Why did Christianity survive despite opposition?
Christianity survived despite opposition solely by the grace of God. It was constantly under satanic attack, and but for God's grace it would never have gotten off the ground. Yet it survived, so that today believers still have the Word of God.
Les explains that Paul, writing near the end of his life, lamented that all in Asia had turned away from him, including leaders Phagellus and Hermogenes. The congregations he founded in Asia Minor—Ephesus, Thyatira, Pergamos, Derbe, Lystra, Antioch, Pisidia—had turned aside from his gospel of grace and the knowledge of the mysteries. Les finds it heart-wrenching that after years of privation Paul had to conclude this. Yet Les is amazed that but for the grace of God Christianity would never have gotten off the ground. It was constantly under satanic attack, and Les thanks the Lord it survived and that we today have the Word of God. Even today, the fundamentals of Christianity are under constant attack from within Christendom and from without, giving us a taste of what Paul described.
This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.