Eternal Salvation

From a message by a Curious Questioner--
>CQ> Subject: Eternal Salvation

>CQ> How about what Paul said about Demas in the Epistles? He was once a believer, but left to pursue "things of the world." If that does not mean he was lost, then Paul would not have said it.

Paul did NOT say that Demas was no longer a believer. In Philemon later, he referred to Demas as a fellowlabourer. (see also Col.4:14)

What Paul did say in 2Tim.4:9,10 was for Timothy to: "Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonia; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia." Do you think that when Mark departed from Paul that that made him lost? Get serious. Timothy was also told: "Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry." Demas' profit to Paul in his ministry had passed, but his name is still found in the book of life!

>CQ> What about Judas Iscariot? We cannot preach him into Hell, but he cannot be preached into Heaven. He betrayed Christ.

Judas Iscariot is the son of PERDITION, and the Lord Jesus said: "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." (Jn.17:12)

>CQ> Did he remained saved after killing himself?

He did NOT believe on the Lord Jesus Christ that he might be saved.

>CQ> You can lose your salvation.

The word "saved" is past tense. Being saved is an accomplished fact based on the "finished" work of Christ on the cross.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph.2:8,9)

You really ought to receive the free gift of ETERNAL life and rest in the precious promises of the eternal word of God. Be not deceived.

The word of faith says, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. You really ought to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved by the grace of God. Grace be to them that receive the love of the truth. Amen. --Richard

Ever present help

From a message by a Curious Questioner--

>>CQ2> As for Demas, he left the faith to follow the world.

>CQ> As for Demas....the question isn't if he walked away from God... The question is was he ever really a Christian.

Come on now; Of course he was a Christian and is now with the Lord. When Paul and Timothy wrote unto the Colossians, they said: "Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. " (Col.1:14) When Paul and Timothy wrote unto "Philemon our dearly beloved", Paul mentioned "Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers." (Philemon 1:24)

Demas was NOT the only fellowlabourer that left Paul when Nero was feeding Christians to the lions, for Paul said, Only luke is with me.

"At my FIRST answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge." (2Tim.4:16)

It seems reasonable to conclude that Nero had Paul thrown to the lions, and that one of the lions was about to eat him, but the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" over-ruled, and as Paul said:

"Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully know, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion." (2Tim.4:17)

Now, why did Paul make such a special point of having Timothy go by way of Troas and pick up Paul's "cloke", on his way to Rome? (Ever read about Elijah and Elisha and the "mantle"? :) Why does Paul make such a special point of telling Timothy the LOCATION of so many people? Paul was a prisoner, but "our brother Timothy is set at liberty" (!), and although Paul could not personally go to Demas to strengthen him, Timothy's route to Rome and especially the TIMING of the trip would practically guarantee meeting Demas at Thessalonica, and Prisca and Aquila with Onesiphorus, and Erastus at Corinth.

If you remember, Mark had forsaken Paul when they were working at Pamphylia, and there was sharp contention later, between Barnabas and Paul, because Barnabas was determined to have Mark go with them on a later missionary journey. But things got patched up later, and Paul told Timothy: "Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry." (! 2Tim.4:11p)

Paul didn't hold his grudge with Mark, so I'm sure he forgave Demas, as is evident in 2Tim.4:16. But more than this, Paul was concerned that Timothy would not hold fast and is especially trying to encourage Timothy to "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus", and to "endure hardness, as a good soldier", and thereby to be an encouragement to other believers, and to NOT get entangled in the affairs of this present evil world, but to keep looking unto Jesus, the author and FINISHER of our faith; that he would finish his course with joy and blessing and great reward in Christ.

Remember that Jesus is the Lord, our salvation, our strength, our ever present help in time of need, and trust him always. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your heart in love. Amen. --Richard