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I know it doesn’t say at least I think but why did Jesus pick Judas when he knew he would betray him and kill himself in the end a lesson maybe?
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Do you know the fundamental reason why light and darkness, sin and virtue, evil and righteousness, Satan and angels exist? The omniscient and omnipotent God, as well as Christ, did not unknowingly choose Judas, unaware of his betrayal. Christ fully knew that He had to be crucified. Judas’ faith serves as a warning to all Christians today. His was a faith of the flesh, driven by desires, and because of this, though he was a disciple meant to testify of Christ, he ultimately betrayed Him for material gain. Those who attempt to serve both God and the world, blending material wealth with their faith, are all bound by a fleshly belief—a faith centered on their own desires, seeking only personal happiness, success, and prosperity. Such faith inevitably leads to betrayal of God.
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.(Romans 13 : 14)
But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.(Romans 9 : 31-33)
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.(Romans 10 : 2-3)
And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.(Isaiah 8 : 14-15)
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater In power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.(2 Peter 2 : 10-22)
The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.(Isaiah 9 : 15-16)
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.(2 Thessalonians 2 : 9-12)
Faith that seeks the truth of God—the power that works within His love—comes from following the cross, a love so great that it surrenders even one’s own life to fulfill God’s will. However, instead of such faith, people pursue only worldly concerns—praying solely for their health, business success, career, family, children, and personal relationships. Their prayers, driven by fleshly desires, are nothing more than empty, misguided petitions. This kind of faith, centered on worldly desires, is the ideal of all religions, no different from the hopes of those who live secular lives. And yet, those who live such lives still claim to be Christians.
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.(Romans 1 : 21-25)
This is a warning message to all Christians today who have turned their own claims and falsehoods into ‘truth’ and ‘faith,’ justifying and excusing their repeated sins by embracing all kinds of distortions, heresies, and deceptions. Instead of pursuing the life of Christ—one that sacrifices all, including one’s life, for the hope of Christ—many so-called Christians serve both God and the world, seeking only personal happiness, success, and prosperity. They worship alongside material wealth, driven by the desires of the flesh, rather than becoming the light and salt of the world as true examples of faith. Anyone whose faith is led by the world and material things will inevitably betray Christ. This is just like Esau, who, driven only by his desire for personal blessing and happiness, shed tears but failed to find true repentance.
Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.(Hebrews 12 : 16-17)
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.(Revelation 2 : 4-5)
What is the reason you believe in God?
Do you believe in God for material wealth that will make you happy?
Do you believe in God to achieve your own success and ambitions?
Or do you believe in God for a life of prosperity and ease that belongs to this world and the flesh?
Is your entire prayer life centered around a faith that seeks only fleeting, worldly pleasures—desires of the flesh that can only lead to death?
Is your God merely a servant to fulfill your personal happiness, success, and prosperity?
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.(2 Corinthians 7 : 10)
A faith that seeks only worldly success, ambition, and material gain while still wanting to enter heaven—a faith driven by desires for happiness rooted in the flesh—can only lead to a life trapped in an endless cycle of sin. It is a faith of the flesh, not of the Spirit. Instead of pursuing the life of Christ, a life that follows the holy will of God, surrendering even one’s own life for the beautiful love of the cross, many so-called believers live a faith that is indistinguishable from that of the world. Their faith is one that continually falls into sin, repents, and then returns to sin again, driven by the lusts of the flesh. Such people claim to be Christians, yet their faith is selfish, calculated, deceitful, and hypocritical. It is a faith that prioritizes personal success, happiness, and prosperity—willing to betray Christ at any time for their own benefit. Most Christians today are double-minded. Their words and actions do not align, and their behavior inside the church is entirely different from how they live outside of it. They have mastered the art of deception—pretending to be kind, pretending to be good, pretending to be humble, pretending to be compassionate, pretending to be holy—yet their hearts are filled with selfish ambition, always prioritizing their own interests based on circumstances. This is why they remain trapped in an endless cycle of sin and repentance, unable to break free from the habits of evil. In reality, they are no different from those who belong to the world.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.(1 John 2 : 15-17)
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.(Jacobs 4 : 3-4)
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:(Colossians 3 : 2-5)
Today’s Christian faith—characterized by an ever-growing habit of rationalizing and making excuses while serving God alongside worldly and material things—is, for the most part, no different from that of Judas Iscariot. It is a faith taught and learned solely through words and knowledge. A fleshly faith that chases after the world and carnal desires stands in opposition before God and is nothing more than a faith that disgraces the love of the cross.