Click Here to Download the Audio Version
You’ll recall the story of Judas Iscariot. He’s the one of Jesus’ chosen twelve who betrayed Him on the night of His arrest. He later died a suicide in deep regret for his sin.
Peter, at Acts the first chapter, pointed out at verse twenty-five that Judas fell by transgression. Though Judas’ particular sin is unlike that which most any of us would or could commit, it still should be noted that transgression of any sort is that which causes the spiritual fall of mankind. That being known, it seems fitting that we should also know how to remain standing in the spiritual sense of Christians, and, thereby, avoid transgression.
At Ephesians the sixth chapter, Paul wrote at verses eleven through eighteen that we must stand against the wiles of the devil, and do all to accomplish this. Specifically, Paul spoke of certain necessities of Christianity in military terms, saying we should take the whole armor of God, including the girding of the loins with truth, the breast plate of righteousness, the shodding of the feet with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the spirit, and prayer. Without these, no man is able to stand, and would, therefore, fall by transgression.
It is interesting to note that Paul said one should take the shield of faith "above all". This indicates he placed a special value on that. At Second Peter chapter one, Peter seemed to place a similar importance on the Christian faith in the effort to remain spiritually standing. At verses five through eleven, we’re admonished to add to our faith the following things; virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. If we would do these things, we’re promised never to fall. However, it should be noted that the list of Christian characteristics Peter named were added to the basic virtue of faith.
At Romans chapter ten, we’re taught at verse seventeen that faith comes from the word of God. Of all the things necessary to prevent the fall of transgression, all from the most basic to the greatest are the products of the effect of God’s word in an honest heart. Judas fell by transgression, but, with the application of the light of God’s word, you need never fall.