From time to time, I have heard that Catholics and Protestants have a different idea on what Justified means. For that matter, saved.
Does anyone have a clear difference on how the Protestant concept differs from the Catholic concept?
Some (but not all) Protestants hold that pure faith (intellectual belief) in Jesus alone will save us, and that it doesn’t matter how much we sin. Others will say that only our faith saves us, but if we fall into serious sin or unbelief in the future, we never had “true faith” in the first place (i.e., we were never justified in the first place). And still others adhere to a position that is essentially the same as the Catholic one, which is that we become justified by having faith in Jesus, repenting of our sin, being baptized and truly converting our hearts to Him. In order to be “saved”, we have to die in a state of justification, and this state can be lost if we fall into unbelief or some other grave, unrepented sin. Basically, our faith in God (intellectual assent to Him) and our “works” (our repentance and obedience to Him) both contribute to our justification, per James 2:24: “See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” (NAB)
Here’s a link to the Ecumenical Council of Trent, where it defines the Catholic view on justification. See the Canons, in particular. I’ve listed a few of them below:
*CANON I.-If any one saith, that man may be justified before God by his own works, whether done through the teaching of human nature, or that of the law, without the grace of God through Jesus Christ; let him be anathema.
CANON IX.-If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema.
CANON XII.-If any one saith, that justifying faith is nothing else but confidence in the divine mercy which remits sins for Christ’s sake; or, that this confidence alone is that whereby we are justified; let him be anathema.
CANON XI.-If any one saith, that men are justified, either by the sole imputation of the justice of Christ, or by the sole remission of sins, to the exclusion of the grace and the charity which is poured forth in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, and is inherent in them; or even that the grace, whereby we are justified, is only the favour of God; let him be anathema.*
