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Verse by Verse: Infused Grace

Most Protestants—and this is especially true of those known for their anti-Catholic views—reject the Catholic doctrine of infused grace, claiming God does not infuse grace into us but merely imputes favor to us. Yet most of these Protestants do not know what the term “infuse” means. To infuse means to pour into, to pour upon, or to pour out. Catholics use the term because the Bible speaks of God “pouring” his graces and gifts. Those who receive them are said to be “full of” or “filled with” the graces. This applies to the gifts of the Holy Spirit and to lesser graces:

“I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh . . . on my menservants and my maidservants in those days I will pour out my Spirit” (Acts 2:17-18).

“And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 4:31).

“And Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8).

“The believers . . . who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles” (Acts 10:45).

“For [Barnabas] was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord” (Acts 11:24).

“And hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 5:5).

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18).

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