In this article, I wish to explain why God infuses us with grace at the moment of justification and emphasize the beauty of the Catholic Church’s teaching on justification. By understanding the Church’s teaching on this subject, we will better appreciate the work God does in us and our filial relationships with Him. So, let’s begin with the words “just” and “justify.”
Just and Justify
The Greek word used for just in the New Testament is dikaiōs, which means righteous. Similarly, the Greek word for justify is dikaióō, which means to declare righteous. According to the Catholic and true Faith, God justifies us (declares us righteous) at the moment of baptism. Because God declares this change in status, and His Word always accomplishes its purpose (Is. 55:11), His declaration causes a change within us. We truly become just/righteous.
St. Paul on Justification
In his Letter to Titus, St. Paul writes:
…but when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, which He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by His grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. (3:4-7)
So, the washing of regeneration (i.e., baptism, the washing of being born again) and our concurrent renewal in the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ justifies us by His grace. He regenerates us, changing us from unjust to just, from old to new. Consequently, God does not simply declare us righteous, He recreates us in Christ. Paul emphasizes this point in his Second Letter to the Corinthians (see also 1 Cor. 6:9-11).
In 2 Corinthians 5:17, he writes, “…if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation [or creature]; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” Notice the word “is” in this verse. If anyone is in Christ, he IS a new creation. Again, God does not merely declare a person righteous, He recreates him in righteousness. Recreate, new creation, regeneration, and born again all mean the same thing—a person is made new.
Justification by Infusion
If God did not infuse us with grace at the moment He declared us righteous, we would not be a new creation, regenerated, or born again. We would be our same old selves but declared something else. This makes no sense, and it turns God into a liar. Instead, God accomplishes what He declares.
Think about these questions: How can one be in right relationship with God (i.e., righteous) if one is not in communion with Him? And how can one be in communion with Him if one is not His friend? And how can one be His friend if He has not cleansed his soul of that which opposes His infinite holiness? And how can a soul be cleansed if sanctifying grace does not enter the soul to cleanse it? And how could a person be anything other than just when sanctifying grace enters the soul (provided the person does not commit mortal sin afterward)?
The answers to these questions depend completely on sanctifying grace. The infusion of sanctifying grace puts us in communion with God, changes us from enemy to friend, cleanses the soul of sin, and justifies us by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Image and Likeness of God
Why does this matter? God makes us in His image and likeness, and sin disfigures our image, making us less like God. If God merely declared us just, our disfiguration would remain unchanged. On the other hand, if God’s Word is effective and His declaration makes us righteous, then we become like Him who is righteousness. Then, through the process of sanctification, which begins at justification, we participate evermore perfectly in His divine nature (2 Pet. 1:3-4).
Through this process of sanctification, God works in us and with our cooperation (i.e., merit) to deify us. We become mature images of God reflecting Jesus Himself. This is where the beauty lies. God doesn’t stop at forgiving us and declaring us His friend. Rather, He puts us in communion with Him and makes us increasingly like Him. We share in His divinity.
Imagine the sinless version of yourself; one who is full of grace and desires only what God desires. One who has so cooperated with grace as to become perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect. This is why the Catholic doctrine on justification is so important and so beautiful. It keeps God’s integrity intact, and it truly—not merely declaratively—makes His children like our Father. It perfects us!
Author’s Note: Please click these links for more on baptism by pouring, why baptism is not a human work, infant baptism, how we merit more grace, how God makes us gods, moral perfection, and achieving whole-person holiness.
If you would like to read about the issues with imputed righteousness, which some Protestant communities teach, Catholic Answers has some great articles and podcasts on the topic.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
