The Coming Great Apostasy?

[8thdaypriest]

21 hours ago, Ron Amnsn said:

The message you get from the passage in Romans 8:1-4 will depend on how you interpret the key phrases.  Some people interpret "the law of sin and death" as referring to the whole body of law contained in the Books of Moses -- an interpretation that is not taught in the Scriptures.  I think Paul refers to the fundamental principle that those who sin will die (unless God intervenes).

Agree.   IF we are "in Christ" then we no longer live "under the Law" - the "Law of sin and death".   The Law is:  Sin results in death 

It's like that Law of Thermodynamics:   Without the input of new energy, every process which gives up energy to it's surroundings will slow down and stop.  

Christ will input divine energy, therefore the process we call our lives will keep going for eternity.  

Put another way - separation from God = death.   This is the Law of the entire creation of God.   He must continue to input energy into the system.  

When we sin, we separate ourselves from God - and thus from the input of life (new energy).   Jesus has allowed us to reconnect we God, and thus halt the progression towards death.

 

[8thdaypriest]

22 hours ago, 8thdaypriest said:

If Satan gets rid of all the true witnesses, there will be no one left to oppose him.   Would not this be a way for Satan to prepare his way?   There is more than one way for Satan to get rid of all those pesky witnesses.   Satan doesn't have to kill them all.   He can distract them, and divert them in other ways - just so they are not focused to oppose him by speaking out.  The blood of martyrs just proved to be fertilizer to grow more believers.   ( Though he may try that technique again in the last days.)

What was it Jesus said? 

"when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luk 18:8 NIV)  He seems to identify the problem - a falling away from faith. 

To fall away from faith, is to loose the connection to God through Christ.  Without that connection, how could one be warned of danger?  How could one have strength to endure whatever threats or hardship come?  How could one be empowered to witness?