@Scooter2000 God gave man the gift of freewill. Man condemns himself with sin.

I'm working on a video series that showcases the fruits of sin:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqDk-2bKWQ3tGvy4MqZ1EYn5IRlsmqDY9

No, man does not have the moral or legal entitlement to transgress God's law.

The capability to sin is ever present, meaning freedom of conscience does exist.

But it's not under God's law, it's under Satan's law

"The law of sin" as the Apostle Paul explains

No. We should expose the error and death caused by Satan's law, and not put people to torture chambers for inquiring about it.

The Catholic Church did in its enforcement of "God's law"

God didn't smite Satan when he fell from heaven. Instead, God let the angels observe what he has done to mankind through the ages.

Conscience is thought. It has not yet become action. I believe in criticizing ideas, not burning them.

By your definition so does God, with his handling of Satan in the great controversy between him and Christ.

God does not tolerate error. He exposes it so it is not repeated, showcasing all of the death that comes from it.

As said by the Apostle:

"For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: **for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men**."
Paul the Apostle, 1 Corinthians 4:9

Yes we do have the duty, however we cannot do it in fully in our sinful state. We must let God's Son do it for us.

By letting Christ's divine character manifest in your actions, speech, personality, etc. you will reflect the character of God -- who has never sinned.

I'm not sure what you're asking.

If you're not Christian, it seems like rhetoric. But if you do believe in the Gospel, you understand Jesus was the Passover Lamb for the Jew and Gentile. Meaning, by believing in the merits of a crucified and risen savior, you can overcome sin through Christ. Not your own works.

"Christians" are those who follow Christ -- the anointed one. Practically, your life should resemble the life of the Son of God.

Living in accordance with the Ten Commandments.

I apologize if I'm not being clear. I assumed you knew the character of Christ already. And how he never sinned, and fulfilled the law.

If you don't know these things, then yes what I said earlier may have seemed like rhetoric. It's not.

Jesus kept the ten commandments. Those who follow Christ do as well.

"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."
Revelation 14:12

For the same reason God didn't smite Satan.

He will smite Satan, but only after he has fulfilled his purpose: Exposing evil to the angels who never knew sin.

See what I said above

I agree

And he does that through his servants, who observe the sixth commandment.

What the government does should be based on the well being of the state. Letting crimes go unpunished is detrimental to the state. That is separate from what individual Christians should do.

Followers of Christ should leave the enforcement of laws to the earthly and heavenly governments, as Jesus did while he was on earth.

Off topic, but I wonder what church the Apostle Paul was talking about here? 🤔

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; **Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats**, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth."
Paul the Apostle, 1 Timothy 4:1-3

What denomination forbids its ecclesia, priests and nuns, from marrying? And that thing called Lent? Hmmm 🤔

The Roman Catholic Church didn't exist in the Apostle Paul's time. So if you read the full verse, particularly when he says: "that in the **latter times** some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and **doctrines of devils**"

He did fight against Judaizers. However, he is speaking about practices after his day. Mainly the current practices of the Catholic Church.

In this letter to Timothy

How do you interpret "latter times"?

of course, leave that to people who know what they're actually doing

haha are you seriously saying I'm shifting goal posts while you appeal to authority?

Prayerful study of the bible reveals more than the interpretations of pedophiles in fancy long robes.

"What about Christians make up the civil authority?"
They can make their arguments for legislation by using secular evidence. Their world view can still be formed by the Word of God, but when it comes to enforcing it, they need empirical evidence.

I don't see how I'm dodging your questions. You can reach the same conclusions the infallible Word of God makes with empirical evidence. Take for example in Proverbs how it speaks against alcoholism. When a Christian civil servant wants to endorse laws for the minimum age of drinking, he should point to the biological effects alcohol has on a developing individual. He can point to real world examples of underage drinking leading to societal problems, etc.

hahaha earlier you were saying I was shifting goal posts and on my "last resort"
now you say it doesn't make any difference lmaoooo

it makes ALL the difference

once you say the laws should be informed by the Catechism, you're no different than a theocratic state, which Jesus was against (Mark 12:17)

(which you even allied with Satan directly)
"He will smite Satan, but only after he has fulfilled his purpose: Exposing evil to the angels who never knew sin."
I have no idea what you're going on about

I never said to have a private or public opinion

I'm saying to justify enforcing laws you should use the evidence from man, not authority from God. Rendering things of Caesar to Caesar, and things of God to God.

Now, you can find evidence by using the Word of God as a starting point, which many of the greatest scientists of mankind did

Jesus never established a theocratic state, so I have no idea what you're suggesting by quoting me with "...your life should resemble the life of the Son of God."

And Christ never said the government should be informed by scripture. He instead explained how the life of righteous individuals will follow the law, by accepting his sacrifice.

Because civil law is not the same as individual life. It involves enforcement of punishments from the state on others. Since civil laws will be applied to those who are not Christian, it shouldn't only be based on the morality of God.

Take for example gay marriage. I believe it shouldn't be allowed because Genesis defined marriage between man and woman. Jesus recited this in his arguments with the pharisees. When it comes to enforcing it, you can point to how allowing gay marriage destroys the functional purpose of the institution: the production of offspring for the state.

I believe in absolute moral truth from God. Man-made governments are not of God, they are of man.