Catholicism, Protestantism & Grace – Barabbas Road Church in San Diego

In this “Whiteboard Wednesday” YouTube video segment, Pastor Matt of Barabbas Road Church in San Diego discusses the principle of grace as taught by Catholicism and Protestantism. While Catholics and Protestants share much common doctrinal ground, they differ on the teaching of grace and how a person receives it.

Both Catholics and Protestants agree that grace is defined as “the unearned or unmerited favor of God.” However, each church body imparts different views on how a person receives grace. The Catholic Church teaches that grace is infused; that is, that grace is injected into a person like a needle. This happens when someone partakes in the sacraments, such as the Mass, a marriage, or a baptism. The sacraments are a means of grace. Each time someone participates in a sacrament, grace is being infused or injected into that person. The Bible teaches that grace is imputed. This “fancy word” means that a person receives grace through substitution, and that it happens all at once: when Christ died on the cross.

Both Catholicism and Protestantism teach that the salvation of a person, or the grace given to someone, occurs in three components: justification, sanctification, and glorification. However, Catholicism and Protestantism order these components differently. The teaching of imputation, or the Protestant view, maintains that justification happens first. Justification means that a person is made “right.” One example of justification can be seen in Jesus and Barabbas, the Biblical figure for whom his church in San Diego is named. Jesus was innocent and Barabbas was a guilty prisoner; however, Barabbas was set free and Jesus was put to death. Jesus died for the sins of all people. The moment someone believes this teaching, that person has become righteous, or justified. Sanctification, or the act of becoming more and more saint-like, happens as a result of justification.

The Catholic teaching of infusion upholds that sanctification happens first, then justification. Sanctification occurs as a person receives the sacraments over and over again and becomes more holy. Then, upon death, that person becomes justified when receiving the last rites from a priest. Glorification happens after death.

The Protestant teaching of infusion orders justification first; that a person is saved by grace instantly upon belief. Then sanctification takes place as God works to make a person more and more like Christ. Glorification results in heaven, where a believer automatically goes upon death.

Both doctrines cannot be true. It is up to each of us to decide which teaching is correct based on our study and understanding of the scriptures.

You can watch the whole Whiteboard Wednesday video below.