When God Says …
“I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.” (John 13:18-19 KJV).
Here in these passages, the Lord Jesus Christ is revealing another sign of who He is to the disciples and to us now reflecting on these verses. Alluding to His earlier statement of them, and us all, that knowing the value of humility and service will be blessed, He clarifies that it is not all who have knowledge are blessed. In the case of the disciples whom He has chosen, He knew from the start that one of them will betray Him. Being chosen does not revoke man's free will of choice for the decisions and actions he takes forward. God is just and righteous. He honors man's freedom and liberty, like the Lord Jesus recognize with sadness the direction that Judas has taken to "lift his heel against him" to fulfill what has been prophesied.
Blasphemy against the Spirit, words spoken against the Son of God in unbelief, is the only sin unforgivable (Matthew 12:30-32; Hebrews 3:19). If Judas had chosen to believe, God's grace is more than enough to embrace him by His love. The Lord Jesus died for Judas' sin, as He died for the sins of the world. It is by believing and coming to the Lord Jesus Christ we are saved and set free from the chain of sin - past, present and future.
With this teaching of the Lord, Judas was present. Unfortunately, like many today who are present and heard God's Words of assurance being shared, Judas chose not to hear. If he did, he would heard the same words spoken to a Roman jailer of Paul & Silas. It is written: “And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”” (Acts 16:29-31 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
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