Why Catholics Aren't Christians

This page looks at the Catholic version of salvation and the atonement and compares it with what Scripture says.

You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear.James 2:19

Most people automatically dismiss the claim that Catholics aren't Christians. After all, they believe in Jesus, right? Let me ask you, does the atheist believe in Jesus? Of course he does. He believes that Jesus was a historical figure who had a lot of good stuff to say and was killed. Do Jews believe in Jesus? Of course they do. They believe that Jesus was a good man. Do Mormons believe in Jesus? Of course they do. They believe Jesus is a created being, the literal, physical son of God.

But none of these people are Christians.

Although they "believe in Jesus," they do not believe His sacrifice is sufficient for their salvation, rejecting the Gospel message. In the same way, Catholics "believe" in Jesus, in that they believe He was God and died on the cross, but they do not believe His sacrifice is sufficient and do not have saving faith in Him. According to the Barna Group, less than 1% of American Catholics can be described as "stating that Satan exists; maintaining that eternal salvation is possible only through grace, not by being good or doing good deeds; asserting that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; saying that the Bible is totally accurate in all it teaches; and describing God as the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect deity who created the universe and still rules it today."

1 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will desert the faith and occupy themselves with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings, 2 influenced by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared. 3 They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.1 Timothy 4:1-3

The Catholic Version of Salvation

Note that the word anathema means "banished" or "separated" from the church, and is used by the Catholic church to pronounce condemnation.

Justification

If anyone says that the Catholic doctrine of justification as set forth by the holy council in the present decree, derogates in some respect from the glory of God or the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, and does not rather illustrate the truth of our faith and no less the glory of God and of Christ Jesus, let him be anathema.Canon 33, Council of Trent

The Catholic church condemns all who disagree with their view of justification!

The Catholic church condemns all who believe in salvation by faith

If anyone says that the sinner is justified by faith alone, meaning that nothing else is required to cooperate in order to obtain the grace of justification, and that it is not in any way necessary that he be prepared and disposed by the action of his own will, let him be anathema.Canon 9, Council of Trent

If anyone says that justifying faith is nothing else than confidence in divine mercy, which remits sins for Christ's sake, or that it is this confidence alone that justifies us, let him be anathema.Canon 12, Council of Trent

If anyone says that man is absolved from his sins and justified because he firmly believes that he is absolved and justified, or that no one is truly justified except him who believes himself justified, and that by this faith alone absolution and justification are effected, let him be anathema.Canon 14, Council of Trent

Biblical Truth: Salvation is by grace through faith alone

But to all who have received him – those who believe in his name – he has given the right to become God's childrenJohn 1:12

For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.Romans 3:20

But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.Romans 3:24

For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law.Romans 3:28

For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."Romans 4:3

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus ChristRomans 5:1

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of GodEphesians 2:8

Because of this, in fact, I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know the one in whom my faith is set and I am convinced that he is able to protect what has been entrusted to me until that day.2 Timothy 1:12

he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy SpiritTitus 3:5

The Catholic church teaches that you can lose your salvation if you sin, and that Mary was perfect and sinless

If anyone says that a man once justified can sin no more, nor lose grace, and that therefore he that falls and sins was never truly justified; or on the contrary, that he can during his whole life avoid all sins, even those that are venial, except by a special privilege from God, as the Church holds in regard to the Blessed Virgin, let him be anathema.Canon 23, Council of Trent

Biblical Truth: Salvation cannot be lost, even when you sin

The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God's wrath remains on him.John 3:36

"For this is the will of my Father – for everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."John 6:40

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand.John 10:28

so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.Romans 5:21

They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us, because if they had belonged to us, they would have remained53 with us. But they went out from us to demonstrate that all of them do not belong to us.1 John 2:19

I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.1 John 5:13

See here for more on eternal security.

The Catholic church teaches that God's grace is maintained through good works

If anyone says that the justice received is not preserved and also not increased before God through good works, but that those works are merely the fruits and signs of justification obtained, but not the cause of its increase, let him be anathema.Canon 24, Council of Trent

Biblical Truth: Grace is through believing, not by works

1 You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified! 2 The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? Although you began with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort?Galatians 3:1-3

1 For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery. 2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all! 3 And I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace! 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait expectantly for the hope of righteousness.Galatians 5:1-5

The Catholic church explicitly states that God's grace is not enough; you still have to pay for your sins!

If anyone says that after the reception of the grace of justification the guilt is so remitted and the debt of eternal punishment so blotted out to every repentant sinner, that no debt of temporal punishment remains to be discharged either in this world or in purgatory before the gates of heaven can be opened, let him be anathema.Canon 30, Council of Trent

Biblical Truth: God's grace is sufficient; our debt is paid in full

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus ChristRomans 5:1

13 And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions. 14 He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness30 expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.Colossians 2:13-14

Baptism

The Catholic church teaches that baptism is necessary for salvation

Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ. It is granted us through Baptism. It conforms us to the righteousness of God, who justifies us. It has for its goal the glory of God and of Christ, and the gift of eternal life. It is the most excellent work of God's mercy.Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 2020

...Baptism is the first and chief sacrament of forgiveness of sins because it unites us with Christ, who died for our sins and rose for our justification, so that 'we too might walk in newness of life.'Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 977

Biblical Truth: Baptism is not required for salvation

See here for a refutation of baptismal regeneration.

Good Works

The Catholic church teaches that good works are required for salvation

We can therefore hope in the glory of heaven promised by God to those who love him and do his will. In every circumstance, each one of us should hope, with the grace of God, to persevere 'to the end' and to obtain the joy of heaven, as God's eternal reward for the good works accomplished with the grace of Christ.Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 1821

Moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity, we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification.Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 2010

Biblical Truth: Salvation is by faith alone, not by works

1 You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified! 2 The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? Although you began with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort?Galatians 3:1-3

1 For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery. 2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all! 3 And I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace! 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait expectantly for the hope of righteousness.Galatians 5:1-5

Penance

The Catholic church teaches that penance is necessary for salvation

The following teachings include the requirement of penance, baptismal regeneration, loss of salvation, and salvation by works.

Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church: above all for those who, since Baptism, have fallen into grave sin, and have thus lost their baptismal grace and wounded ecclesial communion. It is to them that the sacrament of Penance offers a new possibility to convert and to recover the grace of justification. The Fathers of the Church present this sacrament as 'the second plank (of salvation) after the shipwreck which is the loss of grace.'Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 1446

As a means of regaining grace and justice, penance was at all times necessary for those who had defiled their souls with any mortal sin...Council of Trent (1551)

The Catholic Response - James 2:24

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.James 2:24

At first glance, this verse so often quoted by Catholics seems to prove that salvation comes by works.

Examining James 2:24

First, it should be noted that by doing so they are admitting to believing in salvation by works! They are admitting that the Catholic church teaches you have to have good works to be saved, and they are trying to prove such a heresy is true.

Second, the verse should be read in context:

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm and eat well," but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it? 17 So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear.

20 But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.James 2:14-26

James is teaching not that faith doesn't save, but that "this kind of faith" does not save (v14). Notice two things: That James is talking about a man who only claims to have faith (v14), and that James is still saying that it is faith that saves. He's simply emphasizing the kind of faith--true faith--that is required for salvation. He uses the analogy in verse 16 to show that the person who wishes someone well but does nothing about it does not really wish him well in his heart. Otherwise, the man would offer him food and clothing. The principle of James' teaching is found in verse 18--that faith is evidenced by works. If there is any doubt that James teaches salvation by faith, verse 23 makes it clear: "Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness."

Some Catholics will still argue, based on surrounding verses, that Abraham was saved by faith and works. However, James quotes Genesis 15:6, which shows that Abraham was justified by faith. This happened well before Abraham had been circumcised, and well before Isaac was even born! It is impossible to argue, then, that James teaches salvation by works.

James' main concern here is not the obvious Biblical truth that salvation is by grace through faith alone. Rather, James is concerned with showing the kind of faith that is needed. Just as someone who truly cares for someone will offer him food and clothing, so someone who truly believes will live accordingly.