Justification is instant. Sanctification is slow. The moment the Holy Spirit leads a person to faith in Christ Jesus is the moment of salvation. There is no buffering or prolonged download time when it comes to justification. It is the immediate and instant salvation that comes through faith in Christ Jesus.
Sanctification, however, is far from instant. It is slow and steady progress toward a life of holiness. Sometimes, though, it is not all that steady; rather, it can be a steady conflict, full of ups and downs, failures and new beginnings. And it isn't always progress in the modernist sense of getting better and better, onward and upward, as if old people have become more holy than young people. It is, however, progress in the sense of a journey that is heading somewhere. Sanctification is the work of God, calling us to our vocations, providentially putting us through experiences that cause our faith and love to grow, and giving the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament. It is not immediate gratification or instant holiness. It is, however, the beautifully slow and eventful journey of the Christian life.
"Authentic Christianity," Veith and Sutton, page 198
