Infused righteousness

Infused righteousness refers to the Roman Catholic doctrine of Justification, i.e. right standing before God. Within the Roman Catholic view, Justification is seen as a "process" as contrasted to the Protestant view of a moment-in-time forensic declaration by God that the sinner is righteous.^ [1]^ The instrumental cause of infused righteousness are the sacraments of baptism and penance^ [2]^, where as the instrumental cause of imputed righteousness is faith.^[3]^ Roman Catholicism maintains that the righteousness of the saints and of Christ is gradually "infused" into the believer through the sacraments. For the Catholic, infused righteousness either gradually dissipates as the believer takes part in worldly sins or is enhanced by good works. If the believer dies without having the fullness of righteousness, coming in part from the last rites, he or she will temporarily spend time in purgatory until the sinful status is purged from his or her record.

For the Roman Catholic, the believer is made righteous by cooperating with God's grace. For the Protestant, the believer is declared righteous when he comes to faith, based on the righteousness of Christ credited (imputed) to him.

Notes

  1. ? Sproul, R.C. Faith Alone, p. 109
  2. ? Sproul, p. 122
  3. ? Sproul, p. 75

References

  • R.C. Sproul, Faith Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine of Justification. Baker,

    1. ISBN 0080105849X

See also

External links