Weekend of January 8,9&10, 2010 After twenty-two years I guess I know you. John 13:38 Keyword: Repent 1 John 1:8

Well Gentlemen, it is now twenty-two years. The first issue of The American Christian Patriot came out in print January of 1997. Before that, starting in 1987 was Article Ten, a print paper. For some twenty-two years now I have been preaching and writing about how our Constitution and our government were set up for a country whose bedrock was not to have a law or rule that offended either the King James version of the Holy Word of God or the US Constitution. 1987 to 2009, it has been a while. And in that time, I have met many of you, I have spoken over the phone to many more of you and corresponded with even more by letter and e-mail. I guess after 22 years I can honestly say, I know many of you pretty well.

In these United States of America, the nation that has given its heart and soul to satan, there are now laws on the books designed especially to cause many to turn from or deny Christ, by putting those Christians who don’t deny Him, by separating them from their families or even putting them in jail. I know that over the coming years, many of you are going to out and out deny Christ. Some of you are going to do it to stay out of jail, others to keep property, and a few to save and keep their families, but you are going to deny The Christ, and I am not going to do one thing to justify your coming actions or encourage you in any way. But, since you are going to do it and there is nothing I can do to stop you, I want you to know that it does not mean you will spend eternity in the lake of fire, you will still be part of, if you are truly a Born Again Washed in the Blood of the Lamb Christian, the Family of God.

For years I have preached Matthew 10:33 and its corresponding and confirming chapters and verses, “You deny Me before man and I will deny you before God!” And that is absolutely true. But it is not referring to those who are truly Born Again Washed in the Blood of the Lamb Christians, it is referring to those who have known of Jesus and choose to remain the property of satan.

Today we are going to look at a man who did deny the Lord and is in heaven even now. And briefly touch on one who is now in hell waiting to spend eternity in the lake of fire.

At the Last supper, while Jesus and the twelve ate, Jesus said: Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray Me.

Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom He spake of. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples (John), whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom He spake.

He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto Him, “Lord, who is it?”

Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when He had dipped the sop, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

Now no man at the table knew for what intent He spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He (Judas Iscariot) then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God be glorified in Him, God shall also glorify Him in Himself, and shall straightway glorify Him.

Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek Me: and as I said unto the Jews, ‘Whither I go, ye cannot come’; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Simon Peter said unto Him, “Lord, whither goest Thou?” Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow Me now; but thou shalt follow Me afterwards.

Peter said unto Him, “Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for Thy sake.” Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for My sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied Me thrice. John 13:21-38

Yes Peter denied Jesus, just as many of you are going to do in the coming years, but, as we all know, Peter did not end up in hell, he ended up repenting, assuring Jesus of his love, being crucified upside down, dying and going to heaven to be with his Lord, Jesus. Judas Iscariot on the other hand, who also denied Jesus, isn’t in heaven, but instead is awaiting the lake of fire in hell and is branded as only two in the Bible are, the “son of perdition”.

So, why is Peter in heaven and Judas in hell waiting for his eternity in the lake of fire? Peter repented, he was broken and repented and suffered for the Lord, while doing the work of the Lord.

Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed Himself to His disciples, after that He was risen from the dead.

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these? He saith unto him, “Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed My lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed My sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? Peter was grieved because He said unto him the third time, Lovest thou Me? And he said unto Him, “Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee.” Jesus saith unto him, Feed My sheep.

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake Jesus to Peter, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He saith unto him, Follow Me. John 21:13-19

Peter then went on and became one of the greatest preachers of Christ of all times. He then died a martyrs’ death and is now with the Lord. Judas Iscariot is not. Peter denied Jesus three times, and he had to reaffirm his love for Jesus three times, not as the Shepherd, but as a hireling of the Lord, a Pastor/Preacher. For only Jesus is the Shepherd. Jesus then went on and said to Peter “Follow Me!” meaning, do not stray off the path again Peter.

Now what about you, what about me, what about us when we deny the Lord Jesus, what is it that we must do? Actually pretty simple, REPENT.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and The Truth (Christ) is not in us If we confess our sins, He (Christ) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. First John 1:8&9

Yes gentlemen, in the coming years many of us, not all mind you, but many, are going to be afraid and deny Jesus. Just as Peter was afraid and denied Jesus, so will many of us. I am convinced of that for what other reason would this denial by Peter and redemption by Christ of him be in the Bible if not to show us the way and give us hope after we deny Him?

*All Scripture, unless otherwise noted, is from the ACP/KJV

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