What are the pillars of Protestantism? Faith without works saves; The Bible alone is the rule of faith; man is imputed justification, rather than infused. Man is depraved totally and has no free will. Did I miss any major ones? Oh, and man is saved and cannot fall upon his baptism/sinner's prayer.
I would say that you will have a difficult time finding these innovations in the Fathers of the Church - and you CERTAINLY will not find them all in ANY Father. Thus, Protestantism as we know it did INDEED "pop" into existence during the 1500's. If you can point out ONE Church Father that holds even 3 of the 4 ideas simulataneously, you will have proved your point. It is a shame that you keep spouting off this nonsense about the Fathers. Perhaps you should actually read them. You will be surprised with what you can learn - even if you remain a Baptist/Reformed man. There is a lot of insight from reading their interpretations of Scriptures. Can we point to more holy men then them?
The Orthodox church built their theology around John Cassian, a student of Pelagius, both of whom were condemned by the western church as heretics. Many of us Reformers would argue that we are the remnant of the true western church. The Roman Catholics started heading east around 600AD and finally made the transition with Trent.
Mere assertions without a shred of evidence. This has been disproved here before. Don't you grow tired of this? I have asked you time and time again for such evidence of the changes between Orange 2 and Trent, but I never hear an answer...
The Synod of Dort countered the Remonstrant with the TULIP which stated while it IS possible for people to fall away, it will never happen simply because we are sustained by God's grace
A big leap of self-determination, as we can't know we are of the Elect in the FUTURE. Certainly, the Elect will be saved - but it is presumption to "write yourself" into that book. God might be holding you up as an example of the importance of perseverance to other Christians, only to bring you down later! "Wow, Harley seemed like such a good Christian, but look at him now...I guess I better work out my salvation in fear and trembling..." Who can say what God has planned for you. It is nonsense to presume you are of the elect.
My understanding on this whole OSAS mess is that over time there were some Arminians didn't like the idea of losing one salvation. It smack of works
You don't appear to understand the concept of works in the Bible. Work is not an action, but something we do for pay. Isn't it obvious I can do an action, but out of love and not for pay? Doesn't Christ leave us with ONE Commandment that sums up the Law?
I did not understand how one could fall away and still be a Christian.
Because we aren't Christian in name only. By severing YOURSELF from the Family of God, you are "Christian" by virtue of your Baptism, but this has little meaning if we later reject Christ. Re-read Matthew 7:21 again. The emphasis is on doing the Will of the Father, not on making verbal declarations at an altar call.
Regards
I suppose you feel like Ignatius, If I see white and the Church says its black, then it is black. Augustine stated, I reasoned . There is great insight into those two views.
I find it odd that you find that you must deny this very fact. I would think you would proudly tout it.
The fact is the ONLY one you can know about is yourself. Paul states to examine yourself to see if you are in the faith (2 Cor 13:5) and he knew he had run the good race. Our Lord Jesus says, My sheep hear my voice and I know them . He gave us His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge (2 Cor 1:22).
And how do I know that Im part of the elect? Feelings? Intuition? Cures from cancer or lighting candles? Not hardly. I base my salvation upon Gods word and His divine promises. Abraham BELIEVED God and it WAS (past tense) accounted as righteousness. God said it and I have faith (imputed to me by God's mercies) that God will bring it to pass.
There is not one thing that we havent been given-including our works.
As for Matthew 7 (and 25), those who cry out Lord, Lord did we not do [fill in the blank] are the ones who are rejected from heaven because they thought they could get into heaven by doing all sorts of nice things. Those who were welcomed in heaven were those who stated, Lord, WHEN did we do these things? They didnt even realize they had done anything. Their works was a natural output of their faith.