Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus

The latin phrase used in the post title above is usually rendered, "Outside the Church there is no Salvation." This doctrine may be commonly associated with Catholic dogma, but I've been doing a bit of reading lately with the idea that protestantism actually retained this doctrine. (I'm aware that this is not a new thought.)

Of course, like most protestant doctrine, this one has been emasculated by the widespread schisms which have plagued the Church over the last several centuries. Such want of unity and doctrinal authority has spurred the glorification of the individual and his salvation experience so that any sort of biblical certainty is perceived as beyond reach except and until God reveals it directly to an individual in his prayer closet.

But in considering the doctrine as food for thought, it is probably good to note that extra ecclesiam nulla salus is not a foreign notion in the protestant world where the Westminster Confession has a chapter on the Church including this phrase: "out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation." Noteworthy as well would be Calvin's sentiment: "What God has thus joined, let not man put asunder: to those to whom He is Father, the Church must also be mother." In this paraphrase, he must have intentionally used the language of a widely-understood doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church in his day, his words being quite similar to those of Saint Cyprian who lived 1300 years prior to Calvin. "He cannot have God as father, who has not the Church as his mother."

Protestants who are fond of "the five" solas may want to consider adding a sixth to the list: Sola Ecclesiam.