Jesus asked His twelve disciples in John 6:67 if they would walk away from Him like the others (He knew; He was testing them), because many of His so-called disciples were leaving Him because of His seemingly repulsive and ridiculous doctrine (cf. Jn 6:27, 52-53, 54, 60, 66). Simon Peter spoke up and answered with a question and a bold declaration, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Now, Judas Iscariot was among the eleven. Ever heard of guilt by association? This was supported by the association. In other words, Judas Iscariot was hiding behind Peter’s answer to the Lord. Judas was pretending to follow Jesus physically, but spiritually he was not in agreement. The crowd was more honest than Judas Iscariot! The other disciples were clueless about his motives; they all believed that he was in lockstep with Jesus like the rest of them.
There are people attending a Bible-believing church but have a spirit of John 6:66, …many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more; these are the tares who have not the Holy Spirit like Judas Iscariot (Jude 1:19; 1 Cor 2:14). Tares (fake believers) cause divisions among believers (cf. Jude 1:19).
Then there are those who are giving the impression they are following Jesus but are conflicted by half-heartedness and struggle between spiritual values and worldly values; they are the carnal believers; I refer to them as HI-HO’s, half-in/half-out, one foot in the church and one foot in the world. They go to church but are plainly not living for Jesus. Are they saved? Only God knows. We do not know how long He allows believers to backslide. It is a sad spiritual situation, along with the consequences it brings, that could be avoided. What we do know is that Jesus told His disciples that every tree is known by its own fruit (Lk 6:44).
Now we address the authentic believers agreeing with Peter, spiritually and physically, in some way or another: some aggressively and passionately, others a little more or less. Occasionally, the “all-in” is tested; Peter had his cockle-a-doodle-doo moment, along with other struggles, like all of us. It doesn’t mean authentic believers are perfect, but struggling to live for the Lord by attempting to work through their imperfections with the help of the Holy Spirit in worshiping and serving the Lord. It is part of the undulating process of spiritual maturation that requires “holy perspiration and persistence.”
Sometimes the enemy, those troubling tares, having not the Holy Spirit, hide behind the answers of others, like JI, to camouflage themselves by blending in with the natural surroundings, intentionally leading others to believe he or she is just like them, following and supporting Jesus but masking another agenda. There are those who are very good at hiding behind words and works but a devil lurks within. The Word, however, will reveal the counterfeit and masquerade.
Did Jesus know that Judas was disguising himself as a follower of Jesus? Of course, He did (Jn 6:70; 12:6; 13:2, 18, 21, 27). I think there will be some surprises during the harvest of separating the wheat from the looks-like-wheat-from-a-distance (tares). Since we do not know what is truly in one’s heart, we can only see from a “distance,” but there is coming a time when all will be revealed, upfront and personal.
HI-HO’s, carnal believers, have a love problem; it is reflected in living contrary to the teaching of Scripture. Our love for Jesus is expressed by our obedience to His commandments anywhere, anytime (Jn 14:15, 21, 23). Half-In/Half-Outs are in violation of the first and great command to love (the agape kind) God with the totality of their being (Mk 12:30); half-hearted attempts to worship and serve the Lord are interpreted by God as unloving and disobedient.
Obedience to God’s commands is born out of the forefront of love (agape) for God, not out of duty or fear of reprisal. Keeping His commandments is in the sphere and spirit of staying with Him and giving it your all for God, your first love (agape, Mk 12:30; Rev 2:4). This is the pursuit of authentic believers who are genuinely in love (agape) with Jesus.
Thus, we see visible and natural/supernatural signs of obedience to Him by authentic ordinary believers doing extraordinary things for God! There is no spiritual camouflage, no hidden agendas going on, only transparency and truth of born again believers wrestling and struggling in being faithful and obedient to the truth of Scripture and living in a world that is very much in opposition to all things God.
Are we camouflaging our true spirituality or being spiritually transparent and truthful for the glory of God? <><
(2 Cor 11:14) And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
(2 Cor 11:15) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
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