Catholic Apologetics Guidebook

Salvation, Justification, and Sanctification

Topics on This Page:

General Apologetics on Salvation, Justification, and Sanctification
Faith Alone, or Faith and Works?
Baptism and Being "Born Again"
Predestination and Free Will
Eternal Security ("Once Saved, Always Saved")
"Outside the Church There Is No Salvation"
Purgatory
Indulgences

General Apologetics on Salvation, Justification, and Sanctification

Articles:

• CUF Faith Facts: It 'Works' for Me - The Church's Teaching on Justification
• How Are We Saved? by Jeffrey Mirus
• Catholic Answers: Grace - What It Is and What It Does
• What Is Salvation? by Mark Shea
• Nazareth Resource Library: Salvation Information

Books:

• The Salvation Controversy by James Akin – This short book is one of the best books on apologetics I have ever read.
• The Coming Home Journal: Salvation and Justification (online journal in PDF format)

Faith Alone, or Faith and Works?

Articles:

• Faith and Works by Jimmy Akin
• Not by Faith Alone by Jimmy Akin
• Catholic Answers: Reward and Merit
• "Verse by Verse" on Faith and Works – This article from This Rock magazine lists a number of New Testament passages which emphasize the role of good works in salvation.
• St. Paul Did Not Write to Us by Steve Ray

Audio:

• Sola Fide - Salvation by Faith Alone? by John Martignoni – Using the Bible alone to refute salvation by faith alone.  (You must enter a name and an e-mail address to download this mp3 audio file, but it is a free download.)

Baptism and Being "Born Again"

Articles:

• Catholic Answers: Are Catholics Born Again?
• Catholic Answers: The Necessity of Baptism
• Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation? by Fr. William Saunders

Audio:

• Steve Ray on Baptism, Salvation, and Being Born Again

Predestination and Free Will

Articles:

• A Tip-Toe Through TULIP by James Akin
• CUF Faith Facts: The Catholic Teaching on Predestination
• CUF Faith Facts: Predestination and Free Will
• Free Will and Predestination by Peter Kreeft

Eternal Security ("Once Saved, Always Saved")

Articles:

• Catholic Answers: Assurance of Salvation?
• Once Saved, Always Saved? by Jason Evert
• CUF Faith Facts: Persevering to the End - The Biblical Reality of Mortal Sin

Audio:

• Once Saved, Always Saved? by John Martignoni  (You must enter a name and an e-mail address to download this mp3 audio file, but it is a free download.)

"Outside the Church There Is No Salvation"

Articles:

• The Catechism of the Catholic Church on "Outside the Church There Is No Salvation" (See paragraphs 846 to 848.)
• CUF Faith Facts: Without the Church There Is No Salvation
• Catholic Answers: Salvation Outside the Church – Includes a summary of Catholic teaching on this subject, followed by supporting quotations from the early church fathers.
• Just Exactly Where Is the Church? by Mark Shea

Purgatory

Articles:

• Catholic Answers: Purgatory
• Catholic Answers: The Roots of Purgatory – Includes supporting quotations from the early church fathers.
• CUF Faith Facts: Purgatory
• Purgatory? Where's That in the Bible? by Mark Shea

Audio:

• Catholic Answers Live: Purgatory - Fact or Fiction? with Patrick Madrid

Indulgences

Articles:

• Catholic Answers: Primer on Indulgences
• Catholic Answers: Myths about Indulgences
• CUF Faith Facts: Indulgences
• Indulgences: The World's Most Misunderstood Spiritual Gifts by Mark Shea