Judas and Simon Peter

Judas and Simon Peter

What was the difference between the sin of Judas and the sin of Simon Peter? What they did to our Lord seemed similar yet Simon was forgiven and converted, while Judas hanged himself and was damned. Every believer has worried at some point that they could turn out to be a Judas. Here is the difference.

Judas betrayed the Lord while Peter denied Him. There is a difference. Judas sold the Lord. Judas turned Him over to others for money. Judas did not care what happened to the Lord but was only interested in his own gain. He betrayed the Lord.

Many have done just as Judas did. They have taken the world, a job, home, family, and any number of things in exchange for Christ. In forsaking the Lord they are telling the world, “I don’t care about Jesus Christ, you can have Him. Just give me the money … give me my family . . . give me the world . .. you can have Jesus.” No less than Judas, they have betrayed Him and will end up like him.

Peter denied the Lord. In a moment of cowardice, in order to save his own skin, he denied that he knew the Lord. His denial was bad enough and brought him bitter sorrow and great shame, but because of his previous pride, the Lord had to show him his weakness, inability and self-righteousness.

Now every believer has denied the Lord many times. There have been times when we have kept silence to avoid a confrontation over the truth. We have sinned and acted foolishly, talking and acting like an unbeliever and not a disciple of Christ. But later, like Simon, we were very sorrowful and bitter, then upon hearing the gospel again, we cast ourselves upon His mercy. All have denied Him, but no true believer would sell out the Lord. No lover of the Lord Jesus Christ would take any amount of money in exchange for their soul, for eternal life, for Christ and His people.

Is it so with you? Would you take anything for Christ?-Paul Mahan

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