Process of Salvation
 

Catholic	Lutheran	Zwinglian	Calvinist
Based on faith and good works.	Based on faith alone.	Based on faith alone.	Based on double predestination.
Starts with God's intervention in the world to bring about salvation.	Starts with God's gracious offer of forgiveness.	Starts with God's gracious offer of forgiveness and the power to obey the commandments.	Starts with God's election of the saved (or 'elect') and with condemnation of the damned for all eternity.
This is known from the teaching and preaching the Church and from the Scriptures as understood in and through tradition.	This is known from the disproof of holiness by the law and the offer of forgiveness in the Gospel; this promise is the Word and is the sole norm of faith.	This is known from Scripture, which records the promise and the commandments	This is known from Scriptures, which give the promise of salvation and the commandments; the latter must inform the Christian living and God will help the elect to obey.
Salvation happens through Jesus' dying for all (redemption) and the Holy Spirit causing each individual to share in divinity (sanctification).	Salvation happens through the gift of faith, the possession of which shows that God has imputed Jesus' justice to the sinner and his/her sins to Jesus (justification).	Salvation happens through God's visible gift of faith and obedience to the commandments (perfection).	Salvation happens through God's prior election; there is no proof of election; faith and good works prove nothing but allow a moral certainty that those who have them are the elect.
The effect of salvation is a real incorporation into the glorified Body of Christ; a real but progressive change by which one ceases to be a sinner and gradually becomes holy (sanctifying Grace which may be lost through sin).	There is no real change in the person, who remains fully a sinner; the sinner is justified by God's decree, not by merit, of which there is none; salvation is certain so long as faith exists.	Salvation brings about a real change in moral life; those with faith are able to obey the commandments (this does not result in merit, however, since obedience is a gift of God); salvation is guaranteed so long as faith persists and the commandments are obeyed.	The effect of salvation is to show signs of possible election (i.e., faith and obedience).
Sin and holiness: though redeemed and therefore bound for eternal life, the sinner must undergo progressive sanctification and cleansing before entry into heaven, a process which may continue after death in Purgatory.	Sin and holiness coexist wholly; every person is wholly a sinner, but in accordance with God's decree is also totally righteous; Heaven (for those who have faith) and Hell (for thos who lack it) are the only alternatives; there is no Purgatory.	Sin and holiness cannot coexist; one is either known to be justified by faith and obedience (and therefore a member of the Visible Church) or one is damned.	Sin and holiness make no visible difference; those who seem obedient in our eyes remain sinners in God's eyes; visible improvement serves only to manifest God's glory; the Visible Church is only a school of obedience.
Therefore the sacraments are a means by which God gives grace and holiness; the Eucharist is the real presence creating his body, the Church; you become what you eat.	Therefore the sacraments do not sanctify; they contain within them the promise of sanctification; Christ is spiritually present in the Eucharist to prove that the promise is real to confirm faith.	Therefore the elect perform the sacraments because they are commanded to do so. Christ in heaven is absent from the Eucharist and would serve no purpose there (the elect are perfected).	Therefore the sacraments nourish faith and promote the obedience of the elect; Christ is present in the Eucharist only in his giving grace to the recipient.

Sacraments Recognized
 

Catholic	Lutheran	Zwinglian	Calvinist
Baptism Confirmation Eucharist (Communion) Penance Marriage Extreme Unction (Last Rites) Ordination	Baptism Eucharist (Communion) [Penance]	Baptism Eucharist (Communion)	Baptism Eucharist (Communion)

Liturgical Practices and Eucharistic Theologies
 

Catholic	Lutheran	Zwinglian	Calvinist
Christ is really present under the form of the bread & wine; the Church, his body, is also mystically present (Transubstantiation).	Christ is spiritually present with the substance of the bread & wine as a pledge of God's fidelity to his promise (Consubstantiation).	Christ is absent since his body is now in Heaven. We perform this liturgy as a reminder of Christ because he told us so (Commemoration).	Christ becomes spiritually present in the hearts of believers when we obey his commands to "Do this in remembrance of me." A ceremony of remembrance (Commemoration).
The communion elements are to adored as Christ both during and outside the communion ceremony.	The communion elements are to be venerated in the context of the communion ceremony as a sign of accepting God's promise.	There is to be no special adoration of any kind. Jesus is not present in the communion elements.	There is to be no adoration of the bread and wine; but Christ is spiritually adored in the hearts of those who partake in the ceremony.
Communion is reserved for adoration by the people and for taking to the sick (i.e., the miracle of transubstantiation remains after the ceremony is over).	Communion is reserved for taking to the sick, but not for adoration (because outside the ceremony this would detach the elements from the proclamation of God's promise).	Nothing is reserved to be taken to the sick.	Nothing is reserved to be taken to the sick.
Run out of either element during the service? Redo the entire ceremony since the action is necessary for the change to occur and for Christ to be present in the bread and wine.	Run out of either element during the service? Redo the entire ceremony since the words of Christ are necessary to show forth the promise and Christ's presence.	Run out of either element during the service? No matter. Just get more bread and wine and pass it around. The words of the ceremony are for the people and they have heard them already.	Run out of either element during the service? Redo the entire ceremony so that the command of Christ is fully obeyed. Words and elements together make the perfect sign.
Leftover elements at the end of Communion are to be kept in a place of honor in the church for adoration and taking to the sick.	If they are not taken to the sick, the leftovers are to be consumed reverently or burned since Christ is present in them.	When done, just send the leftovers back to the kitchen and use them as ordinary food. Jesus is not present in the communion elements.	Because they have been used in a sacred act (but not because of some intrinsic holiness) the leftovers are to be consumed or burned, not returned to common use.

Church Organization
 

Catholic	Lutheran	Zwinglian	Calvinist
Clergy and laity are distinct; sacramental priesthood; all members of the Church assist each other in the process of salvation by participating in the sacraments according to their office.	Priesthood of all believers; all perform the sacraments and preach; bishops and ministers govern the church and offer guidance.	Priesthood of all believers.	Priesthood of the elect; preachers, teachers, elders, consistory.
Papal monarchy; spiritual authority is greater than secular authority; secular authority is delegated, but there is a divinely ordained functional division of responsibilities between the two.	Secular power, which comes from God, is independent of the Church; but in a Christian state there is cooperation with the Church in the promotion of religion and morals.	Secular power, which comes from God, is independent of the Church; in a Christian state, civic authority is responsible for the promotion of religion and moral, in which it receives cooperation from the Church.	Secular power, which comes from God, is independent of the Church; but in a Christian state there is cooperation between the consistory and secular government in the promotion of religion and morals.