Cross Points - Between Catholics and Calvin
Catholics are known for their system of salvation that relies on works. You must follow through with the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church to have assurance of being saved (baptism, confirmation, communion (eucharist), reconciliation, anointing sick, matrimony, holy orders). For followers of John Calvin and his doctrine of predestination, faith alone is the path to salvation, and God grants you faith so that you have no part in the process (you are totally depraved, and God chooses arbitrarily if you are one of those to be saved). We of the Restoration Movement (RM = Christian churches / churches of Christ), believe the truth is to be found in the middle ground. What do I mean by that?
The Catholics and RM churches agree that baptism is necessary. But we differ on the timing and the mode of baptism. Catholics sprinkle water on babies, where we believe it is part of a decision the mature adult (accountable age) makes. The mode is immersion in water, representing burial and resurrection. The word baptism means to immerse. We of RM churches believe in the importance of the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist to the Catholic), and we do it each week as history tells us the first century disciples did, a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice and our salvation as we do it regularly. We only see those two “sacraments” (or ordinances) in the New Testament: baptism and communion. Other than those two, it’s a life of living by faith, attached to a community of like-believers, with God’s Word as the guide.
On the other hand, Calvinists and RM churches agree there is a concept of predestination. We of the RM do believe God can see ahead of things actually happening. So, he knows who will be saved and who will be lost, and he initiated the actions needed to provide that (Jesus dying on the cross and being resurrected), but otherwise we believe our actual salvation is the individual’s choice. We can accept Christ and follow him, or we can reject Christ and go our own way. God predestined some to be saved and some to be lost only in the sense he allows free will and he knows ahead that only the small minority will choose to accept his Savior. But we are not totally depraved, and God does not choose arbitrarily. He provided a historical plan to have a Savior and it’s a choice whether or not to accept him.
Yes, we are saved by faith, but not faith alone, as Calvin said. You might find it interesting that the only place in the Bible where you find that phrase, it is used to talk about how Abraham’s faith and works (obedience) worked together, then it says: “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” (James 2:24, italics added). Don’t misunderstand, we are not saved by works alone either. We are saved by a faith that works. In other words, real faith that actively takes steps to follow and obey.
Consider these scriptures and decide for yourself what saves and what defines the Christian:
John 3:3; 1 John 5:7, 8; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:36-39; Acts 8:36-38; Acts 22:16; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:24, 25; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:5-11; Revelation 2:10
The Catholics and RM churches agree that baptism is necessary. But we differ on the timing and the mode of baptism. Catholics sprinkle water on babies, where we believe it is part of a decision the mature adult (accountable age) makes. The mode is immersion in water, representing burial and resurrection. The word baptism means to immerse. We of RM churches believe in the importance of the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist to the Catholic), and we do it each week as history tells us the first century disciples did, a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice and our salvation as we do it regularly. We only see those two “sacraments” (or ordinances) in the New Testament: baptism and communion. Other than those two, it’s a life of living by faith, attached to a community of like-believers, with God’s Word as the guide.
On the other hand, Calvinists and RM churches agree there is a concept of predestination. We of the RM do believe God can see ahead of things actually happening. So, he knows who will be saved and who will be lost, and he initiated the actions needed to provide that (Jesus dying on the cross and being resurrected), but otherwise we believe our actual salvation is the individual’s choice. We can accept Christ and follow him, or we can reject Christ and go our own way. God predestined some to be saved and some to be lost only in the sense he allows free will and he knows ahead that only the small minority will choose to accept his Savior. But we are not totally depraved, and God does not choose arbitrarily. He provided a historical plan to have a Savior and it’s a choice whether or not to accept him.
Yes, we are saved by faith, but not faith alone, as Calvin said. You might find it interesting that the only place in the Bible where you find that phrase, it is used to talk about how Abraham’s faith and works (obedience) worked together, then it says: “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” (James 2:24, italics added). Don’t misunderstand, we are not saved by works alone either. We are saved by a faith that works. In other words, real faith that actively takes steps to follow and obey.
Consider these scriptures and decide for yourself what saves and what defines the Christian:
John 3:3; 1 John 5:7, 8; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:36-39; Acts 8:36-38; Acts 22:16; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:24, 25; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:5-11; Revelation 2:10