Was Judas a Believer? Follow Up

Q

Do You think Judas was a believer when He was chosen to be one of the 12? And if he wasn’t why did the Lord choose him? I don’t believe in predestination so I don’t believe Judas was predestined to betray the Lord. What do you think?

A

In John 17:12 Jesus spoke of the one doomed to destruction. Many scholars believe this was a reference to Judas and shows he wasn’t saved. The Lord chose him because a prophecy in Psalm 41:9 called for the Messiah to be betrayed by one of His companions.

Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

In Matt. 26:24 Jesus said, “The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

He also referenced Psalm 41:9 in the Upper Room on the night He was betrayed (John 13:18) and in John 13:26-27 confirmed that it was Judas who fulfilled it.

Psalm 41:9 was written 1000 years earlier, and the Lord knew in advance who would betray Him, but it was Judas who made the choice to do so. Remember, He doesn’t make our choices for us, He just knows what choices we’ll make.