Is Judas Forever Lost ?

Scripture citations are to the NIV-UK

Q Does Judas have hope of a resurrection or is he lost forever?

A Several texts that show Judas is beyond redemption.

First, the testimony of Jesus and of Scripture that Judas allowed Satan to possess him (John 13; emphases added). Jesus says –

18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’ [Compare, Psa. 41: 9– ‘has lifted up his heel against me’ – an act of insolence]

19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am.

20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”

22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant.

23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.

24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

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, the son of Simon Iscariot.

27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”

28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.

29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor.

30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

Compare the above with the related passage, Luke 22 (emphasis added):

1 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 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. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. . . . 21 “But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!”

Second, Jesus’ own words in John 17 (emphasis added):

11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.

12 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 so that Scripture would be fulfilled. [See also, Matt. 7: 13: ‘ . . . wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction . . .’]

Note that the case of Peter and his three-fold denial of the Lord is materially different from that of of Judas. Peter was overcome by fear, but did not ‘lift up his heel’ against the Lord. By his tears, Peter manifested godly sorrow and, as the text shows, Jesus expressly forgave him and reinstated him in his apostolic office. See John 21: 15-19.

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