Judas Iscariot

From: http://www.tentmaker.org/Dew/Dew3/D3-JudasIscariot.html

"Iscariot most likely means "man from Kerioth," a city in the Negev of the region in Jesus' day which was called Judea. There are several other theories about this word. If this is true, Judas was the only one of the twelve apostles the scriptures record not coming from Galilee. Galileans were looked down upon by Judeans."

Even if it is true, would it make a difference?

 

What bothers me most about Judas is that after all the time he spent with Jesus, he did/could not return to Jesus and ask forgiveness.

I can understand his motivation IF it was designed to force Jesus into the imagined role of political "MESSIAH", as I have sometimes wanted to "help" when I should be waiting.

He obviously was never a true believer!

 

I've always wondered about Judas. If you take this position about him you'd have to take the same position about contemporary Christians who sin and turn away from God. They aren't (or never were) saved. I've wondered why Christ would take someone into His inner circle who wasn't a true believer. Think of the many times He addressed the deciples as a whole about matters of faith and think about all the loving support He gave to all of them.

 

Also, he gave them all the power to perform, signs, wonders, and miracles. Why would he give a lost person this ability?

 

I think you need to re-read the parable of the talants: It's talking about rewards and loss, not salvation. Our spiritual salvation is not a reward; it's a gift.

There is not a single parable in the Bible that I can think of that is comparing lost people to saved people; they are all comparing the faithful to the unfaithful. They are all talking about works on the part of those involved.

Scripture supports that Judas was saved, but he did not live his life faithfully. He may have ended up in hell, but he certainly will not end up in the lake of fire.

 

I don't know what this means. In the end there is Heaven and there is Hell. Which do you say Judas will reside in?

 

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:14-15)

 

First, Hope of Glory,
Judas Iscariot was the son of perdition. He was not of Christ. He will not be in the Lord's Kingdom. He will end up in the lake of fire with all who choose to reject Christ.

Second, StraightandNarrow,
death and hell will be cast into the lake of fire. Then whosoever's name is not found in the Lamb's Book of Life is cast into that lake of fire.

 

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

 

The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. (Matthew 26:24-25)

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. (John 13:25-27)

While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. (John 17:12)

PERDITION: Destruction and judgment

 

I think you're confusing salvation (which is by the finished work on the cross) with entrance into the coming Kingdom (which is based upon our faithful living).

There are many different words that are translated as "hell" and unfortunately, many people have come to confuse "hell" with the lake of fire. "Hell" is Gehenna, tartarus, the grave, and probably a few other words, but nowhere in the Bible does it refer to the lake of fire. Jesus went to hell when he died, and I don't think he went into the lake of fire, now did he?

Let's start with this: Judas was a disciple. John 12:4 says, "Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot…" To be a disciple of Christ you must be saved, you must already be a child of God in God's family.

A disciple is called out from among the saved. And not every child of God is a disciple. A disciple is not happy with just being saved, but instead, he desires to go on further knowing the Lord's will for his life. He is "growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" as we are told in 2 Peter 3:18. He continues in the words of Christ and is getting to know the truth which sets him free from the power of sin. A disciple has a hunger to obey the commandments of Jesus Christ. His level of commitment is higher than that of a normal Christian who attends church only on Sundays.

Judas Iscariot was a disciple! That is what the Bible says, simply and plainly!

 

Disciple means follower. Does not necessarily mean Judas was saved.

 

Jesus plainly stated that Judas was the son of perdition. His prayer in John 17 clearly states that Judas was not of the flock. Sure, he followed Jesus, but many followed Jesus who were not of the flock. Many turned away and followed Him no more in John 6.

1. A learner; a scholar; one who receives or professes to receive instruction from another; as the disciples of Plato.

2. A follower; an adherent to the doctrines of another. Hence the constant attendants of Christ were called his disciples; and hence all Christians are called his disciples, as they profess to learn and receive his doctrines and precepts.
American Tract Society Dictionary