Thoroughly Innocent . . . Totally Guilty, Part 2

Today X window cites the lessons we learn from the betrayal by Jesus friend Judas received the longer it lasts better you get, the more people you can fool. Worst of all, the more you can lie to yourself.

The longer Judas lied to himself or he believed what he was doing was Chuck Swindoll's guiding us through a verse by verse study of the gospel according to Matthew in this brand-new teaching series truckers come to the 27th chapter of Matthew, it's a sobering passion describes the final days of Jesus life in which he endured undue suffering painful betrayal of friends is structured on yesterday's program. Sometimes it's easy to skip from Gethsemane to Golgotha, missing the troubling trials that occurred between taking time to absorb these moments together. Chuck again our father for your constant grace that meets us where we are, provides what we do not deserve, and ultimately four gives us a wrong that we do and places us in right standing before you, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We realize Lord as we read of a man totally disillusioned, totally sinful, completely and thoroughly away from the spiritual life that he is the same one who walk with your son for years who heard the same teachings witnessed the same miracles, yet none of it affected his life. I pray that you will search our souls.

Lord make us aware that what happened in can still happen today and has the psalmist prayed.

I pray search us over God and know our hearts try us and know our thoughts and see if there be any way of paying within us, and having revealed and lead us into the way of righteousness. We commit to you the weeks that will unfold. We pray that we might walk in the power of the spirit that we might be your faithful models not perfect but faithful find in us hearts that wish to be authentic and lives better lived before others, to draw them to the Savior. May your grace shine through our lives as it has been used so effectively to bring us to the cross and a humblest before you. We thank you for the privilege now giving. We pray that these offerings will honor you as they going to areas that we will never be in touch lives, we will never meet. May the gospel be faithfully declared and may lives be changed because of it we commit the offering to you as we do these words of prayer in the name of Jesus, our Savior and Lord of great grace. We pray everyone said amen. Listen to study the book of Matthew with Chuck Swindoll. Be sure to download his searching the Scriptures by going to inside world.org/studies where Matthew chapter 27 Chuck titled today's message early innocent totally guilty. I want you to think about Judas before the act of betrayal.

He heard all the teachings he witnessed as many miracles as any disciple witness. He was there alongside Jesus, he heard them breathe at night. He ate alongside him. He wants the dog a crippled, healed he wants the dead raised to life. He watched the storm still. He watched the CD called, he saw the second member of the Trinity at work in human flesh. He was aware of all of it, then why in the world would he betray him. Most likely, though, we are never given versus on this when you piece them together and you see Jesus, Judas, emerge from place to place most likely Judas was more a political zealot than a religious disciple Judas wanted Jesus to become the king over the Romans. He lived for the day Jesus would accept his kingdom make those disciples a part of his kingship and overthrow Rome. When Jesus turned down the kingdom. Judas was terribly disillusioned, he began to rethink his role and why he was following Jesus. And so, in light of that disillusionment.

Judas begins to change.

Now we comes to the ultimate moment. The result of his betrayal as he witnesses firsthand something he had never thought would happen. I believe that Judas thoughts somehow Jesus would be whisked through the trials removed and relieved and taken away, done away with some other white never thought what he would witness would become a reality which is why we read what we do here is Judas who realized that Jesus had been condemned to die the way it's written is like a light goes on.

He sees it for the first time he realizes that he's going to not he has probably seen some of the torturing that is a part of the scourging and the result is he is filled with remorse, not repentance.

Remorse he feels shame for what is done, but he is not repenting from his actions.

I've left out something very very important. The night of the Last Supper before Jesus is before Judas leaves to go into the night to carry out his plan to betray them, we read that Satan entered Judas he still there. We never read where Satan left Judas so we still Satan inspired and influenced and possessed man, he is evil to the core.

But even though that's true. He is confused when he sees what is happening in the result of his betrayal. He feels this pain of remorse. The stream this deep and abiding said of regret. So he takes the 30 pieces of silver back to the leading pre-city. He treats them as though they are his brief cities.

As I've said betray the medicine man and MME slings, though the Silverado Temple. We read in verse five, he threw the silver coins down before you read the rest.

Please notice their response that they receive say to him about what we care, that is your problem, let me help this very important limit. Let me remind you of a piece I've shared with you before regarding sin in the life I call it the toll Sam takes comes in three parts sin will take you further than you want to go.

It will keep you longer than you want to stay and it will cost you more than you want to pay classic example is Judas he's not trapped in his own sinfulness. Start out to be a traitor. But over the erosion of time even though he was in the presence of one who was absolutely and completely innocent. He became increasingly more guilty totally. Ultimately, sinful. So he is in a no man's land. He can't return to the disciples for they know it.

Now that he's a he's a traitor and he can't go to run with the Jewish leaders because they want nothing to do with it. They've used them up.

He's trash to them. He is without. The one thing every person needs to exist. He is without hope he has nowhere to turn broken confused, disillusioned saturated in guilt putty in the hands of Satan filled with shame and I might add. Remember, still possessed of the one who was a murderer from the beginning Satan himself. Judas moves to the one act that happens as a result of this hopeless situation. He went out and hanged himself the rest of the verses six through 10 deal with the money and I would spend to buy the field. You can read that for yourself.

I want to pause here this very serious impasse and draw five important lessons regarding this situation before. I do, I want to say to all of you. I know I am not looking at a Judas. As I look at all of you, but I may be looking at one or more who has picked up this eroding mentality.

You run with Christians you know the song you maybe can quote the verses Europe in fairly faithful attendance of the church you understand the lifestyle of believers, but you're not one and you know you're not one but you have cultivated a persona that appears as though you are. I don't know you are, so I use this as the as the place of application and I speak to all of you knowing that it will truly speak to a few of you who are in that category. These are the five lessons we all can learn from them. Number one secret sin warps our minds and twists are values.

This was a result of cover-up began with Judas. When Jesus rejected the kingdom and he secretly harbored thoughts against him his interest. Remember, were more political than spiritual. Jesus didn't do what he thought he would do Judas began to think differently about the one he had followed or had been following secret sin will do a number on you, which is one of the reasons I've said for years that a good solid biblically-based counselor who is wise and confidential is often the healthiest kind of relationship you can cultivate with that individual. You are free to unload the truth of your life to let the secrets out to admit them to acknowledge them and to deal with them. Judas is no one and is not looking for anyone before that could happen. Satan enters him and and he becomes a pawn in my hand of the evil master secret sin warps our minds and twists are values second all acts of cover-up or deceitful making self-deception. The worst all acts of cover-up or deceitful, making self-deception. The worst. This leads to the cultivation of the worst kind of sin.

Hard-core hypocrisy. I see the worst kind with tongue-in-cheek, because sin is sin, but it has such grave ramifications hard-core hypocrisy, the longer it lasts, the better you get at it and the more people you can fool.

Worst of all, the more you can lie to you so the longer Judas lied to himself the more he believed what he was doing was the truth was the right thing to do.

I can explain fully how this is, but it took a twisted mind for it to be cultivated and that was Judas. Here's the third which plays off that second the cycle of compulsion and shame drives a wedge between private thoughts and public persona. The cycle of compulsion and shame drives a wedge between private thoughts that are simple and often pious public persona. There was a growing unrest, deep with in Judas.

But over time it was a settled fact that he must carry out a plan different than the other disciples. Even though he continued to look like a loyal disciple. Remember the Last Supper, when Jesus dismissed him. None of the disciples assumed Barber suspicious of. They didn't look upon Judas leaving his any sense of his moving in the wrong direction. They trusted into the end. Remember, he held the purse. He was the one chosen to be that of the treasurer of the 12 trusted to the end because he is had cultivated this hard-core hypocrisy and gotten good at it now this is where it gets a little complicated when reality ultimately hits the deceiver is usually shot which explains why Judas is shot the trial with pilot he's shocked to realize what they're going to do with Jesus you want to say because you're sitting here with an un-twisted mind. What did you think you didn't think like your thinking in his mind.

There is a twisted set of values. There is a strange way of thinking and when the reality the real world finally landed on them. He is shot, explains his response as he says I've sin now for finally with an inescapable reality combines with undeniable hopelessness, thoughts of suicide emerged when reality combines with hopelessness, thoughts of suicide occur.

I'm not saying that everyone who takes his life as a Judas. I am not saying that all the details match.

I'm not saying that at all. However, I will say this, I've never known a case of suicide where I was able to probe himself regarding those things that led up to it. I've never known a case for the person had hope.

Invariably there was an absence of hope is one of said for years. You cannot really live very long without hope when Judas realized he was in no man's land. There was no place for him.

No group that would have him. Not even his family. He took his life was the end of this earth for Judas, but not for eternity. Of course number were you.

Only you know you're sitting here hearing these things and and I just have to ask that you pay close attention to what strikes a chord in your own heart because only you can examine yourself.

Only you can come to terms with what needs to be done and you must come to terms with that. If you are beginning to live a life of secret sin, a life of hypocrisy and you are covering it up more and more I want to warn you, it will take you farther than you want to go.

It will keep you longer than you want to stay and it will cost you more than you want to pay that is no way to live your life the beautiful truth is that Jesus Christ died, even for the hypocrite.

The joy is that we have a message of hope and forgiveness for all of us and called Grace God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever doesn't know that word. Whoever believes in him would not perish but have everlasting life. For the great message of hope to give to all of us today is bow our heads together. Please sit very still.

Do your own self analysis for you. Just in this story you've heard, but for human life. What you permitting but ought not be going on. What if you stop paying attention to that need your attention and change and repentance address that. Right now, and if you've never trusted in the Lord Jesus.

Now is the time to do so you're not too far gone, you're not too deep in what you were involved in for the Lord not to forget come now, dear father, make this time meaningful and soul-searching speak deeply to us in the quietness of this hour, and do not let us find wrist to relieve until we have found that in you and in a relationship with you that is right. It is pure, that is free from hypocrisy minister to us as we reflect on the body and the blood of our Savior given on our behalf through Jesus Christ's five lessons emerge from the study of Judas and his betrayal and it's our hope, our prayer, but these biblical truths lead you to a point of belief with belief comes hope and that hope is rooted in God's one and only son you're listening to the Bible teaching of Chuck Swindoll. This is insight for living. To learn more about this ministry or to discover a variety of resources available for today's topic, please visit us online@insightworld.org. Now you might be surprised to learn that our current study in Matthew has never been shared on Insight for living until now even though Chuck has been preaching for more than 50 years. It's his first time to teach through this first book in the New Testament from start to finish well. Concurrent with this broadcast presentation.

We are pleased to offer Chuck's commentary on Matthew was well because of the scope of the study. The commentaries published in two hardbound volumes discuss Windows living insights on Matthew laid out in a format that's perfect for new Bible student giving historical context. Practical application and even pictures, illustrations to purchase Windows living insights on Matthew Collins listening in the US dial 1-800-772-8888 or go to insight.org/offer if your generous donations that empower Insight for living to deliver these daily visits with when you give your actually making it possible for others across our country and even around the world to have access to practical Bible teaching by giving you enable them to grow in Christ, just as you have so thanks for giving generously to this nonprofit was again if you listening in the US, call 1-800-772-8888 give a donation today online, go to insight.. In March, 20, 22 insight for living ministries is hosting an unforgettable journey to Israel carefully planned to deepen your understanding of the Bible and draw you closer to God.

Chuck Swindoll for thousands of years. No place is been more meaning to God's children in the land of Israel. The rugged landscape reminds us to find refuge in God alone. The fertile valleys invite us to follow our ship Jerusalem's position at the very center of the world. Analysis the good news of Christ's every nation and now you can see Israel with Chuck Swindoll insight for living ministries March 6-17, 2022. Every time I visited the holy land of returned home with a refreshed heart for God and a renewed vision for the world. Really, I mean it every time. So I want you to have the same life changing experience to learn more, go to insight.org/events call this number 1-888-447-0444 insight for living ministries tour to Israel is paid for and made possible by only those who choose to attend.

Join us again tomorrow when Chuck Swindoll describes what he calls the strangest of foursomes right here on Insight for living. The preceding message thoroughly in us totally guilty is copyrighted in 2018 and 2021 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2021 by Charles R. Swindoll. All rights reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited