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Our Atonement 24 MAY 26
The Issue of Judas: MATT 12:24-26 Judas was very pro-Israel as a world power. He was a Zealot for Israel. He was actually the first Apostle to recognize Jesus as not being the political-military Messiah ALL THE APOSTLES WANTED. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT HE, like the rest, DID NOT RECOGNIZE WHAT A SPIRITUAL MESSIAH MEANT. Jesus never withheld salvation from any of them because of that. In fact, the 11 still believed otherwise in Acts 1:6-7. Dr. Hobbs always noted that Luke is the most accurate writer. Dr. Herschel H. Hobbs in his book an exposition of the gospel of Luke, Baker Book House, 1966, page 7 wrote “Luke was also a historian. At one time many scholars sought to discredit himj in this regard. But largely throught the work of Sir William Ramsey he has been thoroughly authenticated as to his historical accuracy…. The historical accuracy of Luke gives credence to the accounts of all the records of early Christianity.”
Dr. Hobbs also stated of LUKE 6:16 "Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.” One cannot become a traitor without first being a real part of a group. Further, Jesus held him as a friend just as he did Peter. John 15:15; (Psa 41:9 RSV) "Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted his heel against me." Judas was a “bosom friend”! That is the closest kind of male relation that is proper. Judas, in his own way, was no more a problem to Jesus than Peter. Jesus called both a tool of Satan. In fact, Jesus once called Peter “Satan”! MATT 16:23; JOHN 6:70-71. Jesus never said either was lost when they were doing what Satan wanted. It still happens. 1 COR 5.
Judas was saved, as were the other 11. Jesus never would have let a lost person witness to the lost or heal or cast out demons. (Mark 3:23 RSV) “And he called them to him, and said to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan?” We must remember that no saved person was permanently indwelt with the Holy Spirit before Pentecost. So it was possible then (not now) for a saved person to be demon-possessed if they got far away from God. This happened to Judas (and king Saul). Neither Satan nor God forced Judas to betray Jesus. But once he decided to do so, Satan made sure he did.
MATT 26:17-19 Since Jesus knew this was His time to die, He knew Judas would betray him. So Jesus took extra care. He did not even let the name of the man be known with whom He had previously arranged to use his facilities.
Matthew does not record the fight for political power among the 12 nor the washing of feet. But this is a critical part of the story and of Judas. It is probable that these two events finalized Judas' decision to become a traitor.
MATT 26:20-25 Before the fight (LUKE 22:24), Jesus confronts the 12 with the fact he would be betrayed by one of them (LUKE 22:21). Jesus told Judas he knew what he planned so as to give Judas one last chance to not betray Him. Jesus knew two hurtful things would happen: (1) He would become so soul-sick in sorrow that he would commit suicide. (2) His name would forever be ridiculed. This is what Jesus meant in verse 24.
MATT 26:26-28 With Judas still at the table (LUKE 22:14-21), Jesus began the Lord's Supper using the same terms as in JOHN 6. The KJV is wrong to add "broken" to 1 COR 11:24. No bone was broken. PS 34:20. The Law would not allow it. EX 12;46. Also see JOHN 19:33,36-37.
The Apostles "broke" the bread simply because it was a single loaf. The cup of wine was a single cup (grape juice was not available. It was not the season for grapes.). The bread represented Jesus’ body and the wine his blood. The Bible does not say "new" before covenant. But Paul states that is what Jesus meant in 1 COR 11:25. This is HEB 9:15,23-26.
Paul said "Do this in remembrance of me." 1 COR 11:24. See LUKE 22:10. So the Lord's Supper is to honor and remember Jesus. Note 1 COR 11:26. It has two purposes: (1) To remember what Jesus has done. (2) To remember Jesus is coming again. Thus the Second Coming is an integral part of the Lord's Supper. It gives the hope of confidence. HEB 11:1. If the Second Coming is not made part of the Lord's Supper, it is not being observed Biblically.
MATT 26:29 This is Jesus’ emphasis. He absolutely declared He is coming again for personal fellowship. He also declares again the absolute fact that the Trinity is three separate Divine Persons. Thus if the Trinity is not recognized in our Lord's Supper observance, it is not as Jesus commands.
MATT 26:30-32 Jesus knew they did not understand the Lord's Supper then. He told the rest (11) that they too would (Greek) "stumble". All 12 had pledged not to MATT 26:35. Yet ALL stumbled!
Even though Judas repented (MATT 27:3-4), he could not forgive himself. But God could and did. 1 JOHN 1:9.
Many saved people act like Judas every day. And what about the man in ACTS 5? To sin is to betray the pure Lord Jesus. All saved must grow per the Growth Process of Peter: (2 Pet 1:5-7 RSV) "For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, {6} and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, {7} and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love." This can start only by doing: (Acts 20:21 RSV) "testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance to God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ."
APPLY THE WHOLE BIBLE BEFORE YOU STATE A DOCTRINE!
Best Study Guide: How to Study the Bible Principles with Bible, A Study Sources by Orin T. Binkley.
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