When reviewing a Roman Catholic booklet referred to as “The Antidote to Anti-Catholicism”(Pillar Of Fire Pillar Of Truth), I was struck at the similarity between much of what I read and Protestanism, in particular Calvinism. It may seen strange that there are so many similarities between these two branches of Christianity, but that is the truth. For instance, among the many errors in the Roman Catholic booklet is the common one that “We are saved by grace alone, but not by faith alone(which is what “Bible Christians” teach; Jas. 2:24”. The booklet expounds upon “grace” as a power source by which Christians are empowered to keep God’s commandments, thus pleasing Him and as partners in the salvation process, being saved. Now Calvinists will deny this by quoting Ephesians 2:8-9 that we are saved by grace through faith. But when you explore the Calvinist meaning of salvation, their understanding of “faith” is identical with that of Roman Catholics: obedience. Hence, both sects actually believe we are saved by faith through grace, the reverse of what the bible states. Another similarity between the two is that neither one is assured of salvation! The Roman Catholic believes he is a “work in progress” and the final result is yet to be determined. The Calvinist is unsure whether he is one of the predestined Elect and hence, based upon anti-sacramental Calvinist theology, he has no certainty of eternal life.

It is simply amazing that in all the various Sunday readings there is a tendency to always concentrate upon our good works and obedience, rather than Christ’s work on the cross and His obedience in our stead. It is really sad when you think of it because most of what is called Christianity is so similar to all the religions of the world which stress good works and progressive sanctification instead of salvation by grace through the vehicle of faith alone. As C.F.W. Walther noted in his treatise “The Proper Distinction Between Law & Gospel”, most Christians treat Jesus as another Moses, another Law giver or helper by which sinful man can pull himself up by his bootstraps and attain perfection and salvation via his obedience and good works. All such foolishness neglects the perfect life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ and treat this centerpiece of Divine revelation as a secondary issue, concentrating upon our own “improvements” instead. My contacts with people from all walks of life and various belief systems has shown me that the Gospel is not understood and not believed even when it is announced. To the Old Adam within each person I meet, the Gospel is simply too good to comprehend and believe. I often get frustrated until I remember that it is the Holy Spirit Who convicts men of their sins and leads thim to Christ, not myself. That is a true comfort to me. I merely announce the grace of God in Christ and the Holy Spirit does the rest.

In summary, most readers of Scripture fail to distinguish Justification from Sanctification, or Law and Gospel. Most readers also fail to understand that at Baptism/Conversion a New Creation is miraculously created in man by God, with the Old Adam continuing to exist simultaneously within the believer until temporal death. This failure to understand that a believer is “simul justus et peccator”, in addition to the other confusions, explains the emphasis upon the progressive sanctification of a person as the determinant of his acceptance by God.

Frank Marron