Drowning in Apostasy

I agree we believers are all one in The Lord Jesus Christ (vine) during this present age of grace. My position is the age of grace is coming to a close, maybe sooner than we think.

Romans 11:17-36 (NIV) 17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, 26 and in this way[a] all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. 27 And this is[b] my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”[c]

28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now[d] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and[e] knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”[f] 35 “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?”[g] 36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

I do believe Christ is identified as the firstfruits. I may have posted my question too quickly .

Yes Christ is the first of the first fruits

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 (NIV) 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

the kjv has it those who have slept, which means they are no longer asleep.

Also cor ch15 verses 11 and 12 shows plainly that the Corinthian church believed that Christ had risen but they did not believe that any one else had rose.

Therefore whether [it were] I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

12
Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead,
how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13
But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14
And if Christ be not risen, then [is] our preaching vain, and your faith [is] also vain.

If no one else rose, then Christ did not rise either. and what they preached to the Corinthians was false.

20
But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Apostasy is falling from Grace, departing from the true faith in Jesus Christ.
Faith is not works.
The true christian works that God had planned for each and every one of his were planned for them before the foundations of the world.
What are ye ? a Jew ? or a Greek ?

For the preaching of the Cross, the gospel of Jesus Christ is a rock of offense to the Jew, and foolishness to the Greek.
So ? you want to live by the law ? the word of God tells those who live by the law that they have to keep every iota of the law, and if you break even one part of the law, you break the whole law, so now ? what part of the law do you break ?
Are ye perfect in keeping the law, if so ? then you are the savor, that is ? to yourself, for GOD only sent one savoir to save us and that is Jesus Christ, not you.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.