Do you think Judas went to heaven?

[100PercentFaithful]

First of all, I am posting on the CHRISTIAN MN board. This board is primarily intended for Christians and I am interested in the views of other Christians on this subject.
If you wish to have a discussion about this as an atheist or non-Christian, please start your own thread on Philosophy and Religion board.

I have often wondered about Judas.

Watching the CofE Facebook video today has prompted me to ask myself did Judas go to heaven? He obviously really regretted what he did - he returned the money and committed suicide out of despair.

I also wonder what would have happened if he didn’t betray Jesus: Jesus was destined to give his life for us as foretold in the Old Testament. Were Judas’ actions also predestined? If Judas hadn’t betrayed him, would Jesus have given himself up to the authorities?

Obviously I’m not condoning Judas’ actions, but I do wonder if it was something he was born to do.

For what it’s worth I DO think Judas went to heaven as I believe everyone who dies will meet God, and of course we know everyone who WANTS to can go to heaven: that’s the whole point of Jesus’ sacrifice (obviously people can also choose not to be with God after death - Satan chose to leave God and heaven - we still have free will).

Jesus forgives all those who are sorry, would that include Judas?

www.facebook.com/share/v/1AGQA2aChB/?mibextid=wwXIfr

No idea, but I have pondered the same.
If Judas didn't play his part, Jesus wouldn't have fulfilled his destiny on the cross and died for us all.

( That's a very simplistic view, I know)

As I am not of the Jewish faith I don't know what a Jewish man of his time would have had to have done to find eternal life with the Lord God Almighty. God knows. Our opinions and 'what ifs' don't really matter. He did betray the Messiah and the rest is His story (history).

Let’s look at what we can learn from a few of the many scriptures about Judas.

“But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said,
”Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.”
recorded by John, ch 12 v 4-6

“…to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.”
said by Peter, Acts 1 v 25

“Let their dwelling place be desolate;
Let no one live in their tents.”
Psalm 69 v 25, speaking of enemies & adversaries; attributed to Judas by Peter in Acts 1 v 20

”let another take his office”
Psalm 109 v 8, speaking of ‘the wicked’ the deceitful’ & ‘an accuser’; attributed to Judas by Peter in Acts 1 v 20

“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.” For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
recorded by John, ch 13 :10-11

“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.”
said by the Lord Jesus, John 17:12

“The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”
said by the Lord Jesus, Matthew 26 v 24

Here we see a disciple who

1. hadn’t followed Jesus sincerely during his years with Him
2. who was identified as ‘not clean’ by the Lord
3. who was identified by prophecy with the enemies of Christ and the ‘accuser’ ( the literal meaning of the name ‘Satan’)
4. whose eternal future was described by the Lord in the worst terms possible.

In the light of this, and the fact that his regret showed no evidence of repentance, I cannot see any indication that Judas had any part in the salvation provided by God through Christ, who alone is Judge.

From the gospel passages above it would seem unlikely. However nothing is impossible with God. Judas committed a dreadful sin, but I am a sinner and cannot condemn him.

Interesting reading those Bible verses, thank you. It’s definitely given me a new perspective to think about.

I love this.

I agree!
I definitely have a habit of trying to see things from the other perspective. I always feel bad for the older brother in the prodigal son and Martha in the Mary and Martha story.
It obviously says something about me!

You’re very welcome @100PercentFaithful

hope you’re having a blessed weekend 🙏🏻

Me too @100PercentFaithful .

I don't know. He walked with the disciples, he betrayed Jesus, the disciples felt deeply bitter - how could they not?

But Matthew says he repented, tried to return the money, killed himself.

Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Jesus, dying, assured the criminal beside him that he would be in paradise with him that night.

Saul hated Jesus' followers, joined in the persecution of them, participated in the killing of Stephen.

But Paul . . .

I believe in the infinite love and mercy of God. I believe in the possibility of purgatory. I think I'll say a prayer for the repose of Judas' soul.

This has made me smile. I get it.

It's not looking good for Judas!

Me too!

I’m not going to speak to the issue of purgatory, with which I don’t concur.

I’d just like to briefly address the matter of remorse or repentance which this post raises.

The unfortunate translation above appears on the surface to indicate that Judas repented of his sin of betrayal, however the Greek shows otherwise.

Repentance is μετάνοια : metanoia
Remorse is μεταμέλομαι : metamelomai

The Greek used of Judas in Matthew 27 is metamelomai, not metanoia.

Judas did not repent in the way of the dying thief or Saul, the persecutor of the church. Or Peter, after his triple denial of Christ.

Judas experienced the deep emotional pain of remorse but failed to take it further, to genuinely seeking forgiveness, which is true repentance. Remorse, can lead to repentance, but in Judas’ case there is no indication that this happened.

Death stops progress. We have no way of knowing. I'll reserve judgement.

I had a very interesting debate last year with a group of 10yos about Judas. Was he:

1. Chosen to be a disciple entirely to be the one who betrayed Jesus, and didn't really pull his weight as a disciple before then (all bad)
2. Was an amazing disciple who did lots of good things for Jesus but was tempted (mostly good, but tempted)
3. He betrayed Jesus because his understanding of the Messiah was that he would drive the Romans out and bring the Jewish people back not being under an occupied force. He thought that by handing Jesus over to the Romans, it would force Jesus to defeat them (did bad, but thought he was doing it for the best)

The group was fairly equally split, and they were having a very lively discussion before I had to rally them to get ready for Act 3.
I don't think we can know what forgiveness he sought before he killed himself, as it was between him and God. Maybe Jesus greeted him at the gates of Heaven and Judas threw himself down and begged for forgiveness now he understood everything. We can't know.

A lot of things came up in this thread but we don’t know for sure. Jesus said:
“It would be better for him if he had not been born.” (Matthew 26:24)
“None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction.” (John 17:12)
These verses suggest Judas may not have been saved, but only God knows his heart.
Was Judas’ betrayal predestined?
Yes, it was part of God’s plan:
“The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed.” (Luke 22:22)
“Scripture had to be fulfilled... concerning Judas.” (Acts 1:16)
But Judas still chose to betray Jesus he wasn’t forced.
If Judas hadn’t done it, would someone else have?
Yes. Jesus had to die for our sins. If not Judas, God’s plan would still be fulfilled another way.
Could Judas have been forgiven?
Yes. God forgives anyone who truly repents:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us.” (1 John 1:9)
But Judas didn’t turn to Jesus he regretted it and gave the money back, but instead of seeking forgiveness, he gave up in despair (Matthew 27:3-5).
Only God knows Judas’ final choice. We can trust that Jesus is just and full of mercy.

@Bongani thank you for this. Always good to have scriptures to inform our thinking.

@LeaningOnTheEverlastingArms I agree with you. God's Word reminds us of perspective, grace, and encouragement when daily life feels impossible.