Sanctification on the Basis of Justification, Not Vice Versa

The Reformation was necessary because the Roman Catholic church believed in an 'upside-down' gospel. Graeme Goldsworthy:

Both Catholicism and allegorical interpretation of Scripture involved the dehistoricizing of the Gospel. The Reformation rehistoricized both the Gospel and the Old Testament.

The prime focus recovered in the Reformation was the justification of the sinner on the basis of the objective, historic work of Christ for us.

Catholicism had reversed the vision so that the prime focus was on the work of Christ or his Spirit within us.

This meant the reversal of the relationship of sanctification to justification. Infused grace, beginning with baptismal regeneration, internalized the Gospel and made sanctification the basis of justification. This is an upside down Gospel.

This idea has not ended, unfortunately. Listen to Keller's sermon "The Prodigal Sons" and you'll see how this is still happening and why it isn't unique only to the Catholic church.

HT: JP