Les Feldick Bible Study

Is the concept of being washed, sanctified, and justified only taught by Paul?

No, being washed, sanctified, and justified is not a concept taught only by Paul. Paul does write of these things, but the Lord Jesus Himself used the same terminology in John's Gospel with regard to the twelve or the eleven. Therefore, it is not exclusively Pauline.

Les explains that while Paul writes of being washed, sanctified, and justified, this is not a Pauline concept. He directs attention to John's Gospel, where the Lord Jesus Himself uses the term with regard to the twelve or the eleven. In the context, being washed means being cleansed of all wickedness; being sanctified means being set apart for God's purposes; and being justified is God's judicial act declaring the sinner just as if they had never sinned. Les illustrates this: God cleanses the idolater as though he had never fallen before an idol, justifies the drunkard as though he had never taken a drink, and justifies the adulterer as though he had never committed adultery. This is the beauty of salvation by grace. Paul's point is that such were some of you, but you were washed, sanctified, and justified. Yet Les stresses that Jesus Himself used the same terminology, so it is not exclusive to Paul.