Editing Swedenborgianism (section)

==== {{anchor|The Protestant or Reformed Churches}}Protestantism ====
Although the [[Protestant]] churches have broken away from the Catholic Church and rejected many of its traditions, their basic theology remains the same. Catholics and Protestants agree on the belief in the trinity, original sin, and [[Justification (theology)|justification]] by faith; the main difference is that the Protestants believe that faith alone saves, without acts of charity.<ref>SE, n. 17–20.</ref> The [[Reformation|reformers]] separated faith from charity to separate completely from the Catholic Church.<ref>SE, n. 21–29.</ref>

In the New Church, good works must be done with the acknowledgment that good originates from God and not from self. The Protestant separation of faith and good works is derived from an epistle by [[Paul the Apostle]] saying that humanity is justified by faith, without "works of the law" (Romans 3:28).<ref>{{Bibleverse|Romans|3:28}}</ref> New Church adherents consider this is a false interpretation, for by "works of the law" Paul meant the external rituals of [[Law of Moses|Mosaic law]] (not the Ten Commandments or acts of charity).<ref>TCR, n. 338.</ref>

There is no instantaneous salvation by paying lip service to a belief in Christ.<ref>TCR, n. 626–646.</ref> A person acquires a nature according to their works, and must repent for their sins by refusing to do evil. "The faith of the former church is, that repentance, remission of sins, renewal, regeneration, sanctification, and salvation, follow of themselves the faith that is given and imputed, without any thing of man being mingled or joined with them: but the faith of the New Church teaches repentance, reformation, regeneration, and thus remission of sins, with man's cooperation. The faith of the former church teaches the imputation of Christ's merit, and the imputation embraced in the faith that is given: but the faith of the New Church teaches the imputation of good and evil, and at the same time of faith, and that this imputation is according to the Sacred Scripture, while the other is contrary to it."<ref>TCR, n. 647.</ref> Some Protestant churches (including the New Church) have withdrawn from the doctrine of faith alone: "The Word is read by them, and the Lord is worshipped, and hence with them there is the greatest light; and spiritual light, which is from the Lord as the Sun, which in its essence is Divine love, proceeds and extends itself in every direction, and enlightens even those who are in the circumferences round about, and opens the faculty of understanding truths, so far as they can receive them in accordance with their religion."<ref>FJC, n. 14.</ref>