He Kissed The Door To Heaven But He Went To Hell

Matt. 26:47-50 and John 10:7-10

Introduction
Judas Iscariot is a fascinating character in the Biblical narrative. So many questions come to mind when we consider him:

WHY would he do what he did?

WHY did he become a disciple in the first place, if he wasn't interested in following Jesus?

WHY couldn't the other disciples see through him?

WHY was he unaffected by three years of listening to the preaching of the Son of God?

Many non-churched people tell me they are as good as people in the church. I usually

agree with them and ask, "what will being as good as some church people gain for you?"

How good you are does not matter, because you must be perfect, and you can't do that by yourself. Jesus commanded us to be perfect. You and I can only be perfect through the perfect work of Christ.

I accepted the perfect sacrifice of Christ; have you?

Judas kissed the door to heaven but he went to hell.

1. Observation One: Jesus Is The Door To Heaven. John 10:7-10
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door : by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. KJV <>

Illustration
Holman Hunt painted a picture as he was inspired from this verse. He painted a likeness of Christ standing at a door knocking. He did not put a door handle on the door. When he allowed his friends to view the picture one said "you left the door handle off the door."

Holman said "I am so glad you noticed." When asked why he left off the door knob he told them it was to portray this verse. Jesus knocks but He allows us to open. You have been allowed by God to have a choice.

Illustration
Thursday Night I led an evangelism team of witnessed on a visit where we planned to share the gospel. I took the Eternal Life Tract and led a husband and wife through the pages. When we got to a little drawing it displayed a man called, sinful man. Over across the page the area was called Holy God. How does a sinful man get to God. The first bridge across is called self effort and this bridge does not go across to a holy God.. I asked the man of the house if the bridge made it to a holy God. He correctly said, "no it doesn't." I asked him to give me the name of the bridge, and he read, "self effort." Earlier he told me if he stood before God and He asked, "why should I let you into my heaven, he would say because he was a good person." I repeated his earlier words and asked, "is that what you said earlier?" He agreed.

On the next page the sinful man is shown walking on a bridge that does make it all the way to a holy God. This bridge is the cross laid down long ways from the place of a sinful man to the place of the Holy God. I asked the husband if the bridge made it to a holy God, and he, trying to be funny, said, "yes unless you turn right or left.

That makes a great points because the trip to heaven is a straight line from Jesus to The Father.

Application

Everyone needs to go directly to God the Father through Jesus the Son. John 14:6

2. Observation Two: Judas Kissed Jesus. Matt. 26:47-50
47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? KJV

DEFINITION - Kiss = Greek KATAPHILEO, meaning, "to kiss fervently." The compound (i.e. KATA and PHILEO) indicates a prolonged kissing designed to give the crowd a chance to see the one to be seized." (Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament)

3.    Observation Three: Jesus Chose Judas; But Judas Never Chose Jesus. John 6:68-71
    68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. 70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. KJV

    A.    Jesus Chose Judas. John 6:70
        70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

    B.    Judas Never Chose Jesus.
            1.    Never Called Jesus Lord.
            2.    When his words are recorded in scripture, he is gripping.

    C. Jesus Chose Judas But Did Not Commit To Him. John 2:23-25
       23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. KJV

    D. Judas Committed To His Plan Not Jesus' Plan. Matt 27:3
        3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was full of remorse and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. 4 "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood," he said. What's that to us?" they said. "See to it yourself!" 5 So he threw the silver into the sanctuary and departed. Then he went and hanged himself. (HCSB)

ATR: But mere sorrow avails nothing unless it leads to change of mind and life, "metanoia," the sorrow according to God (I1 Cor. 7:9 ). This sorrow Peter had when he wept bitterly. It led Peter back to Christ. But Judas had only remorse that led to suicide. (Robertson's Word Pictures.)

Illustration
Bob Jones, Jr. once said, "A faith that has not changed your life has not saved your soul" "If your religion does not change you, then you should change your religion."

E. My Opinion About Judas and Commitment.

1. He thought he could make Jesus usher in an earthly kingdom.

Illustration
Lou Gehrig was known as the "Iron Man" of baseball. He played for the New York Yankees in the 1920's and 30's. In a crucial game, it was the bottom of the ninth inning with two out and Gehrig was up to bat. The crowd stood in anticipation of Gehrig getting a game winning hit. The count went to two strikes and no balls. The third pitch was delivered and Gehrig never moved his bat. The umpire yelled, "Strike three!" Gehrig uncharacteristically said something to the umpire before walking from home plate. Reporters ran on the field and surrounded Gehrig wanting to know what he said to the umpire. Gehrig, pawed at the ground and called the umpire over and asked him to tell the reporters what he had said., The umpire said, "Well all he said was, 'I'd give a hundred dollars if I could have that pitch back.'"

Application

What do you think Judas would give to have his opportunity back?

4. Observation Four: Judas Died and Went To His Own Place. Acts 1:25
25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. KJV

ATR To his own place eis ton topon ton idion. A bold and picturesque description of the destiny of Judas . . . . He made ready his own berth and went to it. (Robertson's Word Pictures)

VIN. His own place. It is the place which was peculiarly his, as befitting his awful sin-Gehenna. (Vincent's Word Studies.)

    A. Some are only "outwardly" Christian.
        1. Judas looked saved.
        2.   Judas acted saved.
        3.   He held a "church office" - treasurer
        4.   He witnessed and preached.
        5.   Mark 6:7, 12-13 ( KJV) And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; . . . 12 and they went out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
        6.    ) He participated in great victories, and campaigns.
        7.    Feeding of the 5000
        8.    Feeding of the 4000
        9     Raising of Lazarus
       10.   Healing of the man born blind.
        11.  Healing of blind Bartimaeus
       12.     Raising of Jairus' daughter

B. Some are Never Detected By The Church.
        1) In spite of his lost condition, NOT ONE of the other disciples even momentarily considered Judas to be the possible traitor, considering themselves more likely candidates than he! Cf. Mark 14:19-20

2) Some are "outwardly" Christian, but in reality, LOST!

3) JUDAS WENT TO HELL!(John 17:12 KJV) While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

4) NOTE - THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS!

a. Judas, the PREACHER, went to hell!

b) Judas, the CHURCH TREASURER, went to hell!

c) Judas, the Evangelistic Crusader, went to hell!

d) Judas, who saw Jesus HEAL, went to hell!

e) Judas, who was involved in casting out DEMONS, went to hell!

f) Judas, the COMPANION OF JESUS CHRIST, went to hell!

g) Judas, ONE OF THE TWELVE, went to hell!

QUOTE (Billy Sunday) - "A man is a fool who thinks, because he does not believe in hell, that his opinion shuts the door and puts
out the fire."

How sad to fool the whole world.

Then find out that God was never fooled.

Conclusion KING AGRIPPA

Acts 26:28-29 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. 29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost , and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. KJV

Song: Almost PersuadedAlmost persuaded" now to believe;

"Almost persuaded" Christ to receive;
Seems now some soul to say, "Go, Spirit, go Thy way,
Some more convenient day On Thee I'll call."

"Almost persuaded," come, come today; "Almost persuaded," turn not away;
Jesus invites you here, Angels are lingering near
Prayers rise from hearts so dear; O wanderer, come!

"Almost persuaded," harvest is past!
"Almost persuaded," doom comes at last!
"Almost" cannot avail;
"Almost" is but to fail!
Sad, sad, that bitter wail--
"Almost," but lost

I received help for the arrangement, and material of this sermon from:
http://www.johnsonacres.com/mro/bjarch.htm