AT THE FEET OF A TRAITOR

     Good morning to those who once again have tuned to this radio
station. How good it is to have you in our audience. May we all be
continually challenged by the revealed truth of God's Word. We
continue to remind each one that if you have question and/or
comment, to please let us know. If you would desire a copy of this
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know. The address is: White Park Church of Christ, Route 1, Box 502,
Anahuac, Texas 77514.
     To our study for the morning. As a rule we turn to Christ and
the apostles for our precepts and examples. We learn by them, and we
follow them. Today we shall sit at the feet of a great traitor, that
we might learn some important lessons. In Matthew, chapter 27, we
read of the vile act of Judas, one of the chosen twelve, one who
loved money, one who betrayed our Lord, one who became the traitor.
What are some lessons that we might learn from the act of Judas?
     LESSON NUMBER ONE: SIN IS WORSE THAN MEN THINK IT IS: Probably
Judas was surprised when Christ was condemned and sentenced to
death.  Most likely such an end was not planned. Most likely, Judas
did not expect the Lord to be crucified. Yet, this did not lessen
his crime.  He is still the one who betrayed our Lord. History
reveals to us that sin has always been worse than men had thought it
to be. Surely, the consequences of Adam's sin could not have been
grasped. The results of Cain's sin could have never been
anticipated. And look at the sin of Moses, of David and Bathsheba,
and on and on we could go. Paul tells us in Romans 5:12, "Therefore,
as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through
sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned." And,
again in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death..."
     Who can foresee the end of even the least sin? And idle word??
A foolish deed?? A brief pause in the life of the Christian?? A
moment of slackfulness??  Little sins (not that they are smaller in
God's sight); but little sins breed larger ones. Sin is very
progressive. Read James, chapter 1 to get a clear picture of the
progressiveness of sin and its consequences.
     LESSON NUMBER TWO: SIN CANNOT BE ESCAPED: Why was Judas smitten
with remorse? Who had accused him? As far as we know, no one. Yet,
he was driven to commit suicide. He went out an hanged himself.
There are four courts before which a man must stand. (l) The court
of the land---that would be civil law. In the case of Judas, it
would be Pilate. (2) The court of public opinion---that would be
social law. (3) The court of the conscience---that would be moral
law. (4) The court of God---that would be Divine law. Mankind needs
to learn that the law of God holds precedence over the others, for
unless it is right in the court of God, the law of the land, public
opinion, nor the conscience can make it right. Peter said, "We must
obey God rather than man" (Acts 5:29). In our day and time, churches
seek to justify their actions by public opinion. Just look how many
people are doing it like this. Sometimes we hear the statement, "A
church that has that many members must be right." No so, my friend,
unless that church is doing things founded upon the truth of the
Word of God. Size does not make right or wrong. Scriptural authority
is what settles the matter about being right with God. You need a
"thus saith the Lord," if you would have Heaven's approval. Where
does the Bible authorize it, whatever we are teaching or practicing?
     LESSON NUMBER THREE: SIN CANNOT BE COVERED: It makes no
difference how sin is committed, it will be exposed. It simply
cannot be pushed under the rug; it cannot be whitewashed or
forgotten.
     It may be like the sin of CAIN. In Genesis 4:8, Cain rose up
and killed his brother, Abel. The crime was committed in secret. Or,
so he thought. But Jehovah was well aware of the sin and Cain had to
answer to God for the vile deed.
     It may be like the sin of ESAU. In Genesis 25:32-34, we read of
the selling of his birthright for a mess of pottage. The sin was
done under the impulse of the moment. Esau was hungry, in need of
food. He then bargained with Jacob and without really thinking gave
up his birthright, but it was still sin. in Hebrews 12:16, we learn
that Esau is described as a profane person because of that act.
     It may be like the sin of JOSEPH'S BROTHERS. In Genesis 37:18-
36. we read about the sin of Joseph's brothers who sold him into
bondage, and lied to their father about Joseph's many colored coat.
It took many years before their sin was uncovered, yet, it remained
a sin. They finally came face to face with Joseph in Egypt many
years later and were exposed for their evil deed. So, some sins may
escape notice for long periods of time, but one day they will all be
brought to light. If not in this world, then in the world which is
to come.
     It may be like the sin of ACHAN. If you remember, Achan took
some of the spoils of victory which were not to be kept for their
own possession. He then hid the spoils under his tent, covering them
up. The sin was brought to the attention of Joshua by the Lord. Sin
simply cannot be covered; it cannot be hidden from Jehovah. Achan
and his family suffered the consequences of his sin, even though he
had made the attempt to cover it. The narrative is found in Joshua
chapter 7.
     It may be like the sin of AHAB. Ahab's sin was prompted by
someone else, the wicked woman Jezebel. As the result of her
insistence, Ahab had Naboth killed that he might obtain his
vineyard. 1 Kings 21 relates the story to us. Just because someone
else prompts us to do something does not excuse us from the choice
that we make. My responsibility cannot be removed simply because
someone else encouraged me to do something wrong. The other person
will have to answer for their part in the deed, but, I too, must
answer God for the part that I play in all that I do.
     It may be like the sin of BELSHAZZAR. Belshazzar was under the
influence of strong drink when he took the vessels from the temple
of the Lord and desecrated them. Daniel chapter 5 tells us of this
sin. Daniel, the prophet, gave Heaven's disapproval of his actions
when he said, "Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found
wanting."  Strong drink does not excuse any one from a sinful act.
In fact, very often it is because of alcohol or strong drink that
many vile and vicious acts are engaged in. How much evil in our day
and time are the direct result of someone's drunken stupor. How many
children are destitute because of some father's weakness. How many
lives are taked on our highways because of someone's surrender to
the Devil's brew. The fact that one is under the influence does not
excuse them from sin; in fact, it in reality it makes the sins even
worse.
     It may be like the sin of JUDAS. Judas had the approval of the
authorities, those who were suppose to uphold the law of God. These
were the chief priests, religious leaders, who stamped their
approval upon the act committed by Judas. You might read Mark 14:10
to see this. You see, religious authorities may differ with God on
what is right and wrong. They have done so many times. Under the
guise of religion, there are many today who are committing all kinds
of sins, all the while hidding under their pious robes. Just because
someone claims to be religious does not mean that they are under the
approval of Heaven. Paul says, "For such men are false apostles,
deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into an angel of light. It
is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves
as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their
works" 2 Corinthians 11:13-15). How often today have we seen those
engaged in the vast Television programs finding themselves guilty of
various types of sins and iniquities. They repent, come back, and
are caught red-handed again and again in other vices and sins. And
yet, gullable people continue to send them their money. Much more
needs to be said on this. Perhaps at a later date.
     It may be like the sin of PILATE. Pilate committed his vile
deed to gratify the public. In Mark 15:15, we read, "And Pilate,
wishing to content the multitude, released unto them Barabbas, and
delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified." It
matters how many approve of the act, unless the God above approves
of it, it is still sin. God is the one to be pleased, not man. We
have already touched on this point in this lesson earlier. Jesus
said that majority of mankind shall be lost. Hear Him, "Enter ye in
by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that
leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For
narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life,
and few are they that find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). I do not know how
many the many are; nor how few the few are; but I know the Lord said
that most are going to be lost; while few shall be saved. The world
can fall out with me for drawing that conclusion, but I must put my
faith in what our Lord has stated.
     It may be like the sin of the JEWS. They may have been ignorant
of the extent of their sin. Jesus, on the cross, made this
statement, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do"
(Luke 23:34). Later Peter stated, "And now, brethren, I know that in
ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers" (Acts 3:17). But,
ignorance has never excused anyone. Ignorance of the law does not
excuse mankind today who breaks the speed limit on our highways.
Neither does it excuse anyone who breaks the law or laws of God.
One might say, "Well Lord, I just did not know." But, the Lord will
say, "And then will I profess unto the, I never knew you: depart
from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:23).
     LESSON NUMBER FOUR: SIN CANNOT BE UNDONE: We return to Judas
for our fourth lesson from a Traitor. Judas sought to undo his vile
deed. You remember he took the 30 pieces of silver back and
attempted to correct his deed. But, they would have nothing of it.
No ugly word can be unspoken. We may regret them, may even repent of
them and receive forgiveness. But, we are unable to erase them from
the minds of those whom they hurt.  An illustration just here: It
was said that a father told his son to drive nails into a board,
which he did. He was then told to pull the nails out, which he did.
The father than told the son to remove the nail holes. The son knew
that this was impossible. So it is with sin. We may correct some of
the damage that our sins inflict, but it is impossible to completely
eradicate the sins we commit. The best thing is to not commit the
sin. The beauty of the whole thing just here is that God does not
require the undoing of things over which we have no control. He does
demand of us that we repent of our sins, confess our sins and then
obey His laws that the sins might be forgiven.
     We have been looking at the consequences of sin as seen through
the awful sin which Judas committed. I trust that the awfulness of
sin is better impressed upon the thinking of each one who has
followed along with us in this study. Sin must be answered for. We
should all seek to present our bodies as living sacrifices. We
should keep ourselves free from sins as far as is humanly possible.
But, sin must be forgiven. And we will commit sin. Forgiveness takes
place in the mind of God. He, and He alone can forgive sins
committed against Him. He has given the remedy for sin. It so
happens that it is the blood of the Son of God, the one who died in
our place upon that cruel tree. But, just because Christ died for us
does not mean that our sins are forgiven. We must ask the question
as those did in Acts 2:36, "What shall we do?" Peter responded,
"Repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins" (Acts 2:38).
That is still the message of Heaven. Have you done that? Do you
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God? If so, why not
repent of your sins and be immersed into Christ Jesus for the
remission of those sins. Then live a godly life in service of our
King.

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