5: Evidence of Trust

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Over the last 4 weeks we have discovered that

Biblical Belief is Total Trust.

Biblical Belief is not a wish or a guess.

Biblical Belief is not just affirming the historical reality of Jesus.

- like this: ‘Yes, I believe Jesus of Nazareth lived, was crucified, & was buried. He might have even risen from the dead.’ No.

Biblical belief is Total Trust.

Keep this in mind as we read this well known passage together.

John 3:16 (ESV) For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

This word believe is from the Greek pisteuō (πιστεύω) [pronounced ‘piece-STAY-wo’] meaning:

Believe (Greek pisteuō) - to believe to the extent of complete trust and reliance—‘to believe in, to have confidence in, to have faith in, to trust.’

Now let’s read it again, and substitute ‘TRUSTS’ for ‘believes’.

John 3:16 (ESV) For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever TRUSTS in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

If you breathed your last breath at 11:59pm tonight, are you confident that you have put TRUST in Jesus? How CAN you be confident of THAT?

What IS The Evidence of Trust?

Today we discover the answer to that question as we compare and contrast 2 men with the same name, but with 2 very different responses to Jesus.

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Over the last few years I’ve seen lots of babies born to friends. With the technology available today, most people choose to find out the sex of their baby way before birth. Parents start deciding what to name their children long before birth, sometimes ask for input from friends.

If it’s a girl, I suggest: “How about Jezebel?” (ungodly queen in the OT)

If it’s a boy, I like to recommend Judas, but no one seems to be receptive to either of those biblical suggestions.

Although nothing is wrong with those names, I have yet to meet anyone named Jezebel or Judas. Now why do you think that is?

No doubt, no one wants to name their child after an ungodly queen who led God’s people to worship false gods nor after the one who betrayed Jesus - Judas Iscariot.

But...

Judas has not always been a name of contempt.

Today we contrast 2 men, both named...Judas.

Although no one names their child Judas today,

Judas was a very common name in the time of Jesus. Judas is the Greek translation of Hebrew name “Judah” (יְהוּדָה yehû·ḏā; English = Judah).

Judas/Judah means “Praise Yahweh.”

By the 1st century days of Jesus, many Jewish boys were named after Judas Maccabeus, the Jewish hero who led the nation to independence from Syria & Antiochus Ephiphanes 200 years earlier.

In the New Testament, there are at least 6 men are named Judas/Judah. Out of Jesus’ 12 apostles, 2 of them were named...GUESS WHAT... Judas (Luke 6:16) - Judas Iscariot the one who betrayed Him. But there is another Judas that you need to meet.

Matthew 13:54–56 (ESV) and coming to his [Jesus] hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”

Contrary to the Catholic teachings, Mary was NOT a perpetual (eternal) virgin . She and Joseph had several other children.

You might be familiar with James. He later becomes the leader of the church in Jerusalem (cf. Acts 12:17; 15:13; 21:18) and the writer of the book we call ‘James.’ (Iakōbos better rendered ‘Jacob').

As we see in this text, Jesus had 4 brothers, one of them named...JUDAS.

In Acts 1:14 we see that Mary and Jesus’ brothers were part of the first followers who trusted Jesus. But this trust in Jesus wasn’t always true of Jesus’ brothers.

After Jesus appointed his 12 apostles, including Judas Iscariot (Mark 3:19), Jesus returned home. Look how His own family, including these brothers, responded.

Mark 3:20–21 (ESV)

Then He went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize Him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

Just before His death, his brothers sarcastically prod Jesus to go put on a show in Jerusalem.

John 7:3–5 (ESV)

So his brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.”

Note that the brothers of Jesus didn’t question the works - the miracles, of Jesus. They didn’t question what He could DO...but they DID question WHO HE CLAIMED TO BE.

John 7:5 (ESV)

For not even his brothers believed [trusted] in Him.

Now here’s the strange twist.

Judas Iscariot started out saying he trusted Jesus, but ultimately walked away & betrayed Him. Although the other apostles didn’t see through Judas Iscariot’s masquerade, it later became obvious. John 12:5-6 says although he was the treasurer of the group, he was stealing money. He was plotting with the enemies of Jesus to have him arrested. He even kissed Jesus on the cheek, a hypocritical gesture of friendship, as he handed Jesus over to be arrested. He once ‘believed’ Jesus--->now Betrayed Jesus

In comparison, Judas - brother of Jesus, who DIDN’T originally trust Jesus, later does. Evidently, like James, Judas comes to trust Jesus after His resurrection. He once belittled Jesus--->now Believed Jesus

Outside of the Bible, very little is known about Judas, brother of Jesus. Yet there is one writing that gives us a glimpse into his story of life change.

Jude 1 (ESV)

Jude [gr. Judas], a servant of Jesus Christ [Messiah] and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:

The word translated Jude in most English translations is actually the Greek Judas (Ἰούδας). English translations use the shortened version to distinguish him from the betrayer.

Judas didn’t start his letter by emphasizing that he was the brother of Jesus. Instead, he spotlights his submission to Jesus. Not brother to brother, but servant/slave to master. This Greek word doulos (δοῦλος) speaks of being completely controlled by someone or something—‘subservient to, controlled by.’

Jude is NO LONGER on the throne of his own life. Jesus is the master & Jude is the servant/slave. He has put TOTAL TRUST in Jesus and wants others to do the same.

Judas - Same name, different response.

Both men were very familiar with Jesus, but only 1 Trusted Jesus.

Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus. Judas, brother of Jesus, believed Jesus.

Judas Iscariot sold Jesus out. Judas, brother of Jesus, sold out TO Jesus.

Do you see the difference between those who demonstrate Biblical belief and those who don’t? What IS The Evidence of Trust?

BIG TRUTH: Obedience is the Evidence of Trust

Judas Iscariot never put TOTAL TRUST in Jesus. This is why he chose to steal & betray. This should cause US to hit the pause button.

Why do WE disobey Jesus? Why do WE try to fake it to others yet disobey when no one is looking?

John Piper answers this well when he writes: "Sin is what you do when you are not fully satisfied in God."

When we disobey we are clearly communicating, “I don’t trust You Jesus. I know a better way.” Judas Iscariot didn’t TRUST Jesus. He thought he knew better.

But…

BIG TRUTH: Obedience is the Evidence of Trust

The person who TRUSTS Jesus OBEYS Jesus.

Jesus asked a great question that each of us need to answer.

Luke 6:46 (ESV)

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?

If He is our Lord, then - like Jude - this means we are the servants/slaves. How can He be our Lord if we won’t obey Him?

BIG TRUTH: Obedience is the Evidence of Trust

So...What does the Evidence of YOUR life say?

Are there any areas of your life that you refuse to obey Him?

Some of us go back to the drug, the website, the ungodly relationship. Some of us go back to gossip, lying, cheating, stealing. Why? Because we don’t TRUST Jesus. If Obedience is the Evidence of Trust...

Is there enough evidence to convince YOU that Jesus is Lord of your life? If not, that can change today.

Jesus tells the story of 2 sons (Matt. 21:28-32). The father approached both boys and told them to go work in the vineyard.

The first responded, “No way. I’ve got better things to do.” But later he changed his mind and went.

The second son said, “Sure thing Dad,” but never went.

Then Jesus asks, “Which of the two did the will of his father?”

And lest you think this story is only meant for those who haven’t been involved in church, for those who don’t have much Bible knowledge, I encourage you to look back to Matt. 21:23. Jesus was using this story to convict the religious elite, those who thought the words of Jesus...didn’t apply to them.

The point of the story is clear: it doesn’t matter what you say, it matters what you do.

BIG TRUTH: Obedience is the Evidence of Trust

Maybe you have told Jesus ‘NO’ in the past (like Jude). Maybe you told Him ‘YES’ and never followed through (like Judas Iscariot).

How about starting fresh? How about giving Him your TOTAL TRUST? Turn from your sin. Turn from your pride. Humble yourself and give Him your TOTAL TRUST.