Question 1

What is the difference between "imputed" and "infused" righteousness?

Accepted Answer

This distinction represents a major historical divide between Protestant and Catholic theology. Imputed righteousness, a core Protestant belief, suggests that a believer is legally declared righteous because Christ’s perfection is credited to their account, even while they remain a sinner in practice. In contrast, the Catholic view of infused righteousness suggests that God’s grace is poured into a person, transforming their internal nature and requiring their active cooperation through sacraments and good works to grow in holiness.

Question 2

How do the "Five Solas" function as a framework for understanding grace?

Accepted Answer

The Five Solas serve as "defining markers" or "rails on a fence" that protect the core of the Gospel message. They establish that Scripture is the final authority (Sola Scriptura), salvation is a gift of grace (Sola Gratia) received through faith alone (Sola Fide), mediated solely by Christ (Solus Christus), and intended entirely for God’s glory (Soli Deo Gloria). Together, they shift the focus of salvation from human effort or church tradition to the finished work of God.

Question 3

What is the "head-heart gap" regarding forgiveness, and how can it be addressed?

Accepted Answer

The head-heart gap is a form of doctrinal-experiential disintegration where a person intellectually believes that God forgives sins but does not subjectively "feel" forgiven or at peace. This often results in lingering guilt or "scrupulosity." It can be addressed through "relational spirituality" and structured processes like the RECEIVE framework, which helps individuals move from mere intellectual assent to internalizing absolution through scriptural anchoring, confronting sin, and making amends.

Question 4

How does the theological concept of grace overlap with modern positive psychology?

Accepted Answer

The two fields intersect through the study of human flourishing and the "supernatural existential," which suggests humans have an innate orientation toward the divine. While psychology identifies "intentional activities" like practicing gratitude, altruism, and savoring experiences as keys to happiness, theology views these same practices as ways to cooperate with and respond to God's grace. In this view, grace provides the "soil" or foundation for life, while psychological habits act as the "gardening" that allows a person to flourish.

Question 5

What is "Free Grace Theology," and how does it differ from other Protestant views?

Accepted Answer

Free Grace Theology is a specific perspective asserting that eternal life is a completely free gift received through "intellectual assent" to Jesus’s promise, with no strings attached. Unlike the Reformed view, which argues that true faith must inevitably produce good works to prove salvation, or the Arminian view, which suggests grace can be lost, Free Grace proponents argue that even a believer who fails significantly remains saved. They distinguish between the "gift" of salvation, which is free, and "rewards" in heaven, which are earned through a believer's works and accountability.

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