Many Protestant Christians hold a Once Saved Always Saved theology. The vast majority of Protestant Christians hold that we are saved by faith alone and that good works plays no role in salvation.
For the sake of this thread, let’s assume those Christians are correct and that OSAS and FA are completely correct. If those two teachings are correct, then literally all anyone has to do is to believe in Christ as their Savior and God, they need to do absolutely nothing else (though they could choose to do many good and loving works from a love of God). They could sin unintentionally and intentionally and never lose their salvation.
So then, since every faithful Catholic accepts Jesus as their Savior and God, that means every faithful Catholic is saved under the Protestant beliefs of OSAS and FA. Therefore, why do many Protestants continue to attack Catholics if Catholics already are doing the minimum expected requirements to be saved under their own doctrines?
In other words, why would anyone be anti-Catholic since Catholics believe in Christ and must be saved according to the OSAS and FA teachings?
I see where the OP is coming from and I commiserate with their question. It is for this reason that, even though I am a firm believer in Free Grace theology (
Grace Evangelical Society), I do also believe in the importance of the Sacraments as a means of conveying edifying/sanctifying (but not Salvific or justifying) grace.
I think it is a weakness of certain OSAS/FA believers (which I would define as Free Grace), that while they believe the most wretched person who believes along their definition is Saved, yet a pious Roman Catholic who, although perhaps confusing the message of grace, still recognizes that they are Saved by grace through faith (defined somewhat differently) is not Saved.
On the one hand, an FGer (or even a Calvinist) might argue that that is the “narrow path” of Salvation, but on the other hand, it seems as though we are quibbling with words. Obviously, as an Anglican, I believe the Sacraments are important (although I do not believe they are Salvific) I do believe in the Real Presence.
Are Roman Catholics a part of that ‘One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church’ of the Nicene Creed? The truthful answer is that I sincerely hope so. After all, as an Anglican, I have a great debt of thanks to owe Roman Catholicism. After all, without Pope Gregory the Great, there would be no Church of England. Roman Catholicism gave us a greater understanding of the Sacraments and of key elements of the Christian faith. To deny this is to deny history I think.
I think it is a grave weakness of certain Christians to try and judge the Salvation of other. My understanding of Free Grace theology is that Christians should have assurance of their own Salvation and their beliefs, but not of anyone else’s. Scripture seems to warn fairly clearly that no one can know another’s “heart”.
Also, I would add, in response to those who throw out Bible passages (such as from St. James) to try and simplistically disprove Free Grace theology, please do not underestimate your opponent’s intelligence, even if you do disagree. After all, does it not anger Roman Catholics when Protestants throw a Scripture verse out there to claim that it shows Roman Catholicism is wrong or heretical?
) that motivates me to be His Hands and Feet in this world.
