And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined:
but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
And they began to inquire among themselves, which
it was that should do this thing.
Lk22:22-23

            Peter and Judas were both disciples of Jesus Christ.  They saw him perform acts of charity, heal the sick, feed multitudes, walk on water, raise the dead, and preach and teach to the multitudes.  From the passage above we know that they were treated equally and fairly because none of the disciples had a clue who it was who was going to betray him.  At the end of Jesus ministry, Peter denies Christ with oaths and swearing and Judas betrays Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.  Both are tormented by Satan.  Both repent.  Peter leaves the trial and weeps bitterly and Judas returns the thirty pieces of silver.  Peter is forgiven and Judas hangs himself.  What's the difference?

            Peter and Judas had different hearts.  Peter loved Jesus.  Judas was only after the money in the offerings.  Peter had a heart of flesh.  Judas had a heart of stone.  Though Satan tormented Peter, sifting him as wheat, Satan could not turn Peter's heart to believe that Jesus would not forgive him.  Judas, however, did not know or understand Jesus so when Satan brought condemnation on Judas, his response was to hang himself.  Peter committed sin in denying Jesus, but it was a random act of weakness.  Judas betraying Jesus was a way of life, an act which was a culmination of many acts of denial and betrayal.  Thus when Judas repented it was way too late.  When Peter repented God honored his love for Jesus.  What does this mean for us?

            Jesus came into the world to save sinners: for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  Yet once we are saved, sinning can no longer be a way of life even though we may fall on occasion.  We are called to be saints.  Once washed in the blood of the Lamb, we are called to be holy.  For those who see Christ, spend years going to church yet remain living a life of sin, for them, repentance may not yield the desired results seeing they have not a heart of flesh but a heart of stone.  Like Judas they may sit under the word, hear the message over and over again, but never truly know, understand, and love Jesus.  Because of this when the devil brings sickness, trials, or condemnation to their soul, they are ill-equipped to deal with the challenge.  Others however, who see Christ in the gospels, receive Christ into their heart and when sickness, trial, or condemnation for sin occurs, they believe in this Christ who saves.  Some people in church are like Judas while others are like Peter. 

            The born-again, spirit-filled Christian has been made free from sin through the shed blood of Christ.  Their sin nature has been replaced by the divine nature of God yet they have to add to their faith: virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, and charity.  In short, they must crucify the flesh.  If they choose to do so, they are like Peter and if they commit a random sin, God will forgive.  If however, the born-again Christian does not deal with the flesh but willfully chooses to sin as a way of life, they are like Judas and at some point, repentance will not be attained though they seek it with tears and lamentation for they crucify the Lord again and bring reproach to the name of God.

            Learn from Peter and Judas.  Choose to make Christianity a way of life and if you fall, though the devil attack, you will be forgiven and restored in the faith. 

amen