RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-07-13	Did Judas Iscariot Lose His Salvation?
		Let's remind ourselves of who Judas was. He was one of the original 12 disciples. Judas walked with Jesus for three years. He saw the greatest life ever lived up close and personal. When Jesus fed the 5,000, Judas was there. When Jesus calmed the storm, Judas was there. He was there when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Judas heard the teaching of Jesus on the Sermon on the mount. He heard the warnings Jesus spoke to the Pharisees, so he knew there is a hell to shun and a heaven to gain. Judas even had exercised authority over demons (Mk.6:7). Judas gives us some lessons for parents and leaders. Have you asked the question, where did we go wrong? What more could we have done? Even though Judas betrayed Jesus, it was his choice to do so. We are not going to say, Jesus somehow failed with Judas. Judas saw the greatest life ever lived (Jesus), yet he did not trust in Him. Joh 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. This is the high priestly prayer of Jesus to the Father. Jesus says all those that are His believers, He “kept them in Your name”. Jesus further says, “Those whom You gave Me I have kept.” And “none of them is lost”. But then Jesus makes the distinction for the “son of perdition”. Jesus is saying Judas was not kept, because Judas was not given to Him from the Father. Judas was a disciple in name only, but he was not a true believer in Christ (Jn.15:6). Joh 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. Joh 6:39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. If Judas was a believer, and he lost his salvation, then Jesus is not doing the will of the Father. Jesus always does the will of the Father! Joh 13:10 Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." Joh 13:11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean." Jesus knew Judas was not “clean” or born again. Jesus points out that Judas' betrayal is predicted in Scripture (Jn.13:18; Ps.41:9) Jesus said to Judas, though the disciples did not know who Jesus was talking to, “What you do, do quickly” (Jn.13:27). Before Jesus and the disciples partook of the Lord's Supper, Judas left to plot against Him (Jn.13:30). So only the 11 believers were present at the Last Supper despite Leonardo Da Vinci's painting showing all twelve. To answer the original question, did Judas Iscariot Lose His Salvation? No, he did not. Judas was never a believer in Jesus (Jn.6:64). There was nothing for him to lose in that sense. Judas did lose something. He lost so many opportunities to believe. It is amazing to think of the privilege Judas had, and yet rejected it. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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