Mat 26:48-50 (NIV) Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest Him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came for.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested Him. There were plenty of opportunities for Judas to yield to God’s love and learn how to resist temptations to love money. The important thing is for you to see how a “small” wrong turn in the beginning can escalate to this horrible condition.

John 18:10-11 (NIV) Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” Peter had a lot to learn about love and resistance; but, he did desire to do his best for Jesus. He did love Jesus; and he was willing to resist the best way he knew how.

Mat 27:3-5 (NIV) When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. You can see the vital necessity of yielding to God’s love and allowing Jesus to teach you how to resist your body, the world, and the devil.

Mat 26:6975 (NIV) Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the Man!”

After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. Peter messed up accidently; Judas sinned on purpose. You must always watch out for this difference in your life; there is a BIG difference.

1 John 5:16 (NIV) If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. Judas sinned a sin that led to death. Peter sinned a sin that didn’t lead to death. Judas made a final decision to NOT live the Christian life. He knew the rules, the commandments, and the principles and chose to go against them. He sinned on purpose.

Peter sinned because he was still untrained on how to resist the human efforts of his body. He didn’t know how to give up the training of the world. And, he lacked the training on how to properly submit himself, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he would flee from Peter (James 4:7). Denying his Lord was a BIG difference from betraying his Lord. Peter’s love for Jesus empowered him to stay within the realm of committing a sin that does not lead to death.

Jesus said in Luke 22:31-32 (NIV): “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Why you sin matters a lot! Peter’s sin was totally against his will. He WANTED to not sin. He HATED the fact that he denied his Lord. That is the fulfillment of God’s requirement for the attitudes of your mind and heart.

Always keep in mind that Romans 7:15 lays out the requirements of God for your attitude toward sin. Rom 7:15 (NIV) I do not understand what I do. For what I WANT to do I do not do, but what I HATE I do. This attitude leads you into a prayer: Rom 7:24 (NIV) What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Judas didn’t have this attitude; he WANTED to sin and HATED the life of righteousness.

Luke 22:61-62 (NIV) The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. Peter thought his life with Jesus was over; he was sorry; he was ashamed; he wished he hadn’t done it; and, he wanted to make it right; but, Peter was experiencing CONDEMNATION. He thought that what he had done had sealed his doom.

Rom 8:1-2 (NIV) Therefore, there is now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Peter was going to have to have someone help him back into his love relationship with Jesus. Jesus still loved Peter; AND, Peter still loved Jesus. But, Peter couldn’t run to Jesus and repent, ask for forgiveness, and ask for His power to enable him to never do it again. Jesus is going to show you how to bring someone back from this.