The Testimony of Enemies by Richard Mansel

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The Testimony of Enemies

We recently studied about Judas and why Jesus chose him to be an Apostle knowing the kind of character he possessed. The last reason we examined was Judas' testimony. Matthew 27:3-5 tells us that Judas felt remorse and tried to return the blood money he had received for his betrayal of Jesus. They ignored him. He had given them what they wanted and he was no longer of any use to them. Finding no outlet for his pain, he committed suicide.
Judas was called the "son of perdition" in John 17:12. Only the "Man of Sin" in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 is given this terrible title besides Judas. It refers to someone "doomed to eternal misery."
Yet, with Judas being such an evil man, he said, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." This astounding admission matches up with the accounts of so many avowed enemies of the cross. Their testimony is a clarion call to all of today's doubters.
In Job 1:6-12 we find Satan conversing with God about those who belong to Him. Couple this with Satan's words in Genesis 3 and you see that he obviously knows the Divinity of God.
Interestingly, every time demons speak in the New Testament they affirm the divinity of Christ. In Matthew 8:28-34 we find Jesus meeting two demon-possessed men in the "country of the Gergesenes." When they saw Jesus they cried out, "What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before our time?" (28:29).
Luke 4:40-41 finds Jesus casting out demons who say, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!"
James 2:19 says, "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe -- and tremble."
Sadly, the so-called 'people of God' are often the ones with doubts.
In 1 Samuel 4:3 we find Israel doubting they can defeat the Philistines. Accordingly, God lets them go down to defeat and the Ark of the Covenant is stolen. Then from 4:6 through 7:1 the enemies of God show more faith in Him than His own people. This is further evidenced in chapter 8 when Israel demanded a king because they had rejected God.
Today we have members of the Lord's church denying the inspiration of the scriptures and teaching evolution. We have atheists in schools of theology where men are receiving their training. We have Muslims saying Jesus was a great prophet of God and 'Christians' saying He was just a 'good teacher.'
Is it any wonder America is in a crises of faith? Many people need to stop listening to so-called 'men of God' and heed, in these respects, the testimony of the enemies of God! Saying God is not real will not make it true.
His word is "settled in heaven" (Psalm 119:89) and He will come back "taking vengeance on those who do not know God" (2 Thessalonians 1:8).
Study the Word yourself and find those who are speaking the truth (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Listen to God and His Word and not men (Romans 10:17).
Richard Mansel

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)