BBC got it wrong (again.)
Indulgences do not have anything to do with the forgiveness of sins, let alone salvation per se.
Per Catholic doctrine, you can neither receive an indulgence nor benefit from one if you are not already in a state of grace. In other words, an indulgence is to an "unsaved" person as... umm...lemme see... as a scissors is to a caterpillar.
Sump'n like that.
Bottom line: don't get your theology from BBC.
Good idea in general ... Don't believe anything else the Beeb publishes, either.
Honest question: If I am in a state of grace (if I am saved) then what does an indulgence do for me?
Okay, but then what’s the benefit of an indulgence? If you’re already in a state of grace, what’s an indulgence supposed to do for you?
Okay, but then what’s the benefit of an indulgence? If you’re already in a state of grace, what’s an indulgence supposed to do for you?
And non-believers are as well.
God sends rain on the just and the unjust.
It's God's grace alone that keeps believers and non-believers from frying in hell at this very moment for their sin.
Catholics have way too many hoops to jump through to get to God.
God made is simple.
Romans 10:9-13 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”