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WAS JUDAS ISCARIOT SAVED?
I) JUDAS WAS CHOSEN BY OUR LORD BUT NOT ALL WHO ARE CHOSEN ARE CHOSEN TO BE SAVED
A) JUDAS WAS CHOSEN BY OUR LORD
(v. 13) "Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to Him those he wanted, and they came to Him.
(v. 14) He appointed twelve--designating them apostles--that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach
(v. 15) and to have authority to drive out demons.
(v. 16) These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter);
(v. 17) James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder);
(v. 18) Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. "
(v. 70) ''' "Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!
(v. 71) (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)" '''
"While I [Jesus] was with them [the disciples], I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave Me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction [lit. "man of perdition"] so that Scripture would be fulfilled."
Notice that although Judas was chosen by our Lord, he was characterized as "a devil" in distinction to the others He chose who were not so characterized. Thus from the beginning our Lord viewed Judas as "a devil" and a "man of perdition", these terms identifying him with a terminal, unsaved condition.
B) NOT ALL WHO ARE CHOSEN ARE CHOSEN TO BE SAVED
1) SOME ARE CHOSEN TO BE VESSELS OF DESTRUCTION
(v. 14) '''What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!
(v. 15) For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
(v. 16) It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.
(v. 17) For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth."
(v. 18) Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.
(v. 19) One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists His will?"
(v. 20) But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, 'Why did You make me like this?'
(v. 21) Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
(v. 22) What if God, choosing to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the objects of His wrath--prepared for destruction?
[Note that Jn 17:12 describes Judas as the "son of perdition", i.e., one who is destined to destruction in hell]
(v. 23) What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory--
(v. 24) even us, whom He also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?'''
2) SOME UNBELIEVERS ARE CHOSEN TO SERVE THE LORD FOR HIS PURPOSES
(v. 1) "This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:
(v. 2) I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.
(v. 3) I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
(v. 4) For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me.
(v. 5) I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God."
(v. 60) '''On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"
(v. 61) Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you?
(v. 62) What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!
(v. 63) The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
(v. 64) Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.
(v. 65) He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has enabled him." '''
[Note that Jesus chose all of His disciples, yet some of them would never believe in Him, leave Him and even betray Him. This is so because the Father had not enabled them to believe and be faithful. Nothing happens without the Father's enablement.]
4) JUDAS WAS CHOSEN AS ONE OF THE TWELVE BUT WAS 'A DEVIL' FROM THE BEGINNING AND WOULD BETRAY JESUS
(v. 70) ''' "Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!
(v. 71) (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)" '''
Notice that although Judas was chosen by our Lord, he was characterized as "a devil" from the beginning in distinction to the other ones He chose who were not so characterized. As a matter of fact, Judas was chosen to betray Jesus as a vessel of destruction.
II) JUDAS WAS A DISCIPLE BUT NOT ALL DISCIPLES WERE BELIEVERS
A) JUDAS WAS ONE OF THE TWELVE DISCIPLES
(v. 4) '''But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected
(v. 5) "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages."
(v. 6) He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
(v. 7) "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.
(v. 8) You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." '''
[Notice that although Judas was declared a disciple, his motivation was evil and not in line with the will of God. He may have been chosen & accompanied Jesus as a disciple but his actions indicated he was neither a true disciple nor a true believer]
(v. 70) ''' "Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!
(v. 71) (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)" '''
[Here again, Judas is declared one of the Twelve but is declared "a devil" at that same time. His character belies his appointment as disciple and apostle]
(v. 13) "When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:
(v. 14) Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,
(v. 15) Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot,
(v. 16) Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor."
[Notice that the final end of Judas the disciple and apostle, was that he "became a traitor"]
1) [Compare Luke 14:26-27, 33]:
(v. 26) "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple.
(v. 27) And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."
(v. 33) "In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."
(v. 49) "And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
(v. 50) For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."
But there isn't to be found a passage that indicates that Judas lived up to these requirements and there is evidence in Scripture that he and many disciples did not. Yet they were still referred to as disciples, even apostles - including one John Mark and Demas who had periods when they did not live up to their calling.
(v. 4) '''But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,
(v. 5) "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages."
(v. 6) He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
(v. 7) "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.
(v. 8) You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." '''
C) NOT ALL OF JESUS' DISCIPLES WERE BELIEVERS
(v. 53) '''Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
(v. 54) Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
(v. 55) For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
(v. 56) Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.
(v. 57) Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.
(v. 58) This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever."
(v. 59) He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
(v. 60) On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"
(v. 61) Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you?
(v. 62) What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!
(v. 63) The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
(v. 64) Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.
(v. 65) He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." '''
This passage indicates that some disciples [plural] never believed in Jesus because they never received the enablement of the Father, (v. 65) to believe in Him. So we have some who were classified as disciples who did not evidently meet the requirements of believing, nor living the crucified life and who would also betray Him. And Judas was one of them, from the beginning, 'a devil' and a 'son of perdition', who was never enabled by God to believe in Jesus, so he chose not to believe, (Jn 6:65).
A) JUDAS WAS DECLARED TO BE AN APOSTLE BUT NOT FOR LONG - HE WAS TO BE REPLACED
"And when it was day, He called unto Him His disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles"
Note that at this time Judas was one of the twelve, but he was soon to be replaced:
(v. 23) "So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.
(v. 24) Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen
(v. 25) to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs."
B) AN APOSTLE IS SUPPOSED TO BE COMMITTED TO FOLLOWING JESUS BUT JUDAS GAVE NO EVIDENCE OF THAT
(v. 26) "If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.
(v. 27) And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
(v. 33) So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."
(v. 49) "And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
(v. 50) For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."
But there isn't to be found a passage that indicates that Judas lived up to these requirements and there is evidence in Scripture that Judas and many disciples did not, (Jn 6:60-65), and yet were still referred to as disciples, even apostles - including one John Mark and Demas who had their moments of falling away.
(v. 4) '''But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected
(v. 5) "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages."
(v. 6) He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
(v. 7) "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.
(v. 8) You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." '''
Notice that although Judas was declared a disciple and an apostle, his motivation was evil and not in line with the will of God.
1) THE APOSTLES DID HAVE THE CAPACITY TO PERFORM MIRACLES
(v. 5) '''These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
(v. 6) Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
(v. 7) As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'
(v. 8) Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give'''
(v. 7) Calling the Twelve to Him, He sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.'''
(v. 17) The seventy-two [disciples, (v. 10)] returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
(v. 18) He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
(v. 19) I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
(v. 20) However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
Judas like all the other disciples was given the ministry to "cast out devils," perform "miracles, signs and wonders," Judas seemingly possessed the same potential as all the other apostles.
But was his particular name written in heaven like those disciples that were true believers???
2) NOT ALL WHO PERFORMED MIRACLES WERE SAVED
Notice that there were more than twelve that went out to spread the gospel of the kingdom and perform miracles. Some of them apparently were never believers:
(v. 60) '''On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"
(v. 61) Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you?
(v. 62) What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!
(v. 63) The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
(v. 64) Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.
(v. 65) He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." '''
(v. 38) ''' "Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us."
(v. 39) "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me,
(v. 40) for whoever is not against us is for us." '''
Apparently this man was not a disciple, perhaps not even saved, but he was actually using Jesus' name as the means to cast out demons. This supports the historical findings that people back then used various means to cast out demons and were not necessarily believers.
(v. 9) '''Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great,
(v. 10) and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is the divine power known as the Great Power."
(v. 11) They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.
(v. 12) But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
(v. 13) Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.'''
[Notice that Simon performed miracles before he believed and was saved]
(v. 21) ''' "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
(v. 22) Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'
(v. 23) Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' '''
Notice that there were those who did real miracles in the name of Jesus who were not saved - just as Judas was not saved.
Apparently, according to Mt 7 those who Jesus never knew unto salvation were unbelievers who did indeed cast out demons and perform miracles in His name. Perhaps because it was done in the name of Jesus and God is sovereign no matter if one is a believer or not. After all we do have perhaps accurate accounting of casting out of demons by Roman Catholic priests who are by and large not believers.
At this very time the Jews had people going around casting out demons. They used various methods and phrases. They were not believers but merchants selling a product (deliverance from a demon). Sometimes those casting out a demon actually used the name of a more powerful demon! And it worked. Well, it kind of worked because the more powerful demon then took over that person! Exactly what Jesus said about a demon leaving but returning when the "room" was cleaned up so nice and bring in more. History also shows that Catholics cast out demons using various methods. Typically, in this country we don't accept demonic control easily but label it a mental illness which is controlled by drugs.
So Judas indeed may have performed miracles and cast out demons, but being "a devil" and a "son of perdition" was never saved and indeed suffered the same fate as those in Mt 7 who never knew Jesus, i.e. were not saved, yet they performed miracles in His name.
Judas held an important place in the circle of the twelve. He was appointed by the apostles as their "treasurer," that is the keeper of the finances for their work and journey.
Judas saw the miracles (Luke 6); he attended prayer meetings of Jesus with his other disciples (John 18:2). He had a "ministry" (Acts 1:17) and place of responsibility among the believers (John 13:29). He was trusted by the other believers - enough to carry the bag of money (John 13:29).
(v. 15) '''In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)
(v. 16) and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus--
(v. 17) he was one of our number and shared in this ministry."
(v. 18) (With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out.
(v. 19) Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
(v. 20) "For," said Peter, "it is written in the book of Psalms, "May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,' and, "May another take his place of leadership.')'''
(v. 3) '''Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
(v. 4) But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,
(v. 5) "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages. "
(v. 6) He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it." '''
"Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor."
A) PASSAGES WHICH INDICATE THE PROPHECY AND FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY ABOUT JUDAS
There is an overriding purpose beyond his discipleship/apostleship for Judas to fulfill Scripture and betray our Lord which does not stipulate that he was saved at all, but is better served if he were close at hand with our Lord throughout His ministry to the cross and yet Judas never believed - and this as a result of God's not enabling him, (Jn 6:65), but rather choosing Judas to be a vessel of destruction and one who fulfills prophecy.
1) [Compare Zech 11:12-13; 13:7 PROPHECY]:
(v. 12) '''I told them, "If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it." So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.
(v. 13) And the LORD said to me, "Throw it to the potter"--the handsome price at which they priced me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD to the potter.'''
(v. 13:7) "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!" declares the LORD Almighty. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones."
2) [Compare Jer 19:1-13 PROPHECY]:
(v. 1) ""This is what the Lord says: '''Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take along some of the elders of the people and of the priests
(v. 2) and go out to the Valley of Ben Hinnom, near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate. There proclaim the words I tell you,
(v. 3) and say, "Hear the word of the Lord, O kings of Judah and people of Jerusalem. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'Listen! I am going to bring a disaster on this place that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle.
(v. 4) For they have forsaken Me and made this a place of foreign gods; they have burned sacrifices in it to gods that neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah ever knew, and they have filled this place with the blood of the innocent.
(v. 5) They have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as offerings to Baal - something I did not command or mention, nor did it enter my mind.
(v. 6) 'So beware, the days are coming', declares the Lord, 'when people will no longer call this place Topheth or the Valley of Ben Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter.
(v. 7) In this place I will ruin the plans of Judah and Jerusalem. I will make them fall by the sword before their enemies, at the hands of those who seek their lives, and I will give their carcasses as food to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth.
(v. 8) I will devastate this city and make it an object of scorn; all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff because of all its wounds.
(v. 9) I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and they will eat one another's flesh during the stress of the siege imposed on them by the enemies who seek their lives.'
(v. 10) Then break the jar [which the Lord told Jeremiah to purchase, (v. 1)] while those who go with you are watching,
(v. 11) and say to them, "This is what the Lord Almighty says; 'I will smash this nation and this city just as this potter's jar is smashed and cannot be repaired. They will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room.' ["Topheth" = an area in the Valley of Hinnom south of Jerusalem where children were sometimes sacrificed to the false Ammonite god Molech (2 Kings 23:10; Jer 7:31; cf. Jer 7:32; 19:4-6, 11-14). Later the Assyrian army was destroyed there by God by fire, (Isa 30:31-33)]
(v. 12) This is what I will do to this place and to those who live here", declares the Lord. "I will make this city like Topheth.
(v. 13) The houses in Jerusalem and those of the kings of Judah will be defiled like this place, Topheth - all the houses where they burned incense on the roofs to all the starry hosts [they were star worshipers] and poured out drink offerings to other gods." ''' ""
3) [Compare Mt 26:14-16 FULFILLMENT]:
(v. 14) '''Then one of the Twelve--the one called Judas Iscariot--went to the chief priests
(v. 15) and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins.
(v. 16) From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.'''
4) [Compare Lk 22:1-4 FULFILLMENT]:
(v. 1) "Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching,
(v. 2) and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.
(v. 3) Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.
(v. 4) And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.
(v. 5) They were delighted and agreed to give him money.
(v. 6) He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present."
[D.A. Carson, op. cit., pp. 563-4]:
"[In Jeremiah 19:1-13] Jeremiah is told to purchase a potter's jar and take some elders and priests to the Valley of Ben Hinnom, where he is to warn of the destruction of Jerusalem for her sin, illustrated by smashing the jar. A further linguistic link [to Mt 27:9] is "innocent blood" (Jer 19:4); and thematic links include renaming a locality associated with potters (19:1) with a name ("Valley of Slaughter" denoting violence (19:6). The place will henceforth be used as a burial ground (19:11), as a token of God's judgment.......
[So, Dr. Carson states on pp. 564-5, op. cit.]:
"The reference to Jeremiah 19....provides equally telling parallels. The rulers have forsaken Yahweh and made Jerusalem a place of foreign gods (19:4); so the day is coming when this valley, where the prophecy is given and the potter's jar smashed, will be called the Valley of Slaughter, symbolic of the ruin of Judah and Jerusalem (19:6-7). Similarly in Matthew the rejection of Jesus........leads to a polluted field, a symbol of death and the destruction of the nation about to be buried as 'foreigners'......
Notice that the passage in Matthew does not quote verbatim what Zechariah wrote down, or what Jeremiah wrote for that matter. Instead it draws on a number of points of identity - a number of parallels - with a commentary on what Zechariah and Jeremiah say. Matthew uses the pronoun "Him" in Mt 27:9 to mean Christ in order to emphasize a point of identity: which is to identify the prophet and GodMan Jesus Christ with the prophet Zechariah in the passage in Zechariah and God in the passage in Jeremiah in their rejection of God by the nation Israel. The 30 pieces of silver are also brought out as another point of identity. Notice that Matthew uses the pronoun "me" in 27:10 which cannot refer to Jesus because He was not given the 30 pieces of silver, Judas was. This use of "me" then must refer to Zechariah who was commanded to throw the money into the potters' area in the Temple, as Judas did years later, (Mt 27:5). Matthew states that Zechariah was ordered to buy the potters' field, something which the chief priests did in Judas' time, (Mt 27:7), not Zechariah.
....Matthew sees in Jeremiah 19 and Zechariah 11 not merely a number of verbal and thematic parallels to Jesus' betrayal but a pattern of apostasy and rejection that must find its ultimate fulfillment in the rejection of Jesus, who was cheaply valued, rejected by the Jews, and whose betrayal money was put to a purpose that pointed to the destruction of the nation..."
"Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me."
(v. 47) '''While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
(v. 48) Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him."
(v. 49) Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him.
(v. 50) Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for." '''
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
B) THE ACCOUNT OF JUDAS POINTS TO THE FULFILLMENTOF PROPHECY
["THE GATE OF HELL, The World, the Word & You!"
Broadcast Commentary, by Dennis L. Finnan
http://www.wwy.org/wwy1800.html]:
'''Judas held an important place in the circle of the twelve. He was appointed by the apostles as their "treasurer," that is the keeper of the finances for their work and journey....
[But in fact Judas was untrustworthy]:
(v. 3) '''Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
(v. 4) But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,
(v. 5) "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages. "
(v. 6) He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it."
Judas like all the other apostles was given the ministry to "cast out devils," perform "miracles, signs and wonders," Judas seemingly possessed the same potential as all the other apostles. To all appearances, Judas did not come behind any of the others in promise or high ideals. But notice that there were more than twelve:
(v. 17) '''The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
(v. 18) He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
(v. 19) I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
(v. 20) However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
Judas Iscariot is an example, God has given to fallen sinful humanity, as to how deeply wicked and sinful is our human hearts, and how without the grace and mercy of God no one can ever be saved or approach the holy God of eternity.
Yes, Judas was truly given every possible opportunity, more than any other unsaved human being, to come to learn of and know personally His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
But, alas, Judas never did. We read that when Jesus chose the twelve, he stipulated that in choosing them, all were not the same. He knew Judas' wicked heart and purpose of following Him.
'''Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!" '''
This word "devil" is the same word used of Satan himself, the "father of Lies."(John 8:44). It is the word "diabolos" which means deceiver, liar, or false accuser. Jesus knew and said from the very beginning that one of the twelve He chose, was a phony, a skilled hypocrite! We know of course it was Judas. But John's Gospel tells us more about what Jesus said of this man Judas,
"While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction [lit. "the son of perdition"] so that Scripture would be fulfilled."
Jesus called Judas a deceiver, a liar and "one doomed to destruction,"
["doomed to destruction" = literally, "the son of perdition.".
"Son of" means having the characteristics, the essence of; as in the son of God having the essence of God. Thus "son of perdition" means that Judas, being thus characterized, is evil in his essence and doomed to destruction in the Lake of Fire. This does not describe one who would become a believer, for his character itself would block saving faith]
How did Judas deceive the "Twelve?" We read later on in the ministry of Jesus, of an incident that occurred that revealed Judas' treachery and deceit.
(v. 3) "Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
(v. 4) But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,
(v. 5) "Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages."
(v. 6) He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it." '''
Although the eleven other apostles at that time had no idea that Judas was a "thief," the Bible reveals one of Judas' reasons for following Jesus. He was in it for the money!
So now we have a clear understanding of what motivated Judas to follow Jesus. He was in it for the money and what he could get out of it. Power, prestige, fame, riches were all in his eye, and the words of Jesus calling him to give up all were silenced for all eternity in his heart!
However there is more. We also discover that being unsaved in the presence of the Lord and the other eleven apostles who have surrendered their lives and hearts to Christ, opened for Judas the most danger of all! You see, Satan desired to possess and control this man and all who are unsaved. We read about this in,
"The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus."
Notice those words, "already prompted Judas." This means Judas had some time ago formed an alliance with Satan himself. Satan obviously promised him riches, fame, fortune, and soon he would have it! By the time of this "Last Supper," of the Lord with his disciples, Judas had become completely disillusioned. Also, he had already negotiated a deal to betray Jesus.
(v. 14) '''Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests
(v. 15) and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins.
(v. 16) From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over."
As time went on, Judas began to see that Jesus was not going to be the "cash cow," he thought. He [Jesus] kept talking about His death [on the cross], and about giving up all to follow Him. This was not his [Judas'] desire. He wanted an earthly kingdom and wanted to be a ruler here, and no where else.
But of course, almost everyone knows the rest of the story. Judas sold out Christ for thirty pieces of silver (Mat 26:15-16; 26:49; John 18:2-5), and he betrayed the Lord in the Olive Garden that night after the Supper. In fact, one of the most endearing moments occurred there at the supper:
(v. 21) ''' "… Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."
(v. 22) His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant.
(v. 23) One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.
(v. 24) Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."
(v. 25) Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"
(v. 26) Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon.
(v. 27) As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him,
(v. 28) but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him."
You see Jesus, knowing in advance from day one, that Judas was a phony hypocrite and the prophesied betrayer. Why Jesus even gave Judas one last opportunity to turn to Christ. He placed Judas on his right at the supper table, and offered him the first bite of the food of the evening. This was the place of high honor. Here we see the continued love Jesus showed to woo this man to himself, but we have read that immediately upon Jesus identifying Judas as the betrayer, "Satan entered into him." This means, now, finally after repeated moments of satanic control, now Satan fully possesses this unsaved disciple, and he went out and sold the Lord for the money offered by the Jewish authorities.'''
(v. 13) "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit
(v. 14) Who is a deposit guaranteeing our [eternal] inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession to the praise of His glory."
Notice that the Holy Spirit includes the believer in Christ and seals that believer as a deposit guaranteeing his eternal inheritance. Thus Judas could not have been a believer, permanently placed in Christ and sealed by the indweling Holy Spirit as a guarantee of his redemption if he ended up in eternal destruction - which he will.
B) WHAT HAS LIGHT GOT TO DO WITH DARKNESS
(v. 14) "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
(v. 15) What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
(v. 16) What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light."
If Judas were saved, he could not have been characterized as 'a devil' and 'a son of perdition' but instead one who is 'light in the Lord.' and from these passages the position of being a child of the light is permanent]
C) JUDAS WAS CHARACTERIZED AS A DEVIL FROM THE BEGINNING
(v. 70) ''' "Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!
(v. 71) (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)" '''
Notice that although Judas was chosen by our Lord, he was characterized as "a devil" in distinction to the other ones He chose who were not so characterized.
D) JUDAS WAS PROMPTED BY THE DEVIL TO BETRAY JESUS AT THE END
"The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus."
Notice those words, "already prompted Judas." This means Judas had some time ago formed an alliance with Satan himself. Satan obviously promised him riches, fame, fortune, and soon he would have it! By the time of this "Last Supper," of the Lord with his disciples, Judas had become completely disillusioned. Also, he had already negotiated a deal to betray Jesus.
E) JUDAS WAS FULLY POSSESSED BY THE DEVIL AT THE END
'''As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him'''
"While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction [lit. "the son of perdition"] so that Scripture would be fulfilled."
Jesus called Judas a deceiver, a liar and "one doomed to destruction,"
["doomed to destruction" = literally, "the son of perdition.".
"Son of" means having the characteristics, the essence of; as in the son of God having the essence of God. Thus "son of perdition" means that Judas, being thus characterized, is evil in his essence and doomed to destruction in the Lake of Fire. This does not describe one who would become a believer, for his character itself would block saving faith]
How did Judas deceive the "Twelve?" We read later on in the ministry of Jesus, of an incident that occurred that revealed Judas' treachery and deceit.
A) PETER WAS EXPRESSING A HUMAN VIEWPOINT, HE HAD THE THINGS OF MEN IN MIND NOT THE THINGS OF GOD
(v. 22) '''Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"
(v. 23) Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." '''
B) JUDAS WAS CHARACTERIZED AS A DEVIL
(v. 70) ''' "Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!
(v. 71) (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)" '''
The degree to which Peter was characterized as being of the devil was because of doctrinal error i.e., as a result of the statement that he made which was described as human viewpoint - hardly the same severity as being characterized intrinsically as Peter was 'a devil'.
Note that Peter's offense was not spectacularly evil - only as a result of Peter's affection for our Lord and His personal welfare. So Peter was coming out of his affection for our Lord, out of his human viewpoint not out of his greed for wealth and power, certainly not out of an apparent lifestyle of repeated lies and stealing, like Judas. One can hardly equate this to being described intrinsically as "a devil".
If one tries putting "a devil" in this passage about Peter's human viewpoint and find it is totally out of context. On the one hand, Peter's viewpoint was in error and it coincided with the way the devil would have him think - a momentary lapse. On the other hand Judas' entire being was classified as "a devil", being 'prompted by the devil' and finally, 'the devil entered into him'. If you put all the passages together of Judas being intrinsically characterized as 'a devil', 'prompted by the devil', 'the devil entered in him' and add to this Judas' obvious self-centered and extremely evil motive for monetary and power gain in his association with our Lord - which one cannot make an equivalent parallel with Peter or any of the twelve - then you have a completely different viewpoint about Judas as opposed to Peter.
"While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction, [literally, "the son of perdition."] so that Scripture would be fulfilled."
Lost here could mean he was protected and kept safe from physical destruction and then lost, i.e., went to physical destruction and was lost as an Apostle. Note that the phrase "son of perdition" indicates one who is identified with perdition. One who is identifed with perdition, i.e., hell could hardly be saved.
(v. 13) "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit
(v. 14) Who is a deposit guaranteeing our [eternal] inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession to the praise of His glory."
"Having believed" is a completed action verb portraying a single moment of believing without anything else required of an individual sufficient to produce the stated results of which have a view to the eternal security of the believer.
Notice "having believed" is an aorist, active, participle which portrays a completed action, i.e., a single moment of believing in order to produce the stated results which are indicated in the passage:
a) HAVING BELIEVED ONE IS INCLUDED IN CHRIST FOREVER
"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him [Christ] with a Seal, the Holy Spirit of promise" =
At the point of "having believed the gospel of your salvation" the promised Holy Spirit "included" the believer "in Christ".
Notice that being placed into Christ is an eternally secure picture. There are passages throughout the New Testament that picture the building up of the Church, the Body of Christ by believers being included in Christ but never the losing of parts of that body by the loss of believers and then the reinstating of them - especially over and over again as each believer sins and repents and sins again and repents again. Thus one who is placed into Christ, i.e., the Body of Christ, the Church is eternally secure in the church and thus destined to heaven.
"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him [Christ] with a Seal, the Holy Spirit of promise" =
Believers in the gospel are, at the point of believing, sealed permanently into the Body of Christ with the Holy Spirit of promise Who places them into Christ as the Seal within them permanently and forever into the Body of Christ. In view is a permanent sealing into Christ, i.e., the Body of Christ by the Seal, the Holy Spirit of promise as a promise of God Himself Who indwells the individual as the actual Seal.
By definition a seal is a guarantee that the promise will be fulfilled - and that Seal is God Himself!
Furthermore, since there is no obligation of the individual stipulated in this passage except to express a moment of belief in the gospel, then it is a unilateral guarantee and promise and seal of God Himself.
Considering the absolute holiness and absolute power of God, any unilateral promise of God will be fulfilled. So here there is no question that the believer will remain sealed into Christ forever, i.e., eternally secure in his salvation.
"Having believed you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit Who is a deposit guaranteeing our [eternal] " = "deposit" = "arrabon" = an earnest, a down payment with more to come, i.e., the final redeemed state of the believer’s perfection in Christ. God being the One Who has put down this earnest, Who actually is the earnest, He will absolutely deliver.
It is a unilateral and absolute guarantee because there is no stipulation in this passage for the individual to perform except to believe and because God is absolute power and holiness. So there is nothing the believer can do to undo it.
"Having believed you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit Who is a Deposit guaranteeing our [eternal] until the redemption of those who are God's possession to the praise of His glory." =
So God the Holy Spirit is the absolute Deposit, the absolute Earnest, the Absolute Guarantor of the believer’s eternal inheritance which is the redemption of the believers "who are [now, being in Christ] God's possession, i.e., his final perfect state when he has been completely redeemed to live with God for all eternity.
"Having believed you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit Who is a Deposit guaranteeing our [eternal] inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession to the praise of His glory." =
Notice, after all is said and done, upon believing, the individual becomes God’s possession and God alone is to get the glory, hence man cannot be involved in contributing to his redemption, but must trust in God to do it all. Since God does it all and the believer is God’s possession, it is eternally secure.
Exhaustive
study on the eternal security of the believer 