Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 10/18/2007

Question
I have recently taken a class at a Baptist Church on what it is that Roman Catholics believe. And contrary to the beliefs of most Baptists, and most Catholics, official Church doctrine teaches that salvation is only by faith through grace. And that we can do nothing to merit our own salvation. In the time of Martin Luther a lot of Catholic theology became muddied by other influences which crept into the Church. But official church doctrine has always held that salvation is only by grace through faith and that works are only a sign of someone's faith. That sounds pretty familiar to me as a born again believer. If that is the case, then maybe more Catholics are saved than Baptists give credit. When preaching to Catholics I think that they should be enlightened on what their own church teaches, because most Catholics do not understand the official teaching of their own church. What do you think?

Answer
Hi Joshua,

Thank you for this great question.  The Devil always has been good at trying to decieve people that what is poison really is good food.  The Roman Catholic Church APPEARS to teach Biblical salvation by grace through.  The following is a paragraph I copied from the Catholic Encyclopedia on Salvation... it looks very good.
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The Council of Trent describes the process of salvation from sin in the case of an adult with great minuteness (Sess. VI, v-vi).

It begins with the grace of God which touches a sinner's heart, and calls him to repentance. This grace cannot be merited; it proceeds solely from the love and mercy of God. Man may receive or reject this inspiration of God, he may turn to God or remain in sin. Grace does not constrain man's free will.

Thus assisted the sinner is disposed for salvation from sin; he believes in the revelation and promises of God, he fears God's justice, hopes in his mercy, trusts that God will be merciful to him for Christ's sake, begins to love God as the source of all justice, hates and detests his sins.
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Catholics are now being taught this paragraph and being taught that this doctrine is the same doctrine that evangelical Christians embrace, so there is no need to convert however...  The following is copied from the very next paragraph of this official Catholic website:

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This disposition is followed by justification itself, which consists not in the mere remission of sins, but in the sanctification and renewal of the inner man by the voluntary reception of God's grace and gifts, whence a man becomes just instead of unjust, a friend instead of a foe and so an heir according to hope of eternal life. This change happens either by reason of a perfect act of charity elicited by a well disposed sinner or by virtue of the Sacrament either of Baptism or of Penance according to the condition of the respective subject laden with sin. The Council further indicates the causes of this change. By the merit of the Most Holy Passion through the Holy Spirit, the charity of God is shed abroad in the hearts of those who are justified.

Against the heretical tenets of various times and sects we must hold

that the initial grace is truly gratuitous and supernatural;
that the human will remains free under the influence of this grace;
that man really cooperates in his personal salvation from sin;
that by justification man is really made just, and not merely declared or reputed so;
that justification and sanctification are only two aspects of the same thing, and not ontologically and chronologically distinct realities;
that justification excludes all mortal sin from the soul, so that the just man is no way liable to the sentence of death at God's judgment-seat.
Other points involved in

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Notice the third sentence... "This change happens either by reason of a perfect act of charity elicited by a well disposed sinner or by virtue of the Sacrament either of Baptism or of Penance according to the condition of the respective subject laden with sin. "

It is the Sacriment that Saves him!  This is works salvation plain and simple.  The Catholics are trying to assimilate evangelical wording into their works centered doctrine, but it is still works!

Romans 11:6
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Look at this statement:

"that man really cooperates in his personal salvation from sin; "

If we could do ANYTHING to earn salvation, then Jesus died for nothing.

Galatians 2:21
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

We must beware of the doctrinal deception that capitalizes on the ignorance of the masses as to what the true meaning is behind the words taught.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don