Why don't Protestants consider Catholics saved?

Question

Aren't we Christians? We have faith in God. We accept that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. So why don't you think we're saved?

Just to clarify:
I know that we Catholics do not consider ourselves saved merely by saying that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. I was just wondering why Protestants don't consider us saved.

Steve Amato:
Catholics do not consider Protestants "saved" because we don't believe that accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior is the only thing necessary for salvation.

Answer 1

Many fundamental Christians believe the POPE is the Anti-Christ. And that Catholics are following a false prophet and a false doctrine, and are therefore condemned.

I don't believe that, but I know many people who do.

Answer 2

Most non-Catholic Christian denominations accept Catholics as Christians. A very few do not.

A dictionary would say that a Christian is someone professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.

Catholics would fit this definition.

In the Nicene creed, from 325 C.E., Catholics profess:

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father.

Through Him all things were made.

For us and our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried.

On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We are baptized as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19, "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

We truly are spiritually "born again," we just don't usually use those words.

For a complete description of what Catholics believe, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/index.htm

With love in Christ.

Answer 3

Why don't Catholics considered Protestants saved? Aren't we Christians? Don't we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. And yet the Pope condemns protestants claiming they are unsaved. What's up with that?

Answer 4

Some Protestant denominations; but not all, believe in guaranteed salvation. They believe that once one accepts Jesus as his "personal" Lord and Saviour, he is saved from that point forward. Even if they fail and sin, they believe they are then covered by the blood of Jesus from then forward. They believe there is nothing they can do on their own to attain salvation, it is given by God, and it is permanent. This is often referred to as "Salvation by Faith alone." That is why they use the phrase or expression "Saved."

On the other hand, Catholics believe that Baptism removes original sin from the soul, makes us members of the Body of Christ, and thereby eligible to attain salvation. However, by the very teachings of Jesus and the Apostles as recorded in Holy Scripture, we must confess our sins, repent and be sorry for our sins, and try to sin no more. Christ also asks us to do good works to build up the Body of Christ. The good works in themselves do not save us; but they are an indication of the grace of Christ active in our souls. This is often called "Salvation by Faith and good works." Read James II. He clearly states Faith alone is insufficient, it is dead without being accompanied by good works. So Catholics believe we are living and striving toward Salvation. We don't use the expression "Saved" because we will not know that reality until we are in Heaven. Only then are you truly "Saved." As St. Paul says, only when his life is over will he know if "he ran the good race."

Another point: often the founders of first Protestant denominations, like Martin Luther, put out their own translation of the Bible. Luther was so bent of propagating this notion of guaranteed salvation by faith alone, that he went so far as to add the word "alone" after faith in his Bible. He later admitted to this.

Answer 5

Anyone with an iota of historical knowledge realizes the Catholic Church is the original Christian Church, which was guiding millions of people to salvation long before the plague of manmade denominational religion appeared upon the earth. And anyone with an iota of biblical knowledge knows that the original Christian Church - the one founded by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Himself - is the ONLY Christian Church Jesus Christ ever intended to exist.

The Catholic Church is the living manifestation of the stated will of God, "that they all may be one", teaching th fullness of truth in unity, believing in unity, worshipping in unity throughout the world and across twenty centuries. This is what Jesus intended. He said so. Protestantism is the antithesis of the stated will of God, with its thousands of conflicting, contradicting, unauthorized manmade denominations, its hundreds of partial truths and outright untruths, its new traditions introduced by its many human founders, and its general state of doctrinal chaos.

Incidentally, as a Catholic I know that I am NOT saved. The bible says I WILL be saved IF I endure to the end. Protestants who think they are already saved and have an irreversible guarantee of a place in heaven are in grave danger. The Bible says that earthly life is a race that we must run well if we want to receive the prize, which is, of course, salvation. The prize in a race is awarded just after the end of the race, not in the middle of it. That's why the Word of God presents this powerful analogy, the meaning of which is completely obvious. And this is also why the Bible tells us we must work out our salvation day by day if we want recive salvation in the end. Satan likes nothing better than to have people convinced they are already saved, and to therefore stop obeying this biblical command.

Answer 6

Some, not all protestants have come to the realization that the majority of true catholics are truly seeking from God. Like the rest of us. So some of us have taken the postion that God, being the final judge will judge our hearts. I believe that a lot of catholics will enter heaven, but at the same time, those in charge should know better. It is their duty as leaders of the church to guide the church in truth based on biblical writings and not church writings, regardless of the church or churches and doctrines. I'll be the first to say that you are a christian and that you are saved if you can say it in your heart and believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins. If you believe that and I know you do and you asked Jesus to forgive you, then welcome home. Welcome my fellow Christian.

Answer 7

This is an statement you make this is not an question as far as i am concerned.An persons relationship with God is between you and God.And only God knows what is truly in an persons heart.Anyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as the Son off God is an Christian.

Answer 8

It is all of the devotion to Mary and the many extras that take away from the message of Christ. I used to be Catholic. I have met some Catholics that do walk to narrow path. Some Catholics are saved, some are not. Just like the rest of us Christians.

Answer 9

Catholics who are raised in the church are taught they have always been saved, if I am not mistake. Just because they were raised as Catholic.

Yet, it is written a must be born again to enter the kingdom of God. This comes by knowing one is a sinner and repents with all his heart, becoming completely submissive to the Son of God.

Catholics who have been raised believe that by going to the priest and confessing their sins removes their sins. Yet, there in only one who has the power to remove sin and that is God. So most believe with their lips and mind, but not in their hearts.

If the heart of a man is not circumcised, changed, passing from death into life through the blood of the lamb, they believe they are saved, but in the end will not enter the kingdom of God.

Answer 10

I am a protestant and I believe, no matter what religion you are, if you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour then you are saved. what I don't understand about the catholics though is why all the other things? Like added books of the Bible, the belief of praying people out of hell (forget what it is called), priests telling you things the Bible does not say, things of that nature, i guess..