It seems all here are tending to oversimplify. Catholic’s view Protestant salvation by grace as “too simplistic.” At the same time Protestants view Catholics as trying to earn what is given freely. While Catholics view salvation by faith and grace as promoting antinomianism, Protestants view the sacraments as a way to sin with impunity and have them absolved by a man and a penence without consequence. Protestants believe Christ came to make salvation, which was once complicated by an extensive system of law and sacrifice, available to all…simply. They believe the Church built a new system of tradition that made what Christ offered freely into something once again as inaccessible as pharisaical salvation. The statement in Revelation about those being judged according to their works are those who haven’t accepted Christ’s grace. Some are those who never heard the word of salvation. They then will be judged according to their works. Many will fall short. “small is the gate and narrow is the road, which leads to life, and only a few find it.” In that same verse we find a key to practicing salvation. “By their fruit you will know them.” Regarding predestination. It is important to know that these doctrines drew heavily on St. Augustine. It was a Catholic doctrine passed through Luther an Augustinian Monk. Even by Augustine, scripture is referenced for every claim. Christ said you didn’t choose me I chose you and said the father reveals himself to whomever he chooses. Both Pelagius and Augustine agreed that if there was any discrimination, it was only in time. God stands outside of time while humanity is bound by it. Calvin, the most severe proponent of this doctrine, asked us not allow it to become a snare to stop salvation. Protestants believe that Christ’s sacrifice was once and for all. The propitiation for sin is a constant process once we believe who he is and what he has done for us. The blood of Christ is constantly flowing on our behalf and washing though we are undeserving. He can only look at us through the blood of his son. For without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. God is perfection and can’t view imperfection until washed in Christ’s blood. It is only through his sacrifice that we can enter the presence of a perfect God. This is reinforced in Hebrews. What had to be done year after year with the blood of animals, was done once for all with the blood of the perfect lamb, the just for the unjust. We are then exhorted as a result of this change to live properly. But John does state that once done no one can snatch you from God’s hand and Paul in tells us in Romans 8 that once we believe nothing can separate us from God. I do believe that one can turn apostate. That however is not upheld by all Protestants. Salvation is easy to have but difficult to live. It costs nothing as I stated before but requires our everything, our life, belongings, devotion to the trinity, others, our complete allegiance to the Kingdom. We believe that it is necessary to confess our sins constantly to remain in proper stead with the Father. Short of rejection of Christ, we don’t believe we can lose salvation once conferred by the son. We do believe that many will barely be saved. 1 Cor. 3:13-15 “Every man’s work will be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire;and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” This is also an answer to revelation. Salvation is easy to obtain. Belief is all that is necessary. Once we believe we are asked to obey God’s commandment of baptism in the name of the trinity and other ordinances. The prime example of this is Philip’s explanation of salvation in Acts 8:37: “…what hindereth me from being baptized? And Philip said: If you believe with all your heart thou mayest.” Again in Acts 16:30 “…What must I do to be saved? They replied believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Remember though salvation is free we must constantly live in close accord to commandments, and Paul reinforces this in Galatians after speaking of Grace to balance what God wants from us, but he warns that works are not going to save us. Galatians 5:4-6 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the spirit the righteousness for which we hope. …The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you are saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works so that no one can boast." Those protestants who separate faith from works are misguided. They have divorced our Christian responsibilities from salvation.
God Bless
.God Bless
