Welcome back to Ask Paul Tripp. Today we have a question that was submitted online at

Paultrip.com slash ask. It's the shortest question we've received to date, Paul, only three

words, did Judas, as in Judas Ascariat, did Judas repent? I think one of the saddest moments

in the passion story other than the death of the one innocent person who's ever lived is the Judas story.

His betrayal of Jesus is shocking and sad.

To turn your back on the Messiah for a certain amount of money is sad.

And where we finally find Judas is in guilt and despair and death.

It's a story of the gravity of sin.

Now, at the same time, you have the story of Peter. And Peter denied his Lord with

curses. And you would think Peter is done.

But there's clearly in Christ's encounter with Peter

a forgiveness granted, repentance on Peter's part,

he becomes a man rather than being fearful of being connected to Jesus is bold as can be.

In fact, he stands in front of the Sanhedron and essentially says, you can kill me,

but I will not quit preaching the gospel. Tremendous turnaround on that man's life. Now, what do we learn

from the contrast of these two stories?

Well, we learn the gravity of sin, the gravity of the darkness that can overcome us and cause us to do things that are shocking and unthinkable.

But we also learn, for the contradithesis stories, that nobody is beyond redemption.

That there is no sin that exists that is outside of the reach of God's grace.

The question is, not is that grace available, but will I seek it?

And so I think these two stories are in the Bible in close proximity to one another because God loves us.

And he wants two things to stick in our hearts.

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