If you consider making observations hostile then I quess I am being hostile. Calvin had his own holocaust in Geneva.
What I find interesting concerning OSAS debates is that OSAS advocates will always appeal to their personal experiences as to why they believe in OSAS.
I did no such thing, and you took that sentence out of context to make it appear so rather than to respond to the point I was making with it. In case you missed it I will restate: Christ is the author and finisher of our faith, not us. As I said previously, I am defined by my relationship with the person of Christ, not with religiosity or doctrine. And so it must be for every true believer, do you not agree?
Actually you did.
HE predestined, HE foreknew, HE called, HE justified, HE glorified.
As in all things, HE is the center, not ME. HE saved ME, continues to save, me, justify me, conform me, and in humility and faith I believe HE does it all, not ME.
I agree that our salvation is from God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. But that is not the issue we are discussing we are discussing OSAS vs. what Scripture teaches concerning apostasy.
As to the Apostles Creed, which one? There are several versions. The original one used by the Catholic Church and one revised by Calvin where he inserted his theology and another one that replaces "He descended into hell" with "He descended to the dead".
In order for OSAS to be a true doctrine a believer no longer has free will since both Jesus and Paul teach that men will fall away from the faith and in order to fall away from the faith a person has to have free will.
By saying this do you assume God is less than omniscient (all powerful) and prescient (foreknowing) in all matters relating to believers AND unbelievers?
And as to the order: how exactly does one separate foreknowing and predestination in God's mind? Does one come before the other? If so, how?
God is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (knows everything), and omnipresent (is everywhere). I have never seen the word prescient used to describe God. The prophets were prescient since they could foretell the future. God is omniscient because He knew before the foundation of the world who would and who would not accept His truth and maintain that truth until death. Therefore because of His foreknowledge He predestined those who would believe to a life of good works that bring praise to the glory of His name (read Ephesians).
One reason Romans 8:26-30 is one of my favorite verses is God knew I would take a detour into gay life, become an AIDS patient and has used both my past and my medical condition to my benefit and His glory.
My friend in Christ, before I go on I must ask is it more important to be right? Or to be righteous?
It is most important to be Biblical and adhere to sound doctrine since no one can work their way to a righteous life. Our righteousness is imputed not earned; our righteousness is a gift from God:
Romans 3:9-30
9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written,
"There is none righteous, not even one;
11 There is none who understands,
There is none who seeks for God;
12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless;
There is none who does good,
There is not even one. "
13 "Their throat is an open grave,
With their tongues they keep deceiving,"
"The poison of asps is under their lips";
14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness";
15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood,
16 Destruction and misery are in their paths,
17 And the path of peace have they not known. "
18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one. NAS