The Coin - Part 1

I've been struck by an analogy that is commonly used for a variety of things, but particularly how it may be applied to Wesleyan soteriology. "They are like two sides of the same coin." Though 'justification' and 'sanctification' are hardly all that comprise of Wesley's understanding of salvation (it would be fallacious not to see prevenient, convincing and glorifying grace as part of his ordo salutis), they are the cornerstones and the main points of interest. Standing in the middle on an issue often leads to false accusations from both sides. This is why the Anglican 'via media' (employed by Wesley) is such a delicate approach to take. This comes into play regarding Wesley's distinction yet connection between these two central doctrines.

Wesley held to a thorough-going 'Protestant' understanding of justification. His definition is that the plain meaning of justification is pardon. Justification for Wesley, as for the Reformers, is a forensic work by which a guilty party is considered justified (or righteous) through the sacrifice given by Christ on the cross. Though other seemingly 'relational' terms and phrases are associated with justification (i.e., forgiveness, acceptance, restored to the favor of God), these are understood through a forensic lens because the primary focus is on absolving guilt.

What makes Wesleyan theology unique among Protestants is that Wesley saw sanctification as given by God's grace rather than achieved through discipline. Therefore, it is accurate to say Wesley understood sanctification, not just justification, to be part of the salvation process. While justification is a forensic work, sanctification is a relational one as it begins with regeneration (new birth) and leads unto a stage he called 'entire sanctification,' which needs to be seen as a relational and dynamic phrase rather than a static one.

My question is about the relationship between these two aspects of salvation. What, specifically, connects them for Wesley such that we can speak of 'justification' and 'sanctification' as 'two sides of the same coin'? Wesley seemed to want to see them integrated and seen together in some sense, though not to blend their meanings into one. What, exactly, is the 'coin' in this analogy? And how, if at all, is 'atonement' applied to it?

More to come...