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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Do you forgive Judas? | John 13:11 | Ray | 43235 | ||
Hi Robert Nicholson, I thank you also for your response. I think also that Judas lost his ministry and his apostleship. But I don't think that it necessarily follows therefore that he was unforgiven. Luke 23:34, "But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves." One might say that Jesus was talking about the soldiers who were fulfilling Scripture unbeknown to them. But I think that he had in mind the people who were sneering at Him and speaking the big "if" word. "Let Him save Himself *IF this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One. Luke 23:35 They didn't know what they were doing for they only knew Him as a man who was dying on a cross. But I also think that Jesus had in mind the one who had betrayed Him. The one whose betrayal, death, and lost apostleship had been prophesied in Scripture. John 13:18b, "but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.' From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me." When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me." Jesus did not say on the cross, "Father, forgive them, except for Judas of course." Remember that this is the One who told people to love your enemies and He did love Judas to the end. In fact He loved the whole world, John 3:16b, "that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." So I believe that Jesus died for Judas also. John 12:47. Jesus did not come to judge but to save. John 3:18, "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." This verse tells us how we are to be judged, namely our belief in the Son of God. But just like Jesus did not come to judge we also should not judge anyone as far as hell is concerned. Although we should not judge anyone, it is clear what the judgment is. John 3:19, "And this is the judgment, that the Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." Now the question remains therefore, if you want to judge Judas and know for sure where his place is; Did Judas believe in the Son of God? 1) Did Judas follow the Pharisee, scribes, and even Caiphas as a convert to their way of thinking? See John 18:14. Did Judas think that this is just a mere man who would have to die for the people? John 11:47, "Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, "What are we doing? For this man [Man, NKJ] is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." So in the view of Judas seeing His mighty miracles and hearing His words, did he know Him as the Son of God or not? If he saw Jesus as just a man then he was concerned about "his own place" and his own nation alone. If Judas saw Him as just a man then the Pharisees had won him over as a convert and proselyte and when he becomes one is made twice as much a son of hell as themselves. See Matthew 23:15. 2) Now if Judas' place is prepared for him in heaven, then in the garden he must realize that Jesus was who He said He was. Jesus said "I am ." [or I am He]. In a discussion in a similar thread I stated that I saw Judas saying in Mark 14:44, NKJ, "Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the One, seize Him and lead Him away safely." In other words, in contrast to a mere man. Thus making him a true believer in the One, but being misled and not knowing what he was doing. I think that it is important for us not to prejudge people that we come into contact with in our lives. There are many Judas types out there for which we do not know their true and final beliefs and outcomes. That is why people should be hesitant to put Judas in his place. From the heart, Ray |
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2 | Do you forgive Judas? | John 13:11 | Ray | 43237 | ||
Part 2:I do know that Judas realized that he had betrayed innocent blood . The chielf priests and elders said, "What is that to us? SEE TO THAT YOURSELF!" And he hung himself I believe in depression. Matthew 27:24b, Pilate said, "I am innocent of this Man's blood; SEE TO THAT YOURSELVES". And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children!" That is quite a different attitude. We also have to decide FOR OURSELVES if this man is the Son of Man and the Son of God or not. We too can betray our Lord if we don't know Him. Let us not be too quick to judge, for as you judge so too you will be judged. Acts 5:28, after Peter and the apostles were brought before the Council , "the high priest questioned them, saying, 'We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's [Man's, NKJ] blood upon us." Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! Matthew 26:24. But a literal reading of the last of the verse allows for the inclusion of us. "It would have been good for him if that man had not been born." My hope is that everyone knows Him as the King of the Jews and the only true God. Jesus died for the nation, John 11:52, "and not for the nation only, but that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad." From the heart, Ray |
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3 | Do you forgive Judas? | John 13:11 | Robert Nicholson | 43349 | ||
Dear brother Ray: Thank you for your kind response. I agree with the principle of scripture that "the Lord knoweth them that are his". I did not intend to set myself up as judge of Judas, but rather give my observations as seen in the scripture. I agree that the sacrifice of Christ was for all but according to Romans 3:22 it is "upon all them that believe". I believe that before the cross there were many who rejected Christ as seen in many of the religious leaders of the day. "He came unto his own but his own received him not, but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name" John 1:11-12 It is interesting that the scripture gives us detail about Judas. He was a privileged man called by the Lord Jesus as a disciple. He was a thief John 12:6. He was indwelt by satan in the end Luke 22:13, John 13:27. As you have rightly pointed out, Judas was no different from any other sinner, all of these sins could have been forgiven because there is forgiveness in Christ for all who will accept him as saviour. However, as in the case of Israel the Lord Jesus mourns over their rejection of him even though he had offered himself to them Matt:23:37 and pronounces their judgment "because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation" Luke 19:44. The reason I refer to these scriptures is that it appears that people of privilege have a time of visitation and that if they slight the privilege they may miss the blessing. In John 17:12 we read the words of the Lord Jesus as he prays to his father "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." I believe the son of perdition is in reference to Judas. Ray I believe we can accept the words of John 3:36 which you have referred to "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him" Upon Calvary's cross Christ died for the sins of the whole world and offers forgiveness to all who will rest in his finished work. The sad reality is that many refuse this forgiveness and remain unforgiven. The example of Judas does not give me joy, but rather a deep sense of sadness when we consider that others are following the same path in that other things are more important than Christ. God bless you Robert |
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