Before I start, let me say that a lot of misunderstanding happens because Protestants and Catholics use the same words but mean different things. Since I used to be Protestand and am now Catholic, I think I will be good for translating back and forth between "Protestantese" and "Catholicese."
FIRST lets talk about what Baptists call getting saved, which is what Catholics call initial salvation. This is the moment when you FIRST become a Christian.
But it doesn't stop there and here is where there are massive misunderstandings between Protestants and Catholics over the words Salvation and Justification. For Protestants, Salvation and Justification ONLY refer to that first moment, that "getting saved" that "initial justification. Not so for Catholics. For Catholics, "getting saved" is a lifelong process. Justification is the Christian Walk. Salvation is a journey. Initial Justification is just the first step of that journey.
- Catholicism teaches that GRACE precedes everything and permeates everything. The very fact that we can come to repentance is by the grace of God. God first reaches out to us. We then choose to take that outstretched hand, but again, we only have the strength to do so because of grace. Grace is free and undeserve. That's right. Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 1996.
- When it comes to "getting saved" aka "initial salvation" we respond to that grace with baptism and a working faith. By working faith we mean a faith that will come to produce good works. We do not merit initial salvation (CCC 2010).
This is what Protestants (and Catholics) call Sanctification. Thus, when a Catholic says salvation, the Protestant needs to ask himself if the Catholic means getting saved or getting sanctified. Remember also that Catholics don't believe in OSAS, so ongoing salvation is very serious.
So SECOND, let's talk about the Catholic Churches teaching for the REST of Salvation (Sanctification):
- Grace continues to be at the heart of Salvation. Nothing that happens in one's walk as a Christian can happen apart from grace.
- Just as baptism was included as part of Initial Justification, so Confession and Eucharist are part of ongoing Justification. The Sacraments are not considered our works, but works of God.
- Faith continues to apply, but it must be a working faith.
- This is where obedience is a must. A Christian must abstain from sin. Good works are necessary. In other words merit comes into play -- but again, this merit is only possible via grace just as faith is only possible via grace.
- Other things we can do also help to deepen our relationship with Christ: constant prayer, the reading of Scripture, meditation upon his will and ways.
- This period also means accepting suffering as a way God disciplines us, and as a way of coming closer to the cross.
That is a beautiful answer. Thank you, Open Heart.
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