Jordan Chamblee
AFA Journal staff writer
April 2019 – Probably more infamous than any other name in the Bible, except Satan, is Judas Iscariot. A trusted man among the 12 disciples, none would have suspected him of stooping so low as to turn against the Messiah.
Did he not see all the miracles and wonders done by Christ, all the sick who were healed and the broken who were mended? And yet, with a fleeting kiss he traded the Prince of Heaven for the silver price of a slave.
As much as we’d like to believe there’s nothing in our hearts that would sell Jesus, we know the sad truth. The workings of the heart of man are wicked beyond knowing (Jeremiah 17:9). We need to beware the many ways in which we can betray Christ. They may be subtle, but just as grievous as Judas’s betrayal.
Building a kingdom of morality
This isn’t necessarily legalism, but it is no better. It is adhering to a standard of behavior and considering our behavior sufficient to stand righteous before God. Trusting in good deeds to count for something is no different than scorning the cross of Christ.
If someone did a great kindness to us, would we be so rude as to pay him or her back with a bucket of sewage? And yet the Scriptures call our righteous deeds “filthy rags.” This is what our little kingdoms of morality are.
Purchasing sin
When I was a child, I thought that it was okay to sin if I only prayed for forgiveness afterward, or did something really good to cover it up. I was attempting to buy a license to sin.
We need to beware of bribing God, trying to buy Him off so we can get from Him what we want. We need to beware of not caring about righteousness, but only about appearances. This is betraying Christ and His salvation for the slave-price of a few thrills.
We should thank God that our works of bribery and our purchased sins leave us empty because that emptiness will drive us back to Him in repentance.
Selling out Christ’s bride
Imagine a man going on a business trip and leaving his wife in the care of a trusted friend. Now imagine that this friend decides the young woman needs to make more acquaintances for the good of her husband’s business. But in his mind, she isn’t an attractive kind of person. So, he proceeds to dress her in revealing clothes and parade her in the public square to get the attention of men, and they in turn, invest in her husband’s business.
We have been given a great responsibility: the care of the Church. Are we guilty of dressing up the Church in a way to attract more members? The Church becomes a beggar willing to do anything in exchange for an hour of attendance on Sunday, rather than a bride keeping herself pure for her Betrothed.
Will Christ thank us for this, or will He be angry that the Church is dressed like a harlot?
The answer to these warnings is simple: Love Christ. Judas didn’t love Christ, only the idea of what he thought Christ should be. We must not love Christ because of what we want Him to do for us, but we should love Him because of Who He is.
We have to look again to the cross, and let His love for us warm our love for Him. The heart of God is not only willing to forgive us, but that is His desire (2 Peter 3:9). 
