And Peter "went out and wept bitterly" (Matt. 26:75). Jesus' lead disciple had made a public, passionate confession of non-faith in Christ. "I do not know the Man!" he swore (v. 74). And now, as what he had done began to sink in Peter's world seemed like it was crumbling. Peter loved the Lord. He wasn't bluffing when he said that he would die for Jesus (v. 35). In fact, he did later die for Jesus. That's why his sin was so crushing. He had betrayed the one he loved. Luke's account is chilling. From the cross, bleeding from his head, hands, and feet, "the Lord looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered" that Jesus had predicted his betrayal. How could Peter continue as a Christian?
Have you ever sinned like Peter? Despite your best intentions to honor God you failed. And you failed so large that in your guilt and shame you wonder if you can even call yourself a Christian.
Believers can commit terrible sins, even "outrageous" (art. 4), "monstrous" sins (art. 5). In subsequent articles the Canons explain how God intervenes in the lives of sinning believers. But we mustn't rush past the painful reality of terrible lapses in believers' faith and godliness.
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