In the past four years 2 documents have been signed stating the agreement in basic articles of Christian faith between Catholic and Protestant theologians. In 1994 they produced Evangelicals and Catholics Together, and most recently The Gift of Salvation. Both sides labored in finding common words to describe their doctrine of justification by faith alone. They were very successful- in being crafty.
The New Testament makes it clear that the gift of justification is received through faith. ..By faith, which is also the gift of God, we repent of our sins and freely adhere to the Gospel, the good news of God’s saving work for us in Christ. .. We understand that what we here affirm is in agreement with what the Reformation traditions have meant by justification by faith alone (sola fide). [The Gift of Salvation]
This agreement will evaporate if they try to find further agreement.
While we rejoice in the unity we have discovered.. we recognize that there are necessarily interrelated questions that require further and urgent exploration. Among such questions are these: the meaning of baptismal regeneration, the Eucharist, and sacramental grace; the historic uses of the language of justification as it relates to imputed and transformative righteousness; [The Gift of Salvation]
I think the words false unity we have created are more accurate.
The Protestant Reformation was about protest, and those protesting were called protest-ants. One doctrine that was being protested was the doctrine of baptismal regeneration. I'll let a Catholic Bible teacher explain their doctrine.
Baptism is the door to eternal life and to the kingdom of God. Through this sacrament the baptized is born into a new life in the Church, becomes a child of God and heir of heaven, sharing in the life of the Blessed Trinity. [Answering a Fundamentalist, Albert J. Nevins, pg 63]
These words cannot be mistaken. Catholic doctrine states that water baptism saves. They admit this and defend it.
They [fundamentalists] quote from the [Catholic] Catechism "Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte 'a new creature,' an adopted son of God, who has become a 'partaker of the divine nature,' member of Christ and co-heir with him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit." (Pg.354, #1265)”. Why did they [fundamentalists] forget that the bible teaches this? See Mark 1:6, Acts 2:38-39, Gal. 3:27, Acts 22:16, 1 Cor. 6:11. Perhaps because it proves Catholicism true.[A Defense of Baptismal Regeneration- Internet document]
The Protestants protested that the Bible teaches a person is purified from all sins through faith in Christ alone, and that by faith Christ's righteousness is credited to our account.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Eph 2:8-9]And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. [Gen 15:6]
Whereas some Catholics and Protestants are fearful to state what they really believe today, that was not the case in the 1500's.
If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; ..let him be anathema. [Council of Trent, 6th session, Canon #9]If any one saith, that the justice received is not preserved and also increased before God through good works; but that the said works are merely the fruits and signs of Justification obtained, but not a cause of the increase thereof; let him be anathema. [Council of Trent, 6th session, Canon #24]
Both Catholics and Protestants are upset with this make-believe agreement, and rightfully so. For this agreement on justification by faith alone expresses neither the Catholic nor Protestant position correctly.