justification-works-383169/) [Needful Sanctification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needful-sanctification-383168/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sanctification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctification/) [Sanctification Works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctification-works-383167/) [Simple faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-faith/) ## Related quotes > [“Sometimes it's just over and you can't make it all right. Justification by works: an overrated idea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/sometimes-it-s-just-over-and-you-can-t-make-it-all-right/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Every man, therefore, who expects justification by works, must see to it, not that he is better than other men, or that he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hodge/every-man-therefore-who-expects-justification-by-works-must-see-to-it/) [Charles Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hodge/) > [“It always starts with one. That's how justification works. But once you justify something once, you can do it again. It becomes easier. Right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/batman-injustice/it-always-starts-with-one-that-s-how-justification-works-but-once-you/) [Batman, Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/batman-injustice/) > [“It always starts with one. That's how justification works. But once you justify something once, you can do it again and again. It becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/batman-injustice/it-always-starts-with-one-that-s-how-justification-works-but-once-you-2/) [Batman, Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/batman-injustice/) > [“We all are like filthy rags in the site of God; not one clean enough, good enough, righteous enough, to stand before a holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-bertram/we-all-are-like-filthy-rags-in-the-site-of-god-not-one-clean-enough/) [Robin Bertram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-bertram/) > [I think it's for me with regards to this issue I believe in justification at the point of salvation; I believe in sanctification at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-chambers/i-think-it-s-for-me-with-regards-to-this-issue-i-believe-in/) [Alan Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-chambers/) > [A rigorous doctrine of imputation is not only limiting but ends up doing a disservice to the nature of grace and justification. It makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-howard-3rd-duke-of-norfolk/a-rigorous-doctrine-of-imputation-is-not-only-limiting-but-ends-up/) [Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-howard-3rd-duke-of-norfolk/) > [“In justification, God imputes or counts over to the sinner the righteousness of Christ. In sanctification, God imparts the righteousness of the new life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-gerberding/in-justification-god-imputes-or-counts-over-to-the-sinner-the/) [G.H. Gerberding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-gerberding/) > [“Initially, the God of the Old Testament might seem overwhelming and domineering to you, or tyrannical, or perhaps even evil, which is good. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/initially-the-god-of-the-old-testament-might-seem-overwhelming-and/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Saving faith is an immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, resting upon Him alone, for justification, sanctification, and eternal life by virtue of God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/saving-faith-is-an-immediate-relation-to-christ-accepting-receiving/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Solid scriptural theology should be valued in the church. Books in which Scripture is reverently regarded as the only rule of faith and practice--…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/solid-scriptural-theology-should-be-valued-in-the-church-books-in/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [“The 144,000 have the patience of the saints; they keep the commandments of God, and they also have the faith of Jesus. For them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-andreasen/the-144-000-have-the-patience-of-the-saints-they-keep-the/) [M.L. Andreasen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-andreasen/) > [“Antinomianism and legalism conspire in forcing us to make a false choice: Is salvation a matter of God's forgiveness or is it moral transformation?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/antinomianism-and-legalism-conspire-in-forcing-us-to-make-a-false/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“Genuine sanctification has a ‘continued orientation toward justification.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-c-berkouwer/genuine-sanctification-has-a-continued-orientation-toward/) [G C Berkouwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-c-berkouwer/) > [I fear it is sometimes forgotten that God has married together justification and sanctification. They are distinct and different things, beyond question, but one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/i-fear-it-is-sometimes-forgotten-that-god-has-married-together/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) ## More by Michael L. Brown > [“Simply stated, it is flat-out wrong to say God does not put His laws into our hearts as believers and that commandments and rules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-l-brown/simply-stated-it-is-flat-out-wrong-to-say-god-does-not-put-his-laws/) [Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/) > [“The Greek is even more explicitly against the hyper-grace interpretation, since the word confess in the Greek speaks of continuous, present action as opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-l-brown/the-greek-is-even-more-explicitly-against-the-hyper-grace/) [Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/) > [“It’s clear that our present sins need present forgiveness, not for the purpose of salvation but as part of our relationship with the Father.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-l-brown/it-s-clear-that-our-present-sins-need-present-forgiveness-not-for-the/) [Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/) > [“There are Christians and churches that boast of being mature when really they are spiritually frostbitten. We have developed a prejudice against feeling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-l-brown/there-are-christians-and-churches-that-boast-of-being-mature-when/) [Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/) > [“Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-l-brown/beloved-if-our-heart-does-not-condemn-us-we-have-confidence-before/) [Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/) > [“But Jesus issued a warning too, stating that “whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-l-brown/but-jesus-issued-a-warning-too-stating-that-whoever-is-ashamed-of-me/) [Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/) > [“There is no sin nature in there. There is nothing of the old creation that lives inside of your new creation spirit. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-l-brown/there-is-no-sin-nature-in-there-there-is-nothing-of-the-old-creation/) [Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/) > [“Doesn’t your heart just burst with a holy desire to bring Him joy and to walk worthy of your high calling as a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-l-brown/doesn-t-your-heart-just-burst-with-a-holy-desire-to-bring-him-joy-and/) [Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/) > [“Again; thousands are deceived into supposing that they have “accepted Christ” as their “personal Saviour,” who have not first received Him as their LORD.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-l-brown/again-thousands-are-deceived-into-supposing-that-they-have-accepted/) [Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/) > [“New Testament Christianity is not just a formal, polite, correct, and orthodox kind of faith and belief. No! What characterizes it is this element…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-l-brown/new-testament-christianity-is-not-just-a-formal-polite-correct-and/) [Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/) > [“The more automated our experience becomes, the less involved we are in the art of living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-l-brown/the-more-automated-our-experience-becomes-the-less-involved-we-are-in/) [Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/) > [“The entire world cannot contain My glory, yet when I wish, I can concentrate My entire essence into one small spot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-l-brown/the-entire-world-cannot-contain-my-glory-yet-when-i-wish-i-can/) [Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/) > [“And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-l-brown/and-by-this-we-know-that-we-have-come-to-know-him-if-we-keep-his/) [Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/) > [“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-l-brown/the-spirit-of-the-lord-is-upon-me-because-he-has-anointed-me-to/) [Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/) > [It’s easier to cool down a fanatic than to warm up a corpse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-l-brown/it-s-easier-to-cool-down-a-fanatic-than-to-warm-up-a-corpse/) [Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/) [Explore all 37 Michael L. Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/) ## More Justification quotes > [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/) [Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/) > [If memory survived eternally, then indeed there might be justification for a belief in hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-aumonier/if-memory-survived-eternally-then-indeed-there-might-be-justification/) [Stacy Aumonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-aumonier/) > [“I have heard several people justify working long hours and getting home from work late it night by saying things like, “I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/i-have-heard-several-people-justify-working-long-hours-and-getting/) [Daniel Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-willey/) > [The ultimate justification of the work of art is to help the spectator to become a work of art himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-berenson/the-ultimate-justification-of-the-work-of-art-is-to-help-the/) [Bernard Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-berenson/) > [An excuse is a justification to make the soul feel good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-baker/an-excuse-is-a-justification-to-make-the-soul-feel-good/) [Regina Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-baker/) > [Those who love him love that he sells the most art; they take it as a point of faith that this proves Kinkade is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/those-who-love-him-love-that-he-sells-the-most-art-they-take-it-as-a/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [You can see the rider serving the elephant when people are morally dumbfounded. They have strong gut feelings about what is right and wrong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/you-can-see-the-rider-serving-the-elephant-when-people-are-morally/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [“To recklessly excuse a failure is to believe that I’ve effectively erased it from the story of my life, when I’ve actually imprinted it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-recklessly-excuse-a-failure-is-to-believe-that-i-ve-effectively/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [How could one comfort a disturbed person? He is already assailed with doubts about his faith. He would have to despair with such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-f-w-walther/how-could-one-comfort-a-disturbed-person-he-is-already-assailed-with/) [C. F. W. Walther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-f-w-walther/) > [“Self-justification is the enemy of repentance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/self-justification-is-the-enemy-of-repentance/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [They have this social justification for every nasty thing they do!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/they-have-this-social-justification-for-every-nasty-thing-they-do/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [It could never be a correct justification that, because the whites oppressed us yesterday when they had power, that the blacks must oppress them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/it-could-never-be-a-correct-justification-that-because-the-whites/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [People often say that humans have always eaten animals, as if this is a justification for continuing the practice. According to this logic, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/people-often-say-that-humans-have-always-eaten-animals-as-if-this-is/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [While society cannot provide employment for its members, the production/work/income nexus has to be abandoned as a justification for our present parsimony to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hawke/while-society-cannot-provide-employment-for-its-members-the/) [Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hawke/) > [“The immoral woman in Luke 7 has the faith to anticipate Christ's forgiveness. She can act in love with no words to justify.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenn-thoman/the-immoral-woman-in-luke-7-has-the-faith-to-anticipate-christ-s/) [Jenn Thoman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenn-thoman/) [Browse all 748 Justification quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justification/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Expressed in theological terms, “In justification our own works have no place at all, and simple faith in Christ is the one thing needful. In sanctification our own works are of vast importance and God bids us fight, and watch, and pray, and strive, and take pains, and labour.”34”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael L. 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