I have been told that the main difference between Catholicism and Protestantism is that in Catholicism, you can be achieve salvation through acts and merit, whereas Protestants believe that salvation can only be achieved through faith in Christ.
My first question is: Is this true?
My other question: If it is true, then do Protestants believe that all non-Christians are damned to hell, or is there still a chance to achieve salvation, and it is just much more difficult to gain?
Whosoever comet to me, and hearth my sayings, and doth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luke 6:48
48 He is like a man which built an house, and dogged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Luke 6:49
49 But he that hearth, and doth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
so if you have knowledge then you are responsible to fulfill that which which you were taught and that is what Charita taught but the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints is the true church
Yes. It is the belief of the majority of Catholics that salvation is achieved through works, while Protestants believe that salvation is achieved through faith in Jesus Christ (which is what the Bible says).
Unbelievers are destined for hell unless they accept Christ as their Saviour because "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23 KJV
Let's just say that you can't buy salvation and you never know if someone is damned to hell or not. The Bible says that the only way to salvation is through Jesus Christ. But does that mean that all Jews are going to Hell? I don't know, I'm not God.
I am a protestant. I don't presume that anyone is going to Heaven or Hell, because that is not my place to judge. I believe that Jesus is the only way to Heaven, but in fact, his death and resurrection provided a way for the entire world to go to Heaven. Yes, those who believe are saved, but how do you define belief? Is it possible to have never heard of Jesus, but still believe in him in a way? I think so.
People who think that it's possible to earn your way into heaven are arrogant. How could that be even remotely possible?
I believe the first part is true, although I am not too sure on the specifics.
As for the second part, I personally know many protestants who believe that people who have never even heard of Christ will go to hell for not believing in something they've never even heard of. They like to quote the verse in scripture saying that people don't need to be told of Christ to feel his existence, they should be supernaturally aware of Christ through nature. This is why evangelicals are evangelical, and why the crusades originally began
My first question is: Is this true?
No. The Catholic Church condemned Pelagianism and semi-Pelagianism as a heresy (salvation by works) in the 5Th century at the Council of Orange. Love cannot be separated from faith, and love is a work.
James 2:24 - the phrase "faith alone" (the Greek "pistes mo non") only occurs once in the Bible. "Man is justified by works and NOT faith alone." Unlike what many Protestant churches teach, no where in Scripture does it say that man is justified or saved by "faith alone." To the contrary, man is not justified by faith alone. In Catholic theology, a person is justified by faith and works acting together, which comes solely from God?s divine grace. Faith alone never obtains the grace of justification (Council of Trent, chapter 8, canon 9). Also, the word ?justified? (Dickie) is the same word Paul uses for justification in Rom. 4:3 in regard to Abraham (so Protestants cannot argue James is not referring to ?justification? in James 2:24 unless they argue Paul wan?t in Rom. 4:3 either).
Heb. 11:6 - faith is indeed the minimum requirement without which we cannot please God. But this is just the beginning of the process leading toward justification. Faith alone does not justify a person. Justification is only achieved by faith and works, as we see below. Also, this gratuitous gift of faith from God also includes the grace of hope and love the moment the person is justified.
Eph. 2:8-9 ? Paul teaches us that faith is the root of justification, and that faith excludes ?works of law.? But Paul does not teach that faith excludes other kinds of works, as we will see below. The verse also does not say we are justified by ?faith alone.? It only indicates that faith comes first. This, of course, must be true, because those who do works outside of faith are in a system of debt, not of grace (more on that later). But faith alone does not justify. A man is justified by works, and not by faith alone. James 2:24.
http://www.scripturecatholic.com/justification.html
My other question:...
Protestants are seriously divided on this issue. Calvin taught some real bizarre things, making God the author of evil. Salvation is a free gift. Not a free ticket.
We're all sinners. Only JESUS is acceptable payment for sins. All the good deeds in the world won't pay for even one of a person's sins.
Either Jesus paid for a person's sins, or that person pays for their sins in eternal torment in hell. That is the choice before everyone.
Jesus is God, and Jesus loves you so very much!
Salvation is a FREE GIFT that happens in a split second when you believe in Jesus alone to save you! It is impossible to lose or "leave" salvation (John 6:39-40, 1 John 5:13).
The truth about Jesus is that the only way to be saved and to get into heaven and avoid being sent to eternal hell, is by believing in faith alone that Jesus, who is God, died for our sins on the cross as FULL PAYMENT for all our sins, and then Jesus rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Believe this and you will be in heaven, no matter what!
Please pray now: "Jesus, please forgive me of my sins. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and You rose from the dead. Thank You for eternal life!" You will be in heaven with Him forever when you die.
A question about Protestantism?
