Justification Comparison
Table RCC4
| Roman Catholic Church | Scripture |
|---|---|
| Justification is a transformation of the soul in which original sin is removed and sanctifying grace infused [§1987, §1988, §1989, §1990, §1991, §1992, §1993, §1994, §1995]. | Justification is an act of God in which He declares a sinner to be righteous in His sight, having forgiven his sins and imputed to him God's own righteousness (Romans 3:21-4:8). |
| Adults must prepare for justification through faith and good works [§1247, §1248, §1249]. | God justifies ungodly sinners who believe (Romans 4:5). Good works are the result of salvation, not the cause (Ephesians 2:8-10). |
| The justified are in themselves beautiful and holy in God's sight [§1992, §1999, §2000, §2024]. | The justified are in Christ holy and blameless before God (Ephesians 1:1-14). |
| Justification is furthered by sacraments and good works [§1212, §1392, §2010]. | Justification is the imputation of the perfect righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). In Christ the believer has been made complete (Colossians 2:10). |
| Justification is lost through mortal sin [§1033, §1855, §1874]. | Justification cannot be lost. Those whom God justifies will be saved from the wrath of God (Romans 5:8, 9). |
| Catholics guilty of mortal sin are justified again through the sacrament of penance [§980, §1446]. | There is no second justification. Those whom God justifies, He also glorifies (Romans 8:30). |
| Salvation from the eternal consequences of sin is a lifelong process [§161, §162, §1254, §1255]. | Salvation from the eternal consequences of sin is an instantaneous and secure act of God coinciding with justification (Romans 5:9). |
| Faith is belief in God and the firm acceptance of all that the Church proposes for belief [§181, §182, §1814]. | Saving faith is the entrusting of oneself to Christ as Lord and Savior (Romans 10:8-17). |
| Venial sins do not incur eternal punishment [§1855, §1863]. | Every sin is punishable by eternal death (Romans 6:23). |
| Serious sins must be confessed to a priest [§1456, §1457]. | Sin is to be confessed directly to God (Ezra 10:11). |
| The priest forgives sin as a judge [§1442, §1461]. | No one can forgive sin but God alone (Mark 2:7). |
| When the guilt of sin is forgiven, temporal punishment remains [§1472, §1473]. | When God forgives sin, He completely forgives (Colossians 2:13; Isaiah 43:25). |
| Acts of penance make satisfaction for the temporal punishment of sin [§1434, §1459, §1460]. | Jesus made perfect satisfaction for all sins (1 John 2:1, 2). |
| Indulgences dispensed by the Church for acts of piety release sinners from temporal punishment [§1471, §1472, §1473]. | Jesus releases believers from their sins by His blood (Revelation 1:5). |
| Purgatory is necessary to atone for sin and cleanse the soul [§1030, §1031]. | Purgatory does not exist. Jesus made purification for sins on the cross (Hebrews 1:3). |
| Poor souls suffering in purgatory can be helped by those alive on earth offering up prayers, good works, and the sacrifice of the Mass [§1032, §1371, §1479]. | Those who sleep in Christ need no help. To be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). |
| No one can know if he will attain to eternal life [§1036, §2005]. | The believer can know that he has eternal life by the Word of God (1 John 5:13). |
| Eternal life is a merited reward [§1821, §2010]. | Eternal life is the free gift of God (Romans 6:23). |
| The Roman Catholic Church is necessary for salvation [§846]. | There is salvation in no one but the Lord Jesus Christ, “for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). |
