The document discusses the doctrinal differences between Catholicism and Evangelicalism regarding the nature of Christ, the Holy Spirit, salvation, and the church (ecclesiology). Specifically, it examines their differing views on the Eucharist, confession of sins, justification, and the authority and leadership of the church. While they agree on core beliefs like the Trinity and deity of Christ, Catholics see salvation as a journey involving faith and works, whereas Evangelicals view it as occurring at a single point in time through faith alone. They also disagree on whether church leaders must be successors of the apostles. However, the document concludes that Catholics can still be considered saved due to their shared foundational doctrines of God's grace

1. Catholicism or Evangelicalism
The book Journeys of Faith by Robert L. Plummer sheds light on the doctrinal differences
between several denominations. Specifically of interest to me was Francis Beckwith’s journey
from Evangelicalism to Catholicism. Both Evangelicalism and Catholicism are considered part
of the Christian religion. They can, however, be very different when compared doctrinally.
Similarities and differences are found within these two denominations in these doctrines
specifically: the doctrine of Christ, the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, the doctrine of Salvation and
the doctrine of Ecclesiology. The deity of Christ involves how our faith rest on Jesus’s actually
being God in human flesh. 1
The Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity and this makes the Christian
religion unique from all other world religions. Salvation is the way that God saved us and
allowed us to have a relationship with him. Ecclesiology can mean the study of church
buildings, but is also defined as theology as applied to the nature and structure of the Christian
Church.
The Catholic Church strongly believes in magisterium, meaning the teaching authority of
the Roman Catholic Church, especially as exercised by bishops or the pope. Due to this belief,
the Catholic Church takes its role of interpreting scripture very seriously. This plays a part in all
of their major doctrines and beliefs as a Christian institution. Evangelical churches, on the
other hand, see scripture as the divine authority on all of their major doctrinal issues. Most
evangelicals do not agree with the Catholic model and hierarchy. Evangelical churches believe
1
Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology Third Edition (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2013), 624.

2. in the autonomy of the local church and are usually not connected in the same way the Catholic
Church is.
The way the Evangelical church and the Catholic Church look at Christ is very similar.
They both see Christ as the son of God, born of a virgin (Mary) and as being fully God and fully
man. A major difference between the two occurs when you look at Christ in the Eucharist.
Most evangelicals see communion as merely an ordinance that commemorates Christ’s death
so it is only symbolic.2
In the Catholic view there is a transformation when the priest that is
celebrating Mass consecrates the bread and the wine. The bread and wine literally become the
body and blood of Christ.3
This can be a hard concept for many Christians to grasp because it
requires that one believe there is a physical transformation of the elements from symbolic
bread and wine into Christ’s physical body and blood. The Catechism of the Catholic church,
which is part of their magisterium, states “The essential signs of the Eucharistic sacrament are
wheat bread and grape wine, on which the blessing of the Holy Spirit is invoked and the priest
pronounces the words of consecration spoken by Jesus during the Last Supper”. The Catechism
then quotes Luke 22:17-20. Once the priest has done this, Catholics believe that they are
literally eating Christ’s body and drinking His blood when they observe communion.
The Holy Spirit is of special significance to Christians for three main reasons. The belief
in the Holy Spirit is the point at which the Trinity becomes personal to the believer. We live in a
time when the Holy Spirit is more prominent than that of the other members of the Trinity. We
2
Francis J. Beckwith et al., Journeys of Faith: Evangelicalism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Anglicanism
(Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2012), 99.
3
Francis J. Beckwith et al., Journeys of Faith: Evangelicalism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Anglicanism
(Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2012), 100.

3. feel God’s presence within us through the Holy Spirit.4
Most Catholics and Evangelicals agree
with these three reasons for the importance of the Holy Spirit. Where they differ is how they
are to respond when they are convicted of sin by the Holy Spirit. Evangelicals use the term
backslidden to describe a Christian who is saved, but is either living in sin or has committed an
egregious sin. Their typical response is to rededicate their life to Christ at an altar call or seek
counsel from their pastor.5
The Catholic Church believes that reconciliation is a ministry of the
Church. Their members are encouraged to go to confession on a regular basis so they do not
become burdened by their sins. They do not see it as a work the church requires in order to
guarantee forgiveness, because Christ’s death on the cross did that. They see it as an
opportunity for the sinner to pay a penance for the sin they have committed.6
Salvation is the act of applying the work of Christ to human beings.7
Christ’s death on
the cross provides a path for fallen sinners to be reconciled to God. When we look at how
Catholicism and Evangelicalism differ on the doctrine of salvation we must look at justification.
Justification concerns how we are made right with God so we can be saved, acquire eternal life
and ultimately go to heaven.8
Most evangelicals believe that when a believer is saved it is due
to an act of faith alone, which is itself a consequence of grace alone. This results in the Holy
Spirit being poured into the new believer so he can grow in sanctification.9
Catholicism looks at
4
Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology Third Edition (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2013), 772-773.
5
Francis J. Beckwith et al., Journeys of Faith: Evangelicalism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Anglicanism
(Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2012), 103.
6
Francis J. Beckwith et al., Journeys of Faith: Evangelicalism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Anglicanism
(Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2012), 104-105.
7
Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology Third Edition (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2013), 826.
8
Francis J. Beckwith et al., Journeys of Faith: Evangelicalism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Anglicanism
(Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2012), 88.
9
Francis J. Beckwith et al., Journeys of Faith: Evangelicalism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Anglicanism
(Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2012), 89.

4. this as more of a process. When a Catholic experiences saving faith it is entirely the
consequence of God’s grace. When they are initially converted they become a part of the
family of God, but this is just the beginning. They then will exercise their faith, itself a gift of
God’s grace, in acts of charity, the spiritual disciplines, and in prayer, as well as partaking of the
sacraments. Catholicism looks at salvation as a journey and Evangelicalism looks at salvation as
a specific point in time. The saying “once saved, always saved” is how the Evangelicals look at
salvation. The Catholic view is not really that much different. They just believe that you are not
completely justified all at once. As Francis Beckwith says, “It is not only a matter of your getting
into heaven but also, and more important, a matter of getting heaven into you.”
Ecclesiology is probably where Catholics and Evangelicals differ the most in their
doctrine. Both of them agree on the fact that Jesus charged the apostles with starting the
church, but there are issues with how the church and its leadership should be structured.
Catholicism holds the belief that if a Church claims to be Christian, then its leaders (bishops and
priests) must be successors of the apostles.10
Evangelical churches do not put as much
emphasis on church history, even though it is clear from the book of Acts in the Bible that the
early church was founded and led by the apostles. Each individual Evangelical church looks at
their leadership in two main ways. Initially they see them as being called by the Lord to preach
and pastor the church and they also see them as being held responsible for how they lead the
10
Francis J. Beckwith et al., Journeys of Faith: Evangelicalism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Anglicanism
(Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2012), 108.

5. church. Catholicism sees their bishops and priests as part of an apostolic succession and they
are part of a long line of leaders down through the history of the church.11
Looking at the differences between Catholicism and Evangelicalism in some of the key
doctrines of the church always brings me to the following question. Being evangelical myself, I
have always wondered if my Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ are actually saved at all. Can
you have the view of ecclesiology and salvation that Catholics have and still gain salvation?
After studying the differences, I am inclined to believe that you can be saved as a devoted
Catholic. The key to my conclusion comes down to a few major doctrines that they agree on.
The both believe in the deity of Christ. They both believe in Christ’s death, burial and
resurrection. They both believe in God’s grace leading to salvation. We are at a time in human
history where it is very important for the church to join together in unity. We must fight Satan
as a team and not allow him to tear us apart in order to further his earthly kingdom. Do not
allow minor differences in doctrine or belief tear apart the Christian church.
11
Francis J. Beckwith et al., Journeys of Faith: Evangelicalism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Anglicanism
(Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2012), 108-109.