What steps can we take to avoid Judas' path of regret and destruction? The Bitter End: Matthew 27:5 “So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.” Warning Signs That Marked Judas’ Road • Hidden greed (John 12:6) • Hypocrisy cloaked in religious activity (John 13:29) • Repeated rejection of Jesus’ appeals (John 13:27) • Isolation and secrecy (Matthew 26:14–16) • Worldly sorrow without true repentance (Matthew 27:3–4; 2 Corinthians 7:10) Step 1 – Treasure Christ Above All • Matthew 6:21: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” • Daily rehearse what Christ has done at the cross; gratitude starves greed. • Practice generosity; giving loosens the grip of money (1 Timothy 6:10). Step 2 – Guard the Heart Early and Honestly • James 1:14–15 shows desire becoming death; stop sin while it is still a desire. • Pray Psalm 139:23–24, inviting God to expose hidden motives. • Confess sin immediately (1 John 1:9); don’t let secrecy ferment. Step 3 – Stay Accountable in Close Fellowship • Hebrews 3:13: “But exhort one another daily… so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” • Seek believers who lovingly confront and restore (Galatians 6:1). • Share struggles before they become scandals. Step 4 – Respond to Conviction, Not Condemnation • Judas felt remorse yet despaired; Peter wept and was restored (Luke 22:62; John 21:15–17). • 2 Corinthians 7:10, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret.” • When conscience pricks, run to Christ, not away. Step 5 – Resist the Devil’s Entrance • John 13:27: “Satan entered into him.” • Ephesians 4:27: “Do not give the devil a foothold.” • Put on God’s armor daily (Ephesians 6:10–18); temptation unresisted soon enslaves. Step 6 – Remember the End of Sin • Proverbs 14:12 warns that a way that seems right ends in death. • Visualize the bitter fruit before tasting the sweet bait. • Judas’ thirty pieces of silver glittered briefly, then burned forever. Key Takeaways • Love Christ more than anything the world offers. • Expose sin quickly; secrecy breeds destruction. • Walk closely with truthful friends and a faithful church. • Embrace godly sorrow that turns to Christ, not worldly sorrow that turns inward. • Stand firm in spiritual warfare; small compromises open big doors. • Keep eternity in view; short-lived gains are never worth everlasting loss. |
    |