Grace is infused.
The Protestant model of imputation of grace is self contradicting and illogical. The imputed model:
1. It is so confused, it even contradicts other Protestant doctrines.
According to Protestant doctrine, “grace is irresistible”. Yet, grace can seemingly do nothing for the sinner. The sinner can’t become truly righteous according to the grace given to Him by God. He must be covered over with the righteousness of Christ.
2. Makes God a liar. When God rules that someone is righteous, it becomes a “legal fiction”. God, who can see a man’s heart, does not rule according to what is truly in the man’s heart, but declares the unrighteous man to be righteous.
3. Makes God weak. God, who created the universe with a word, when He declares a man just, that man, according to this doctrine, does not become just.
The “infusion” model is precisely the opposite:
1. It does not contradict any Catholic doctrines but fits perfectly in the Catholic understanding of the Omniscience, Omnipotence and Omnipresence of God.
2. Confirms that God does not lie. When God judges a man righteous, it is because that man has BY FAITH become righteous by striving to keep God’s commandments and persevering in well doing.
3. It also shows forth the efficacy of the grace of God, which was freely given to the man and which brought about the man’s conversion.
4. Shows forth the power of God because justification is the work of God. In justification, it is God who, by the renewal of the Holy Spirit, washes and regenerates the faithful man’s soul.
I personally don’t see how anyone can believe the imputation model.
Luther, the author of that doctrine, summarized it this way:
I said before that our righteousness is dung in the sight of God. Now if God chooses to adorn dung, he can do so (Luther’s Works, Vol. 34, page 184).
Really? God wants to adorn “dung”? I’ll stick with the Catholic Teaching, thank you very much.
Sincerely,
De Maria
Quote: "the Catholic understanding of the Omniscience, Omnipotence and Omnipresence of God."
ReplyDeleteTHAT is the entire problem for protestants. They don't start off with this theological truth in mind. Nor do JWs, Mormons, etc.
Good post De Maria
This is as garbled an account of Luther's notion justification as I have ever heard. If we can do anything to obtain God's favor then God owes us and this lessens the power of God and cheapens what Jesus has accomplished on the Cross. Please re-read Romans without preconceived Tridentine presuppositions. Compared to God I am dung. Such was the impact of Christ's work on the Cross.
ReplyDeleteThis is as garbled an account of Luther's notion justification as I have ever heard.
DeleteGarbled, in what way? I think it's pretty clear and if you can't provide specific errors, I stand by my account.
If we can do anything to obtain God's favor
In order to obtain God's favor, we must do good:
Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
then God owes us
Not in the sense that we have obligated Him to pay us. But, it is He who has obligated Himself. As the Scripture says:
Hebrews 6:16-18
King James Version
16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
and this lessens the power of God
God's power can neither be reduced nor increased. God is absolute.
Hebrews 13:8
King James Version
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
and cheapens what Jesus has accomplished on the Cross.
Those who don't understand the Word of God, cheapen Christ's efforts on our behalf. You probably aren't even aware of this verse:
1 Peter 2:21
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Yeah, we're supposed to imitate Christ's suffering.
Please re-read Romans without preconceived Tridentine presuppositions.
Let's read it together:
Romans 2:13
King James Version
13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Compared to God I am dung. Such was the impact of Christ's work on the Cross.
I don't think you understood God's work on the Cross. He died to make us holy. He died so that we would convert and come to Him.
2 Corinthians 5:15
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.