BS- 28 ‘Judas’
Judas is a name that most knowledgeable Christians have heard about. Do we think ‘traitor’ or do we think; in the great PLAN of God that someone had to be the deceiver so that the Messiah could provide atonement to fulfill and become the eternal sin sacrifice. He was one of the original twelve Disciples chosen by Jesus as his inner circle; those closest to him for about three years. He was part of the team who spread the early Gospel. The QUESTION is. What does John 6:70-71 say about him?
Does God choose certain people or determine which weather patterns are an ‘Act of God’ around the world? Maybe one day while we are at the ‘meeting place’ in heaven HE will speak about history and HIS creation. What causes tornados to wipe out homes or what causes volcanos in Hawaii to have lava flowing; then destroy some homes? Why did God have Noah build the Ark? What caused the ten children of Job to die? Something happened at Sodom & Gomorrah, which was a judgement coming from God, correct? Was it a fiery comet from outer space hitting the hillside beside the city that caused the fire and brimstone to destroy it?
When Moses asked God, in Exodus 33, if he could see his face; how did God answer him in verse 19? Since God is the creator of mankind HE makes the choices on blessings or judgement. When Jesus selected the 12 Disciples, HE already knew the PLAN. Someone, that is, one of them would need to be in the group; ready to be the traitor; it was Judas who was chosen; a part of the eternal PLAN.
QUESTION – 2. So, what happened to him? John 13:2. When scripture reads that you can’t serve both God and money; did Judas put money before Jesus? Matthew 26:14-16 & Luke 22:3-6. Do you think Judas deceived Jesus? Matthew 26:49 & Luke 22:47-48. Did Judas ever repent? Matthew 27:3-5.
Could you ask the same question about Lucifer; let us take a short rabbit trail; so, what happened to the one who is called Lucifer? Isaiah 14:12-14 KJV. We are pretty sure that Lucifer is Satan and that he will not ever repent. Revelation 13:5-6. He will be cast into the lake-of-fire. Revelation 20:10. (Future prophesy). Shortly after this the great white throne judgement will commence. Rev. 20:11-15.
Another QUESTION-3. Was Judas an example to we who have put our ‘trust’ in Christ Jesus in what not to do as we travel the Christian path? ANS=YES.
QUESTION – 4. Why is it that once we are saved or born again with the Holy Spirit abiding within; we still have a sin issue? One word that could be used is TEMPATATION. What happened to Eve in the Garden of Eden? What happened to David on the rooftop when he gazed down at Bathsheba? What happened to Lots wife when she looked back?
How about another word called ATTITUDE? What happened to Jonah when he tried to take the boat in the opposite direction that God told him to go? Jonah didn’t like the Ninevites; he didn’t want them to repent so he ended up in the belly of a large fish. Do we ever have things like Temptation, Attitudes, Lust, and Anger, engulf us? Why is it that we backslide at times? Why do I do the things I don’t want to do AND why don’t I do the things that I do want to do? This was a question the Apostle asked himself a couple of times. Romans 7:14-20 & Galatians 5:16-22.
QUESTION – Does scripture say what it means and mean what it says? Yes when taken in context? ___ . What does Hebrews 8:13 tell the N.T. Christian?
If Judas could have a do over; what do you think he would do?
Does mankind always have a choice OR are some things predetermined?
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Scripture Attached below
John 6:70-71. Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?” 71 Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him. [The predetermined plan of God.]
Exodus 33:17-20 17 The Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.” 18 Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” 19 And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” 20 But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”
Romans 9:14-18 14 What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” 18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. (God makes choices; OUR PART IN THE PLAN IS TO obey, pray, & share THE GOSPEL.)
John 13:2 2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him (Jesus), [IT WAS THE ETERNAL PLAN.]
Matthew 26:14-16 Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?” And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. 16 From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus.
Luke 22:47-48 While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was preceding them; and he approached Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” [Did He?]
Matthew 27:3-5 then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” 5 And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. [DOES REMORSE = REPENTANCE?]
Isaiah 14:12-14 KJV How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. [EGO & PRIDE was the DOWNFALL of Satan.]
Revelation 13:3-6 …And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; 4 they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” 5 There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
Revelation 20:10 10 and the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. [The unholy trinity]
Rev. 20:11-15 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Romans 7:14-20 14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. [God’s GRACE supersedes the Civil & Ceremonial LAW that Moses presented.]
Galatians 5:16-17 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Conclusion
James 4:1-10 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “HE jealously desires the Spirit which HE has made to dwell in us”? 6 But HE gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and HE will exalt you. (AMEN..!)
Don’t turn your back on Jesus; like Judas did.
DG