In spite of the things that are Protestant like about me, I have come to reject the Protestant understanding of "Justified by Faith not works". Which is the one thing all branches of Protestantism have in common, Lutheran, Calvanist, Arminian, Wesleyan, and the Free Grace Eternal Security that was my original Soteriology when I started this blog.
Justification in Romans is NOT the same thing as Salvation, the true Soteriology of Paulian Theology is laid out in Romans 5 and 11 where Justification is no longer the focus at all. And when Paul speaks of us being Saved By Grace through Faith in other Epistles, the Faith in question is of Jesus not us.
So does that make my view of Justification the same as the Catholic and Orthodox view? Maybe, but must still be understood in the context of my firm belief in Universal Salvation.
However what prevents me from simply going back and rejoining any Ancient Church is that I firmly reject Episcopal Polity and the Authority of all Church Councils besides the one attended by the Apostles themselves in Acts 15. My position on Church Polity is Congregational first and foremost but with elements of Presbyterianism.
So many Catholic and Orthodox clerical arguments against Protestantism are founded on a belief there needs to be some tangible continuity between a valid modern Church and the Churches of antiquity And I can't help but be reminded of the things Jesus said specifically to rebuke that way of thinking.
"From whom did John get his Authority to Baptize?"-Matthew 21:23-27
"Who isn't agaisnt us is with us"-Mark 9:40
The Church was never meant to be an Organized Religion but a decentralized association.
