[hiredhand]

Demas abandoned Paul during Paul's work. But did he renounce Christ?

GOOD question! I did a little light reading about this on bible.crosswalk.com, and there's reference to Demas returning to being a priest in a pagan temple. But I didn't chase down the reference.

But would somebody truly changed at the heart for Jesus, who was helping Paul ever abandon him? I "think" this act implies a lot that we try to read into now.

[gobucks]

...Demas returning to being a priest in a pagan temple...

I've never heard of a situation where once someone actually was saved, and actually produced 'fruit', where they fell away so much so as to worship as a priest at a pagan temple...

it would make me believe that salvation had not taken place to begin with.