Salvation in Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox is a process. The common teaching between them is that faith and works are necessary to maintain the forgiveness of sins. But, both groups will say that it is not the works themselves that bring salvation. They will say that faith justifies you, but you have to have worked in conjunction with the faith to be saved. So, instead of justification by faith alone in Christ alone (Rom. 3:28; 4:1-5; 5:1; Gal. 2:16, 21), salvation is by faith that works must accompany. So, in light of this, both groups teach that keeping the commandments is necessary for salvation.
- Romans Catholicism
- “the mission of teaching all peoples, and of preaching the Gospel to every creature, so that all men may attain salvation through faith, Baptism and the observance of the Commandments” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2068)
- “The authority of the Magisterium extends also to the specific precepts of the natural law, because their observance, demanded by the Creator, is necessary for salvation…” (CCC 2036).
- “The Ten Commandments belong to God’s revelation. At the same time, they teach us the true humanity of man. They bring to light the essential duties, and therefore, indirectly, the fundamental rights inherent in the nature of the human person. The Decalogue contains a privileged expression of the natural law” (CCC 2070)
- Eastern Orthodox
- “Justification is accomplished at baptism, the point where a person is granted forgiveness of sins and placed in a right relationship with God, and it is maintained through a life of obedience to God and confession of sins.… It is accomplished at baptism, the sacramental instrument by which sins are forgiven, and is maintained by confession of sins.” (https://orthodoxbridge.com/2015/02/09/what-do-orthodox-christians-believe-about-justification)
- “The common Orthodox response is or should be “I was saved, I am being saved, and I will be saved”…
They both confuse justification by faith alone in Christ alone with the works that God gives us to do. So to them, a person must retain justification through works.
The Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church both teach a false gospel.
Been saved, Being saved, will be saved
Because both groups adhered to faith plus work as a means of maintaining one’s salvation, they will say that 1) we have been saved, 2) are being saved, and 3) will be saved. To them, salvation is an ongoing process that culminates in God’s judgment, where they hope they’ve done enough.
When discussing this issue with a group of Christians, someone (I forgot who) said the following, “We have been saved from the penalty (justification). We are saved from the power of sin (sanctification). We will be saved from the presence of sin (glorification).” I thought that was well said and worth quoting.
Sometimes, I will ask both Catholics and Eastern Orthodox this question: “So you maintain your salvation with the infinitely holy God by your good works?” Surprisingly, many in both churches say yes. In fact, I then sometimes quote them the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 25:23, which says, “For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” I’ll ask them, “Are you saying that you are saved by grace through faith after all you can do? But I don’t tell them it’s for the Book of Mormon. After they say yes, I tell them I was quoting the Book of Mormon. I ask him why their doctrine of salvation is the same as Mormonism. The common response is that even cults can get things right.
Conclusion
For the true Christian, salvation is not maintained by our goodness, where we have faith combined with works. Instead, salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. This is a defining difference between biblical theology and the teachings of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.
