Faith alone people suffer with two false assumptions.

The difference between Catholics and Protestants is that they see faith as something that they can measure. Therefore, they claim to be saved by faith alone. I'm reminded of the question that faith alone people ask faith and works people. "How many works do you need to perform to be saved?" There are faith and works people outside of Catholicism. So, I don't know how they feel about this question. But I can tell you that the question is completely foreign to Catholics, because we are taught not to judge our faith nor our works. We leave the question of who is saved, to God.

Faith alone people suffer with two false assumptions.
1. That they have the right to declare themselves saved.
2. That they have the ability to measure their faith.

Thus, they assume that everybody lives with those assumptions. But we, Catholics, don't.

The proof is vey easy to discover. Ask a Catholic, any Catholic, whether he is saved. His answer will invariably be, "I don't know." Why? Because God is our Judge.

1 Corinthians 4:

4 I am not conscious of anything against me, but I do not thereby stand acquitted; the one who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will receive praise from God.

The reason that faith alone people ask this question is be cause they are used to judging themselves saved. Even though this is an unbiblical attitude. But, the question can easily be turned around on them. I ask them in turn, "How much faith do you need in order to be saved and how do you measure it?"

Can you read anyone's heart? Can you even read your own?

Jeremiah 17:9 More tortuous than anything is the human heart,
beyond remedy; who can understand it?

As for me, I don't even try to read my own heart nor anyone else's. I leave that to God.

10 I, the LORD, explore the mind
and test the heart,
Giving to all according to their ways,
according to the fruit of their deeds

What does the Bible say?

Frequently, Protestants call themselves “Bible” Christians. And they claim that they get their doctrines from the Bible “alone”.

Well, let’s put that to the test.

What is your answer to this question?

Are you saved?

The Protestant answer to this question is an unequivocal, “YES!” They claim they were saved when they professed faith in Christ. They profess to have an "absolute assurance of salvation."

The Catholic answer is different. Ask a Catholic, any Catholic, "Are you saved?" What is the answer that he will give?

He will answer, "I don't know. I hope so.” Why? Because we are taught that Christ judges the merit of our works and that we "hope" in our salvation. But that it is "presumption" to claim salvation for ourselves. Here's what the Catechism says about "hope":

1820 Christian hope unfolds from the beginning of Jesus' preaching in the proclamation of the beatitudes. The beatitudes raise our hope toward heaven as the new Promised Land; they trace the path that leads through the trials that await the disciples of Jesus. But through the merits of Jesus Christ and of his Passion, God keeps us in the "hope that does not disappoint." Hope is the "sure and steadfast anchor of the soul . . . that enters . . . where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf." Hope is also a weapon that protects us in the struggle of salvation: "Let us . . . put on the breastplate of faith and charity, and for a helmet the hope of salvation." It affords us joy even under trial: "Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation." Hope is expressed and nourished in prayer, especially in the Our Father, the summary of everything that hope leads us to desire.

So, which is the more Biblical answer? The Protestant or the Catholic? Here’s what the Apostle said according to the quintessential Protestant Bible.

1 Corinthians 4:3-4 King James Version (KJV)

3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.

4For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

That sounds like the Catholic answer. St. Paul says that he doesn’t care about any human judgment. He doesn’t even judge himself. Because he knows that he will be judged by Our Lord. So, St. Paul doesn’t claim salvation for himself, as do the Protestants.

Here’s another one:

Philippians 3:10-14 King James Version (KJV)

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Again, the Apostle sounds Catholic. He says that he wants to know Christ, therefore he undergoes sufferings in order to be more like Christ. And then he says, “if” by any means I “might” attain the resurrection of the dead.

IF, MIGHT. Those aren’t words of absolute assurance. And if the Apostle Paul could not be absolutely assured from the moment of his first proclamation of faith, what makes Protestants think that they can be so assured?

I could go on and on. There are many verses in the Bible which disprove absolute assurance of salvation. But I’ll just give you one more.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 King James Version (KJV)

8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Put on the hope of salvation. The "hope" of salvation is not the "absolute assurance" of salvation.

St. Paul sounds like a Catholic.

So, in your opinion, which is the more Biblical answer?

Are you saved?

I don’t know. I don’t judge myself. Scripture says that Christ is my Judge.

1 Corinthians 4:

2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

Protestants vs the Bible, Romans 10

How often do Protestants approach people and ask, "Are you saved?"  And, if you're Catholic and say, "I don't know", they belittle our attitude and claim that we have no faith.  Essentially, uplifting themselves and putting us down.  But, as I said before, the Catholic attitude is the biblical attitude.

I was reminded of this recently when I was listening to the audio bible on the Biblegateway, it was Romans 10.  And it came to this verse.

6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

It occurred to me that this verse advises us not to judge who is going to heaven.  Why?

Because when we judge one another, even when we judge ourselves, we bring Christ down from heaven.  Not in a good way.  But in a bad way.  We remove Him from His throne.  That is why the Catholic Church counsels against presumption of salvation.

Trent VI

CHAPTER XIIRASH PRESUMPTION OF PREDESTINATION IS TO BE AVOIDEDNo one, moreover, so long as he lives this mortal life, ought in regard to the sacred mystery of divine predestination, so far presume as to state with absolute certainty that he is among the number of the predestined,[74] as if it were true that the one justified either cannot sin any more, or, if he does sin, that he ought to promise himself an assured repentance.

For except by special revelation, it cannot be known whom God has chosen to Himself. 

We are not our own judge.  Scripture says elsewhere:

1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.  3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.  4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

Let's continue.  The next verse says:

7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

Remember, he says, don't say who shall ascend to heaven, NOR who shall descend to the deep.  In other words, don't judge who shall be saved nor who shall be condemned.  Why?

Because this is putting yourself in God's place.  It is God who brought Christ up from the dead.  Not you.  But in judging whether someone is condemned, you put yourself in God's place.

Let's go on.  The next verse is:

8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

Now, he says, “if you believe in the Lord, you will be saved.” Not, “if you believe in the Lord, you are saved.” As he says elsewhere, we can live in confidence, putting our hope in the Lord. But we don’t put our hope in our works or in our faith. It is God who judges us.

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Hebrews 10:35-36 KJV

It is only AFTER we have done the will of God that we MIGHT be recompensed. It is only then, that we MIGHT receive the promise of eternal salvation.

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

To believe unto righteousness means that we do righteous deeds because of our faith in Jesus Christ:

Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

The irony of the whole thing is that Protestants continually use this verse to proclaim themselves saved .  Yet, understood in context, this verse teaches us the opposite.  This verse counsels us to restrain our boastfulness and to live in a confident hope of salvation.

Sincerely,

De Maria