The BIG Picture (Q&A)

QUESTION: So, you mean to tell me that Demas who left Paul because he loved the present world more than the gospel as stated in second Timothy, four verse 10, would go to heaven anyway, even though he abandoned the faith? ANSWER: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world: There is no conclusive evidence that Demas forsook the faith. Paul says he forsook him, not ‘the faith’. In addition, we cannot interpret, having loved this present world, to mean, necessarily, that he was a materialistic man, or that, he loved the honours or wealth of this world. It could be interpreted that he simply ‘desired to live’. He was not willing to stay with Paul, and subject himself to the probabilities of persecution or martyrdom; and, in order to secure his life, he departed to a place of safety. So, there is no reason why Demas should be held up as an example of a worldly man. That he desired to live longer; that he was unwilling to remain and risk the loss of life, is indeed cl...

Let me answer the points in your question with some facts. Sin has separated us from God. The bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Rom 3:23). We cannot restore that relationship. We never could and we never will be able. You see, sin is in our nature. It’s not our works or efforts that is the issue, it is us ourselves. It is our very nature that is at enmity with God. The bible says,  Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. No good works or efforts that you do, to appease God or try to earn favour with Him, will count for anything! Again, the problem lies inside of us, inside our very nature as humans. So then, what is the answer to your question? If we cannot do anything to find peace with God, how can we be saved? Well, the bible gives us these answers too. God has provided us with grace through Jesus Christ. The answer is to believe in Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus wi...

Salvation has NOTHING to do with you. Ask yourself these simple questions. Do you believe that the cross work of Jesus is your only hope? Do you believe that Jesus died for your sins and was resurrected for your justification? Do you truly trust that you cannot do anything to save yourself and are wholly dependent on what Jesus did for you? If you say yes, THEN YOU, my friend, ARE SAVED! …. And there is NOTHING you can do to ‘unsave’ yourself because God has sealed that contract in heaven. Your righteousness and justification are not dependent on your performance or choices. Your righteousness and justification are settled because of the performance and obedience of Jesus. I’m sorry to say, but once you are saved, you, my friend, CANNOT get out of it, whether you want to or not. Have you ever seen a baby get ‘unborn’. It is physically impossible. Likewise, it is spiritually impossible to become ‘unsaved’. Just make peace with it and continue to grow in the only other instruction th...

Israel, before the cross Mat 19:16-21  And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?  17 … but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.  18  He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,  19  Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  20  The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?  21  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. Before the cross, Jews had to show faith and confirming works (to prove their faith) in order to be saved. Their faith was placed in their confession of Jesus as the Messiah. Thereafter, their confirming works were to ob...

Israel have always been under a covenant program. If they did what God commanded, they were blessed. If not, they fell under a curse. The very essence of the law was built on a foundation of works. This is why the book of James hammers home the need to prove your faith with works. Even the need to endure in these works was needed to be able to enter into the Kingdom. There are many verses in the Gospels that demand the need to endure, Matt.24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  Further statements that emphasis this point are, that they had to prove their faith, or be counted worthy, or pick up their cross and follow, or sell all they had and follow their Messiah. Works and endurance were key to the Jewish existence and salvation.  One more example that can imply this is the parable of the faithful servants. The end of the parable reads as follows, Matt.25:28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For ...

There's a lot of people today that do a lot of good things, but these things are according to the Kingdom program which is NOT how God is working today and neither is it rewarding you today. For example, you might think that baptizing someone in water today is good and spiritual because it was done in Acts, but water baptism is meaningless in the grace dispensation. It's your faithfulness to the mysteries that will be accounted as a worthy walk and as good fruit [works] as you walk in the Spirit. Rom.2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel .  Rom 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel , and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery , which was kept secret since the world began, Notice the above verses! It says, "according to my gospel, AND the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, ....