Righteousness

[willguy]

Okay, what is the difference between imputed and infused righteousness, which one does the church teach, and why???

[phatcatholic]

Okay, what is the difference between imputed and infused righteousness, which one does the church teach, and why???

imputed righteousness covers our sin and declares us justified, like a "snow-covered dunghill" (as Martin Luther said), whereas infused righteousness actually cleanses us of sin and makes us justified.

--imputed covers and declares

--infused cleanses and makes

the Catholic Church believes in infused righteousness

for articles on this topic, please go here and then click on the "FAITH ALONE" ( SOLA FIDE) AND IMPUTED JUSTIFICATION: CRITIQUES hyperlink.

i hope this helps......pax christi,

phatcatholic

Edited February 8, 2004 by phatcatholic

[willguy]

Thanx.

[phatcatholic]

Thanx.

np bro ;)

[Hananiah]

"God's word, I say, effects what it announces. This is characteristic all through Scripture... Thus in the beginning He said, 'Let there be light, and there was light.' ...So again in His miracles, He called Lazarus from the grave and the dead arose; He said, 'Be thou cleansed,' and the leprosy departed; He rebuked the wind and the waves, and they were still; He commanded the evil spirits, and they fled away. ...It would seem, then, in all cases that God's word is the instrument of His deed. When, then, He solemnly utters the command, 'Let the soul be just,' it becomes inwardly just."

John Henry Newman, Lectures on the Doctrine of Justification third ed. (New York: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1900) pp 81-82

The Protestant position on justification, imputed righteousness, rests on the metaphysical absurdity that God could declare something to be so yet it not actually be so.

[cmotherofpirl]

CAtholics believe in getting clean, protestants stay unwashed, but change clothes to cover up the dirt.

[Laudate_Dominum]

The main category that I use for distinguishing protestant and Catholic Theology of justification is "Divine Sonship" or filial adoption. This is what Trent talks about and is what it's all about. For prots justification is a juridical thing, it's a declaration not adoption in any significant sense. When it comes down to it God is just a judge. For Catholic Theology God is very much Father! Scott Hahn is really big on this.

I find it's helpful to keep in mind because Catholics and protestants are talking about two different things ultimately when they are talking about this stuff.

[ICTHUS]

CAtholics believe in getting clean, protestants stay unwashed, but change clothes to cover up the dirt.

No, this is false. Protestants believe that Christs righteousness, whole and entire, is credited to us.

Like being overseas and running out of money, and having your parents credit a thousand dollars to your bank account. The money is not 'externally' there, you actually have a thousand dollars in your account.

[phatcatholic]

No, this is false. Protestants believe that Christs righteousness, whole and entire, is credited to us.

Like being overseas and running out of money, and having your parents credit a thousand dollars to your bank account. The money is not 'externally' there, you actually have a thousand dollars in your account.

hmm, u may need to explain ur analogy and why u don't agree w/ cmom's. taking into account everything i have read on the subject, i would accept cmom's analogy before i would accept yours. but then again, i may not understand exactly what u are getting at here.

what's goin on in that crazy head of urs?

much love icthus,

phatcatholic

[cmotherofpirl]

No, this is false. Protestants believe that Christs righteousness, whole and entire, is credited to us.

Like being overseas and running out of money, and having your parents credit a thousand dollars to your bank account. The money is not 'externally' there, you actually have a thousand dollars in your account.

Protestants (depending on which protestant of course) believe their sins are "covered" Catholics believe their sins are washed away.

In the process of justification we must distinguish two periods: first, the preparatory acts or dispositions (faith, fear, hope, etc.); then the last, decisive moment of the transformation of the sinner from the state of sin to that of justification or sanctifying grace, which may be called the active justification (actus justificationis) with this the real process comes to an end, and the state of habitual holiness and sonship of God begins. Touching both of these periods there has existed, and still exists, in part, a great conflict of opinion between Catholicism and Protestantism. This conflict may be reduced to four differences of teaching. By a justifying faith the Church understands qualitatively the theoretical faith in the truths of Revelation, and demands over and above this faith other acts of preparation for justification. Protestantism, on the other hand, reduces the process of justification to merely a fiduciary faith; and maintains that this faith, exclusive even of good works, is all-sufficient for justification, laying great stress upon the scriptural statement sola fides justificat. The Church teaches that justification consists of an actual obliteration of sin and an interior sanctification. Protestantism, on the other hand, makes of the forgiveness of sin merely a concealment of it, so to speak; and of the sanctification a forensic declaration of justification, or an external imputation of the justice of Christ.

article on Grace in Catholic Encyclopedia

Edited February 16, 2004 by cmotherofpirl

[phatcatholic]

yes cmom, we seem to have a like understanding of imputed vs. infused righteousness. i am curious still to see how this compares w/ icthus' understanding of it, especially as it is made known thru the peculiar analogy that he used.