Can Roman Catholics be genuine Christians?

Yes--but only if they have truly been born again by the Spirit of God, have repented of their sins, and are trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. Eternal life does not come through church membership, sacraments, or tradition, but only through Christ Himself. Jesus declared, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

The difficulty lies in the fact that Roman Catholicism officially teaches a false gospel of faith plus works, grace plus merit, Scripture plus tradition. Paul made it clear: "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law" (Romans 3:28). The Council of Trent, still binding on Rome, condemned this very doctrine of justification by faith alone. Therefore, if a person truly believes all that the Roman Church teaches, they cannot be a Christian--because they are trusting in a corrupted gospel.

Yet God, in His mercy, has saved some out of Catholicism, and sometimes even while they still outwardly identify as Catholic. If in their heart they are renouncing their own works and trusting wholly in Christ alone, then they are saved--not because of the Catholic Church, but in spite of it.

What should the Christian response be to Roman Catholics (as individuals)?

We should love them, pray for them, and patiently point them to the only Savior. Many are sincere, devout, and zealous for God, but like the Israelites of Paul's day, "their zeal is not based on knowledge" (Romans 10:2). Our responsibility is to show them from the Scriptures, that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone--apart from works, rituals, or traditions. We should never flatter them in their false religion, but clearly and lovingly present the true gospel.

What should the Christian response be to Roman Catholicism (as a system)?

We must firmly reject it as a soul-damning false religion. It is not merely another branch of Christianity, but a counterfeit that adds to the finished work of Jesus. By teaching purgatory, indulgences, priestly mediation, Papal authority, and devotion to Mary, Rome has obscured and denied the sufficiency of the cross. Paul warned about "another gospel--which is really no gospel at all" (Galatians 1:6–7), and that is exactly what Roman Catholicism has become.

Therefore, the Christian must not unite with Roman Catholicism, but rather expose its errors, call people out of it, and urge them to flee to Jesus alone.

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