There are many, thousands even that believe Catholics and Protestants (or Evangelicals) believe the same thing. Nothing could be further from the truth. This article will not be a history regarding the relationship between Roman Catholics and Protestants, but it will deal with the very important matter of how one is justified in the eyes of God. This is a matter one MUST get right! Your eternal destiny depends upon your understanding of this vital matter.
Unfortunately, there are two views regarding how one is justified. I say unfortunately on purpose because one view is right, and the other is wrong. What I will attempt to do in this article is explain the clear distinctions between the two ideas.
For Catholics they teach that one is saved or justified by grace plus works. What are the works? The sacraments of course. And what are the sacraments? They are:
1. Baptism – Catholic Church teaches that Baptism removes original sin and infuses one with grace making them righteous (Baptism is a one-time act)
2. Confirmation – A formal acceptance into the Church along special anointing of the Holy Spirit
3. Holy Communion – Also known as Mass or Eucharist. The consumption of the actual body and blood of Christ. Also called transubstantiation
4. Confession – Also called Penance; when confesses his or her sins to a priest so they can be forgiven and receive absolution. This causes one to receive the justification that was lost when one sins after Baptism.
5. Marriage – This sacrament provides special grace to a couple
6. Holy Orders – The process where men are ordained to the clergy
7. Anointing the Sick – Performed by a priest using oil. This is associated with bodily healing, and forgiveness of sins. When this is performed on a dying person, it is called Extreme Unction or Last Rites
All of these sacraments in name are good, but the practice of them presents major problems. Why? Because the Catholic depends upon them for their salvation. Catholicism is a work righteousness religion. Catholicism not God determines salvation in their worldview.
Mortal sins causes grace in Catholicism to die. What that means is if you do not go to confession and receive absolution from the priest for your sins, and you die, you will go to hell. So in this system, salvation can be lost.
So, what does one have to do in order re-acquire their salvation or justification?
This is where Penance comes in – the second plank of justification according to the Catholic Encyclopedia.
When one has committed mortal or deadly sins, they must go to the priest to confess their sins and receive forgiveness and absolution for those sins. They must be truly contrite like David was in Psalm 51. Afterward, they must produce meritorious works such as praying the Rosary, recite Hail Mary’s and Our Father’s. Give alms, attend Mass, or whatever their priest demands.
These things cause one to grow in their justification until they commit mortal sin again, and again, and again, and infinitum ad nauseum.
Rarely does anyone in Catholicism go straight to heaven. Almost all when they die go to Purgatory – an intermediate status between heaven and hell. Why? So they can be finally purged of their sins. How can one get released from Purgatory? A living relative has to pay their way out through indulgences.
An indulgence is a work of piety that is provided by the Church for the member to perform in order to reduce a person’s misery in Purgatory. Why is there Purgatory? It exists because when someone dies that has confessed their sin while alive, they have been “forgiven” of their sin, but still must suffer punishment for that sin in Purgatory to be purged through suffering for their sins. To me it begs the question, “If one has been forgiven of sin by God, then why do you still have to suffer for it?” Does not sound like one has been forgiven for it.
Just thinking out loud.
How does Catholicism differ from Protestantism?
Catholicism sees faith as a necessary condition of Justification, but not a sufficient one. If faith alone was a sufficient condition, the sacraments, indulgences, praying the rosary, etc would not be required for an ongoing justification. Lost in all of their minutiae is the most important matter of the atonement of Jesus Christ. Christ’s atonement is a one time all-sufficient sacrifice for all of mankind’s sins. When one genuinely repents of their sins and believes the gospel, they are born into the family of God forever. Their sins have been washed away, and can never be counted against them again. Why? Because Jesus paid the price for the sins of all who believe (Please read Isaiah 53).
Hebrews 9:26-27 tells us that Christ came only once to offer up Himself as a sacrifice for sin. In the Catholic worldview, Christ’s sacrifice is not sufficient. If one can lose the grace once infused into the soul through Catholic baptism, how effective is it? Not effective at all.
The biggest difference between Catholics and Protestants is how one is justified. Above describes the Catholic view.
Let’s us now look at the Reformed view.
Martin Luther the sixteenth-century German Reformer said justification is Sola Fide – by faith alone. His discovery of this was revealed to him when he read Romans 1:17, “the just shall live by faith.”
Simply put, Protestants do not put any trust in any works we can perform to obtain or maintain our salvation. We recognize that salvation is a gift of God’s precious grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). The only work we place our trust in is Christ’s substitutionary work on the cross for the remission of our sins (Hebrews 9:22).
This truth bears repeating, we do not perform good works to obtain salvation, rather we perform good works because of our salvation. Good works are a natural byproduct of the believer (Ephesians 2:10).
Good works is evidence that our faith is real (Read James 2).
Unfortunately, Catholics are exercising useless energy trying to perform meritorious works to keep the salvation they keep losing due to mortal sin. How can one be sure if they have performed enough works to appease God’s wrath against them? Does the priest know the answer? Is there a bar or level that one can see to if they have re-gained their salvation again? In this system there is absolutely no way one can be assured of their salvation.
The Roman Catholic Church has put on its parishioners’ burdens that neither they or its members can bear (Acts 15:10).
Catholicism is a complex religion that cannot assure the salvation of any of its members; including the priests.
Any religion that denies the efficacy of Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross for the remission of sins is a false religion.
Catholics may argue that they believe in Jesus’ atoning sacrifice is sufficient for the forgiveness of sins, but the sacraments they are required to perform to increase their justification speak to the contrary.
Protestants know that we CANNOT grow in our justification. It’s a fixed position in Christ. We must grow in sanctification or holiness.
Concluding, Paul said this in the book of Titus regarding our justification, “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared not by works of righteousness which we have done (emphasis added), but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit (true Spiritual Baptism), whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior. Thus having been justified[1] by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:3-7).
I say this as respectfully and lovingly as I know how, anyone trusting in the Roman Catholic Church for salvation will never obtain it. The Catholic or Reformed Church is not our savior, the Lord Jesus Christ is.
[1] Justified is in the past tense, meaning once one is justified, they will never lose
That justification. Its permanent.