Answer: It depends on the type of Christian you ask.

Theological Traditions Included: Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Non-Calvinist Protestant, Calvinist Protestant, Progressive

All five traditions affirm the necessity of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, but they differ in their understanding of the role of works and the nature of salvation.
Calvinist Protestants emphasize salvation as entirely a work of God's grace, with faith being a gift from God and good works serving as evidence of salvation.
Non-Calvinist Protestants and Progressive Christians also prioritize faith but believe that true faith will necessarily produce good works as a result of salvation.
Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians view both faith and good works as necessary for salvation, with good works being a cooperation with God's grace. They understand salvation as a lifelong process involving participation in the sacramental life of the Church.
The role of sacraments varies among the traditions, with Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians seeing them as necessary for salvation, while Protestants generally view them as important but not essential.
Progressive Christians emphasize salvation as the transformation of both individuals and society, with a focus on social justice and participation in God's redemptive work in the world.

Sometimes it’s difficult to know where the semantics end and where the substance begins. And, in this case, it seems quite important to get that figured out.

Justin Bailey – Creator of ChristianAnswers.ai

Quick Comparison

Tradition	Role of Faith and Works	Nature of Salvation	Role of Sacraments
Non-Calvinist Protestant	Faith primary, good works evidence of salvation	Personal decision, one-time event	Important but not essential
Progressive	Faith primary, good works a result of salvation	Transformation of individuals and society, ongoing process	Meaningful practices, not necessarily essential
Eastern Orthodox	Faith and good works necessary, cooperation with grace	Lifelong process of theosis, participation in sacramental life	Necessary for salvation, means of grace
Calvinist Protestant	Faith a gift from God, good works evidence of salvation	Entirely a work of God's grace, personal election	Important but not essential
Catholic	Faith and good works necessary, cooperation with grace	Lifelong process of justification and sanctification, sacramental	Necessary for salvation, channels of grace

Hear from Each Perspective

Ordered by number of adherents

John / Catholic

To be saved, you must have faith in Jesus Christ and cooperate with God's grace through participation in the sacramental life of the Church. Salvation is a process of justification and sanctification, beginning with Baptism and continuing through a life of faith and good works. The sacraments, especially the Eucharist, are channels of God's grace and are necessary for salvation. Salvation is not earned through human merit but is a gift of God's grace, which enables us to respond in faith and obedience.

Anthony / Eastern Orthodox

Salvation is a journey of theosis, becoming partakers of the divine nature through the grace of God. To be saved, you must be united with Christ through faith and participation in the sacramental life of the Church. This involves regular participation in the Eucharist, confession, and other means of grace. Salvation is a synergistic process, requiring cooperation between divine grace and human effort. It is not a one-time event but a lifelong journey of growth in holiness and communion with God.

Caleb / Non-Calvinist Protestant

To be saved, you must repent of your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Salvation is a free gift of God's grace, available to all who believe. We are justified by faith alone, but true faith will necessarily produce good works as evidence of salvation. Salvation is a personal decision, and we must choose to accept God's gracious offer of forgiveness and eternal life.

Nathan / Calvinist Protestant

Salvation is entirely a work of God's sovereign grace. To be saved, God must first regenerate your heart and grant you the gift of faith. Those whom God has chosen for salvation will inevitably come to faith in Christ and persevere to the end. Good works are a necessary evidence of salvation but do not contribute to our justification before God. Salvation is ultimately dependent on God's sovereign choice and not on human actions or decisions.

Hannah / Progressive

Salvation is about more than individual forgiveness and eternal life; it encompasses the transformation of society and the world. We are saved by God's inclusive love, which breaks down barriers and promotes justice and reconciliation. To be saved, we must respond to God's love by working for the betterment of humanity and the creation, addressing systemic injustices and promoting the common good. Salvation is a ongoing process of being conformed to the image of Christ and participating in God's redemptive work in the world.

The Key Differences

1. Role of Faith and Works

All five traditions affirm the necessity of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.
Calvinist Protestants emphasize that salvation is entirely a work of God's grace and that faith itself is a gift from God. Good works are seen as evidence of salvation but do not contribute to justification.
Non-Calvinist Protestants and Progressive Christians also emphasize the primacy of faith but believe that true faith will necessarily produce good works as a result of salvation.
Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians believe that both faith and good works are necessary for salvation, with good works being a cooperation with God's grace.

2. Nature of Salvation

Non-Calvinist Protestants and Calvinist Protestants tend to emphasize salvation as a personal decision and a one-time event of justification by faith.
Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians view salvation as a lifelong process of justification and sanctification, involving ongoing participation in the sacramental life of the Church.
Progressive Christians emphasize salvation as the transformation of both individuals and society, with a focus on social justice and participation in God's redemptive work in the world.

3. Role of Sacraments

Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians believe that the sacraments are necessary for salvation, as they are channels of God's grace and means of participating in the life of Christ.
Non-Calvinist Protestants and Calvinist Protestants generally view the sacraments as important but not essential for salvation, with a greater emphasis on personal faith.
Progressive Christians may have a more flexible view of the sacraments, seeing them as meaningful spiritual practices but not necessarily essential for salvation.

What do I need to do to be saved?