The following quote comes from Walter Marshall’s book, The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification. Marshall was a 17th century pastor. This book was first published in 1692 and this edition arrived in 2005. Per the introduction, Dr. John Murray, late professor of systematic theology at Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia, said this was the most important book on sanctification that had ever been written. I recommend this book to anyone who is wrestling with how sanctification and justification work together.
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Remember the basic difference between the law and the gospel. It is not that the law requires perfect obedience, and the gospel just requires sincere obedience. Rather, the difference is this: the law requires doing, and the gospel requires not doing. The gospel requires believing for life and salvation. The “terms of the deal” are totally different. They are not just different in degree: ”The law requires 100% obedience for your salvation whereas the gospel only requires 51% obedience for your salvation.” No! The terms are different in their very nature! The law requires 100% doing. The gospel requires 100% not doing! The gospel requires believing!
