“Christ is never loved—until sin is loathed.”
Thomas Watson
Regarding Judas Iscariot, we begin with A. T. Robertson’s summary: “The case of Judas is the saddest of all those who came in contact with Jesus during his earthly ministry. Others sinned grievously, but Judas sinned against more light than they all. Simon Peter denied his Lord under sudden impulse when caught in the toils of circumstance, but Judas sinned with deliberation and calculated treachery. [A. T. Robertson, Types of Preachers in the New Testament, 206.]
Judas’ betrayal of Jesus was committed against the lengthy history that Judas and Jesus shared. There were few who heard more sermons and parables from the lips of Jesus than Judas. The Sermon on the Mount? Check. Judas certainly heard, “Blessed are the spiritually poor.” The parable of the Rich Fool and the warning against greed? Check. Judas certainly heard, “Be on your guard against all kinds of greed…” The warnings to the Pharisees? Check. Judas certainly heard about the dangers of the whitewashed tomb. There were few who witnessed more miracles demonstrating the power of Jesus than Judas. Was he not among the Twelve who picked up the fragments and filled the 12 baskets? Was he not among the Twelve who saw the man born blind receive his sight? Was he not among the Twelve who witnessed Lazarus come forth from the grave? And there were few entrusted with more responsibility than Judas. The Lord sent him out to preach the good news. (See Luke 10)
All of these examples point to one conclusion. A man must be born again! There must be a Holy Spirit wrought work of God in the heart of an individual. Example alone, no matter how good, is not enough. A close examination of Judas discovers that there is no true repentance for sin in his life. Thomas Watson notes that true repentance runs very deep, “Godly sorrow goes deep, like a vein which bleeds inwardly. The heart bleeds for sin: “they were pricked in their heart” (Act 2:37). As the heart bears a chief part in sinning, so it must in sorrowing.” [Thomas Watson, The Doctrine of Repentance] Have you repented of sin and are you trusting the work of Christ today? Have a blessed week and we will see many of you on Sunday.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Dale
