Which comes first, Justification or Stop Sinning?

 The following passages from the Ellen G. White writings and Seventh‑Day Adventist periodicals seem to suggest that justification can be received **before** the individual has stopped sinning or has fully surrendered to Christ.  

[^18] ^43 ^45 ^47 ^48  

* “Justification is wholly of grace and not procured by any works that fallen man can do.” (p. 31.57)  

* “No one can be justified by any works of his own… Faith is the only condition upon which justification can be obtained.” (p. 386.103)  

* “No one can be justified by any works of his own… Faith is the only condition upon which justification can be obtained.” (p. 386.113)  

* “Faith is the only condition upon which justification can be obtained, and faith includes not only belief but trust.” (p. 386.98)  

* “Being justified freely by His grace… The grace of Christ is freely to justify the sinner without merit or claim on his part.” (p. 820.15155)  

In contrast, many other extracts clearly state that justification is possible **only after** the person stops sinning, repents, and surrenders entirely to Christ.  

[^1] ^2 ^4 ^7 ^15 ^22 ^23 ^27 ^35 ^40 ^44  

* “No man can cover his soul with the garments of Christ’s righteousness while practicing known sins… God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before justification can take place; and in order for man to retain justification, there must be continual obedience.” (p. 31.491)  

* “No man can cover his soul with the garments of Christ’s righteousness while practicing known sins, or neglecting known duties… Faith must reach a point where it will control the affections… and it is by obedience that faith itself is made perfect.” (p. 821.10776)  

* “A sinner is justified by God when he repents of his sins.” (p. 100.1150)  

* “We must renounce our own righteousness… Genuine faith is followed by love, and love by obedience.” (p. 820.4824)  

* “The law cannot cleanse from sin, it condemns the sinner… The sinner may stand justified… only through repentance toward him, and faith in the atoning merits of the Redeemer.” (p. 15)  

* “Christ did not come to excuse sin… The law cannot cleanse from sin… The gospel points to Christ as the only one able to remove the stains of sin by his blood.” (p. 820.1083)  

* “The law holds the transgressor in bondage… the law cannot cleanse from sin.” (p. 820.17496)  

* “Repentance must precede forgiveness… The sinner cannot bring himself to repentance, or prepare himself to come to Christ.” (p. 98.2214)  

* “No unholy thought can be tolerated… The law cannot acquit the guilty… He must accept the propitiation… The shed blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin.” (p. 820.12890)  

* “Those who continue to live in transgression will never regain the lost paradise.” (p. 820.7356)  

* “Every sin must be renounced… The believer must have a progressive experience by continually doing the works of Christ.” (p. 820.21393)

[^1]: [Faith and Works, p. 99.2](#search-result-1 "This repentance has in it nothing of the nature of merit, but it prepares the heart for the acceptance of Christ as the only Saviour, the only hope of the lost sinner. As the sinner looks to the law, his guilt is made plain to him and pressed home to his conscience, and he is condemned.  His only comfort and hope is found in looking to the cross of Calvary.  As he ventures upon the promises, taking God at His word, relief and peace come to his soul.  He cries, “Lord, Thou hast promised to save all who come unto Thee in the name of Thy Son.  I am a lost, helpless, hopeless soul.  Lord, save, or I perish.”  His faith lays hold on Christ, and he is justified before God. But while God can be just, and yet justify the sinner through the merits of Christ, no man can cover his soul with the garments of Christ's righteousness while practicing known sins or neglecting known duties.  God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before justification can take place; and in order for man to retain justification, there must be continual obedience, through active, living faith that works by love and purifies the soul.")

[^18]: [Faith and Works, p. 19.3](#search-result-18 "Here is an opportunity for falsehood to be accepted as truth.  If any man can merit salvation by anything he may do, then he is in the same position as the Catholic to do penance for his sins.  Salvation, then, is partly of debt, that may be earned as wages.  If man cannot, by any of his good works, merit salvation, then it must be wholly of grace, received by man as a sinner because he receives and believes in Jesus.  It is wholly a free gift.  Justification by faith is placed beyond controversy.  And all this controversy is ended, as soon as the matter is settled that the merits of fallen man in his good works can never procure eternal life for him. The light given me of God places this important subject above any question in my mind.  Justification is wholly of grace and not procured by any works that fallen man can do.  The matter has been presented before me in clear lines that if the rich man has money and possessions, and he makes an offering of the same to the Lord, false ideas come in to spoil the offering by the thought he has merited the favor of God, that the Lord is under obligation to him to regard him with special favor because of this gift.")