Couple of thoughts from one who is neither Catholic nor Protestant: too many forget that little command about repenting. I’ve known some Protestants who think that since they’ve made a profession that Christ is Lord, that they now have a free ticket to sin. I’ve also known some Catholics who think that if they go and confess a sin and say a few hail Mary’s, they can continue in their sin (another “free ticket”)
My thoughts would be, as another previously mentioned, we work our our salvation, but part of that is by repenting from those sins we fall prey to, realizing that no one has a free ticket to sin, that we fight daily to live as God would desire, and have comfort in knowing that when we do mess up, we confess, and know that he is righteous and just in his forgiveness. No amount of good work does it. No membership in a particular church or denomination. Only the blood of Christ.
You repent. Honest, heart and bone deep repentance. You accept the Lord into your life.
Guess what.
It ain’t like buying a lightning rod. One purchase does not make you safe for both life and the hereafter.
You still have to check it is grounded, that it is the tallest part of your property (soul) and still, lightning may strike some other part of the house.
Every last thing you do must be examined under the commands of the Lord. No evasions, no “good intentions” (we have been told where they lead!) just under the Word.
I bought a lightning rod when I accepted the Lord into my life. I failed to maintain it and got struck hard because I did not maintain it.
I blamed Him. The one who gave me the lightning rod, not the idiot who put it up and forgot that it requires maintainence.