FALSE DISCIPLES
Acts 1:15-20
(Antioch Baptist Church – Sunday March 9th, 2025)
Benedict Arnold was a general during the Revolutionary War. Arnold originally fought for the continental Army but eventually devised a plan to defect to the British Army. While fighting on the American side he obtained command at West Point, New York. His plan was to surrender West Point to the British forces. The plan was exposed and he then became a brigadier general in the British Army.
Ever since his act of treason the name Benedict Arnold has become a byword in America. One would wonder what exactly caused Arnold, a very successful fighting General to do such a thing. There are many speculations as to what pointed him to that point of treason. Some say it was because he was passed over for several promotions. Others believe that it was because he was accused of using Army equipment for personal profit. Some say that he betrayed America because he was constantly at odds with Congress. And still other think his actions were motivated by the fact that he married a woman who was a British loyalist. It is likely that there was a combination of issues boiling below the surface and then something happened that pushed him to the point where he decided it was time to defect.
Our selected text covers an action that is even more detestable than the treason of Benedict Arnold. In his address to those saints gathered in the upper room, Peter describes one of the most detestable acts in the history of the world. Judas Iscariot, (one of the Lord’s chosen Disciples) betrayed Him into the hands of His enemies. Judas had walked with Jesus for years, yet, after all that he had seen and heard, he chose to betray the Son of God. I would like to examine his betrayal and preach on the subject “False Disciples”.
This subject is relevant to us because there is an innumerable multitude of people in the world today who profess to follow Jesus, they may even be identified by others as belonging to Him, but upon close examination it becomes apparent that like Judas Iscariot, they are counterfeit Christians.
In the early days of His ministry, Jesus chose twelve men to be His Disciples. Eleven of those men would go on to become His Apostles. The word apostle means “one who is sent out”. In the context of the New Testament an Apostle is one who was chosen and sent out by the Lord Jesus.
Verse 13 lists the names of the Apostles of Christ, they were ”Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James.” After the events that took place in the upper room where the followers of Christ were staying, Matthias was chosen and “he was numbered with the eleven apostles”. Matthias was chosen because of the defection of Judas Iscariot.
The religious leaders in Jerusalem had been opposed to Jesus from the outset of His earthly ministry but two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Chief Priests and the Scribes “were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him” (Mark 14:2). Later, Judas approached them and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” (Matthew 26:15). In the end, they agreed on the sum of 30 Pieces of silver.
Like many others, Judas was expecting the Messiah to arrive and overthrow Rome, deliver Israel, and restore the Kingdom. He had hoped that Jesus was this Messiah; furthermore he hoped to be rewarded for his devotion with a place of power and prominence in that kingdom. When it became apparent that Jesus was not going to do those things, Judas became disillusioned with the Lord and this led to his betrayal.
Six days before the crucifixion, Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus' feet with a pound very costly perfume and wiped them with her hair. The timing of this event was no accident. Mary’s beautiful act of worship occurred on the day that the Jews first anointed the lambs they'd chosen to sacrifice for Passover. Rather than comprehending the symbolism in Mary’s worship, Judas was only concerned with the three hundred denarii the perfume could have been sold for.
In John 12:5 Judas said, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?” John goes on to point out that Judas “didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the moneybag and would steal part of what was put in it” (John 12:6). Jesus defended Mary’s actions; He said "Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” (John 12:7-8).
It seems that this altercation concerning Mary’s offering of this very costly perfume was the final straw for Judas. The value of this jar of ointment was 300 denarii, which amounts to almost a year’s wage for a common laborer. Soon after this conversation Judas “went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.” (Mark 14:10-11). After working out the details of the betrayal, Judas returned to his place among the Disciples and acted as though everything was fine.
I would like to look at the opportunities that Judas had and those that he rejected. By examining his story we will see the foolishness of living as a false disciple. Let’s begin by considering:
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THE COMPREHENSION OF FALSE DISCIPLES
v17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.”
Judas was "numbered with" the Disciples, each time that the Twelve are mentioned in the Gospels, Judas was there. Furthermore, he “obtained a part” in their ministry. In Mark 6 Jesus sent out His chosen Disciples in pairs and they “went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.” (Mark 6:12-13). Judas was there as these men served the Lord with great power.
There are many things that Judas knew as a result of his association with Jesus and the other Disciples. Furthermore, this man knew everything that he needed to know in order to be a genuine Disciple of Christ. Notice that:
A. JUDAS KNEW THE PEOPLE
Judas was numbered with the other Disciples. When Jesus called the Twelve out of that vast multitude, Judas was one of them. He traveled with Jesus and the others; he walked with them, talked with them, and lived with them for some three years. The other Disciples believed in him and they trusted him, so much so that they even made him the treasurer of the group. Other Believers and even outsiders recognized Judas Iscariot as being a follower of Christ.
- Judas didn’t just know the people:
B. JUDAS KNEW THE PLACES
When it came time to betray Jesus into the hands of His enemies, Judas knew exactly where to go. He had spent time with Jesus in Gethsemane on several other occasions. (John 18:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. 2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples.)
- Judas knew the people, he knew the places and:
C. JUDAS KNEW THE PLAN
Mark 3:14 says that Jesus “appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach”. Early in His ministry, Jesus prepared His Disciples for the mission that He would use them to accomplish. Judas was in that number, he had been sent out by Jesus to minister to the multitudes on His behalf.
Judas witnessed the character and compassion of Christ. He heard Jesus’ words and saw His works. Yet he hardened his heart against every attempt of the Lord to reach him. He saw the miracles that Jesus performed and he heard the messages that He preached. Furthermore, Judas was privileged to listen to those conversations that Jesus shared with the faithful few. Judas knew the plan of salvation, but in the end he rejected the Savior!
Like Judas, there are false Disciples in our day who know the people. They are members of churches, they have made public professions of faith, they have been baptized, they serve on committees, teach classes, and some even stand in pulpits weekly. These people serve alongside genuine Disciples of Christ; they are numbered with His followers, but they do not truly know Him. Modern day false disciples also know the right places. Some people attend church every time the doors are open, but they are as lost as Judas was.
Judas had spent enough time with Jesus that he knew the routine. Unfortunately, walking with Jesus is nothing more than a routine for some people. Understand that you can know all the rituals, routines and observances and you can be faithful to observe them, and you can still die and go to Hell. It is tragic that so many people know exactly where to find Jesus; furthermore they know all about Jesus, yet they still refuse to surrender to Him.
Some of you were raised in Church, you attended Sunday School & VBS, you have heard thousands of sermons, prayed many prayers, sang many songs, you have studied your Bible for years and you know God’s plan of salvation, yet you remain lost in your sins because you have never truly surrendered your life to Jesus. You can know the people, the places and the plan, but none of this matters if you do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Now that we have seen The Comprehension of a False Disciple, let’s take a moment and examine:
THE CAPABILITY OF A FALSE DISCIPLE
v17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.”
On the eve of the Crucifixion, as they sat in the Upper Room, Jesus proclaimed that one of the Disciples would betray Him. All of the Disciples began to ponder who it could be. Peter even prompted John to ask Jesus who He was referring to. Not one of them thought or said, “I bet it is that hypocrite Judas”. Judas had them all fooled, they would never have believed that he had already arranged to turn Jesus over to His enemies.
Modern day false disciples are very capable of deceiving others. They can deceive the people of this world, they can deceive genuine followers of Christ, and many have even convinced themselves that they are truly saved, but they cannot deceive God. Jesus knew what Judas had done and what he would do before the night was over. In the same way, Jesus knows who truly belongs to Him today, and He knows who the deceivers are.
It is hard for us to comprehend why anyone would pretend to be a follower of Christ; but we know that this is a reality. Such people live lives that are filled with contradictions. That was the case for Judas as well. Let’s consider:
THE CONTRADICTIONS OF FALSE DISCIPLES
v16 “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; 17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.”
Judas had many opportunities to depart but he remained with Jesus. There was one occasion where many people left Jesus and no longer followed Him, but Judas stayed. In John 6, Jesus began teaching some very hard truths and many decided that following Christ was not for them. When they departed, Jesus asked His Disciples if they would also leave; Judas could have left, but he remained.
Judas also “appeared” to be concerned about the ministry. Responding to Mary’s act of worship he said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” (John 12:5). John tells us that he said this, not because he was concerned with the poor but because he was embezzling from the treasury. Understand that John is looking back on this event, but in the moment it appeared to all of the Disciples that Judas possessed a genuine concern for those who were in need.
There is no shortage of people in the church who sound very spiritual, they say the right things but their hearts are far from God. Eventually, their true colors will be revealed; and that was the case for Judas as well. Judas had plenty of time to think about what he did, he could have backed out, he could have warned Jesus, but in the end he seized the opportunity to betray Christ.
Mark 14:43 while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely." 45 As soon as He had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him, "Rabbi, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. 46 Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him.
There are many in the church today who live lives filled with contradictions. They appear to have honorable intentions, they seem to care about the work of the ministry, they talk the talk, and in many ways walk the walk, but eventually their deception will become apparent.
It may not be in this life, but one day their sins will find them out. A great multitude of false disciples will stand before the Christ that they professed to know and they will hear the dreadful words “…Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:41)
We have seen the comprehension of false disciples and the contradictions of false disciples, now let’s examine:
THE CONDEMNATION OF FALSE DISCIPLES
v18 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. 19 And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)
After Jesus was arrested, Judas began to experience remorse for what he had done. He never came to a place of genuine repentance, but Satan’s influence subsided and he realized what he had done. It is important to note that Judas did not profess that he had betrayed the Son of God, he simply declared “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” (Matthew 27:3). He tried to return the money, but it was too late, the Jews refused to take it. They said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself". In response, Judas “threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed and went and hanged himself”.
Acts 1:25 says that “Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” Judas died and went to Hell. He did not go to Hell because was a fraud or an embezzler; he went to Hell because he rejected the sinless Son of God.
Judas went to Hell because of his unbelief, but he had to work hard to get there. Every sermon, every act of kindness, every miracle, everything that Judas had witnessed in the past 3 years was a call from Jesus to repent & believe on Him. Tragically, Judas rejected that opportunity.
There are people under the sound of my voice who will suffer the same fate. If you are expecting to get to Heaven because you have prayed a prayer, gone through baptismal waters, because your name is on a church role, or even because you worship, study, pray, and serve you are sadly mistaken. Jesus said if you want to go to Heaven, you must be born again. (John 3:3"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
If you die having never truly been born again, you will join Judas Iscariot in that horrible place called Hell. Numerous scriptures teach of a real and eternal place where the lost are sent after death. Luke 16:23-24 describes Hell as a place of “fire” and “torment”. Jesus said that Hell is a place where “the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:48). Paul refers to Hell as a place where “those who do obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). John describes it as a place of “burning sulfur” where “the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever” (Revelation 14:10–11)
Jesus sounded one of the most sobering warnings about Hell in Matthew 7:21-23, He said: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Like Judas, those whom Jesus describes in this passage knew the people, they knew the places, and they knew the plan. Many of them followed the rituals and observed the ceremonies, but in the end they will be condemned to an eternity in the Lake of Fire because they did not truly know Jesus. They were counterfeit Christians; they were false Disciples.
I would like to encourage every person here to pause and assess your life. Are you absolutely certain that you are an authentic follower of Jesus Christ. I am not asking if you are a good person, a faithful church member, or even a devoted servant. I am asking if you have every truly repented and believed in Jesus Christ. Have you surrendered your all to Him and put your faith in His finished work. If not, then you are no better than Judas Iscariot and in the end you will suffer the same fate.
However, I have some wonderful news. Jesus has made a way for you to escape the deserved punishment for your sins. Jesus paid it all and if you will come to Him in faith, repent of your sins, and trust Him for salvation you can claim the promise of Romans 10:13 that says, “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”. Learn from the cautionary tale of Judas Iscariot, don’t live your life as a “False Disciple”.
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