withallyourmind.net

This is Part 3 of a continuing series examining the relationship of Roman Catholics and evangelicals. My primary source for this series is the excellent book by Ralph MacKenzie and Normal Geisler, Roman Catholics and Evangelicals. In my first post, I laid out a very brief history of that relationship. In Part 2, I took a look at two areas in which these two groups can find much common ground, the teaching on revelation and doctrine concerning God. Today, I continue to look at areas in which Roman Catholics and evangelicals agree, specifically in regard to the doctine of man, Christology, and soteriology.

Catholics and evangelicals hold to a common understanding of the origin, nature, and fall of humanity. Both agree that man was created by God, in God’s image and likeness. Both also agree on the immortality of man and his duty to God, his fellow man, and God’s creation. There is accord on the dualistic nature of man; that he is not just a physical substance, but also is a non-physical substance, or a soul. Both camps believe in the fall of man and in original sin. Not only that, but evangelicals and Catholics agree on the final remedy for the situation, namely, the merit of the one mediator, Jesus Christ. Roman Catholic Church teaching states:

We believe that in Adam all have sinned. From this it follows that on account of the one initial offence committed by him human nature, which is common to all men, is reduced to that condition in which it must suffer the consequences of that fall.

Evangelicals would agree with this summary regarding man. Both groups also agree on the fundamental dignity of human life founded in the Imago Dei.

Regarding the doctrine of Christ, scriptural teaching and the early creeds unify both Catholic and evangelical theology. Both theologies embrace the Christian tradition of Augustine, Anselm, and Aquinas regarding Christ: Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. Jesus is not part god and part man, but he became truly man while remaining truly God. Christ was not a divine being who only appeared to be human, nor was he a mere human who became divine. Christ was one Person in whom the divine and human natures were hypostatically united. Both Catholics and evangelicals also affirm the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.

There is also a common core of beliefs regarding the work of Christ in salvation (soteriology). First, both Catholics and evangelicals agree that salvation is historical, that is, it is effected through historical divine revelation and not by mere religious practices or the gaining of wisdom. Salvation is also held to be moral and spiritual by both groups. It involves deliverance from sin, guilt, death, bondage, and the judgment. There is a consensus that there is an eschatological aspect of salvation, a still-to-be-fulfilled future perspective. Importantly, evangelicals and Catholics hold that our initial justification is unmerited.

In my next post, I present more areas of agreement.