Christ KillersSample

Day 5: Lessons From a Traitor:

Faith doesn’t just get us to God—it pleases Him. And yet, it’s one of the most misunderstood concepts in Christianity. Faith is not merely mental agreement or warm feelings about Jesus. True faith responds. It surrenders. It repents.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6, NIV).

Real faith is not a vague spirituality or positive thinking. It’s a full-hearted trust in the God who has revealed Himself—and a turning away from anything that competes with Him. Perhaps no story contrasts real faith with false closeness quite like the story of Judas Iscariot—the man who spent years next to Jesus, yet never gave Him his heart. From Judas, we learn four sobering truths. Four lessons from a traitor.

Lesson One: You can be near the things of God but still far from God.
Judas was in the inner circle. He heard Jesus teach, witnessed miracles, even did ministry—but never surrendered. Being close to God’s work isn’t the same as knowing God. Faith must be personal and rooted in repentance.

Lesson Two: Traitors are motivated by greed.
Judas sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Greed doesn’t just mean money—it’s anything we prioritize above Christ. True faith lets go of self-serving desires and clings to God’s sufficiency.

Lesson Three: Traitors walk away from Jesus if they aren’t getting what they want.
Judas expected a political Messiah. When Jesus didn’t fit his agenda, he bailed. Faith that only follows when life goes our way isn’t faith—it’s convenience. Real faith remains, even when the path is hard.

Lesson Four: Traitors get a chance—but don’t know when it will be their last.
Jesus gave Judas multiple chances. But Judas refused to repent—and eventually, it was too late. God is patient, but grace can be missed if ignored. Faith is urgent. Repentance is now.

That’s why the gospel is such good news. God doesn’t wait for you to clean yourself up—He meets you in your mess and offers you a way out. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV).

It’s grace that saves, not effort. It’s faith that receives, not achievement. And even that faith is a gift from God—a heart-transformation that He alone can accomplish.

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes” (Ezekiel 36:26-27, ESV).

Don’t be like Judas. You may be close to the things of God, but still far from Him in your heart. If there is unrepentant sin—confess it. If you’ve been chasing your own desires—surrender them. If you’ve been watching from the outside—step in and trust Him.

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17, ESV).

God isn’t asking you to be perfect. He’s asking you to believe. To receive the grace you cannot earn. To repent of your sin, renounce your pride, and place your faith in Jesus—the only One who can save, restore, and transform you from the inside out.

Let today be the day you stop walking the line and step fully into surrender. The day you stop being near and start being known. He’s offering you a new heart. Don’t delay. Believe. Repent. Be made new.