Debunking the Idea that Judas Iscariot was a Christian

The anti-eternal security crowd has also resolved to use Judas Iscariot to trying to prove their doctrine as valid that you can lose your salvation. However, again the truth is you CANNOT lose your salvation - it is a permanent issue and the effects of salvation such as bearing fruit for Jesus and a conviction for sin are evidence of a salvation that cannot be lost. To start with, Judas Iscariot was NOT a Christian nor did he lose his salvation, he NEVER had it in the first place. 1 John 2:19 calls every deserter a fake. By his actions throughout the truth of the Scripture, he was not a Christian to begin with. If he was truly a Christian, he would NEVER completely fall away. Peter fell away but not completely. Judas Iscariot did!

So where can the proof of Judas Iscariot as a fake Christian can be found? Notice that he never called Jesus as Lord, to begin with, which is really a HUGE sign of insolence. He was an unrepentant thief in John 12:5-6. Luke 6:16 already labels him the traitor from the very start. In John 6:70, Jesus said, "Have I not chosen you and one of you is a Devil?" Pretty strong language, he already predicted the apostasy of Judas Iscariot to show the latter wasn't saved to start with. Really how can an unrepentant thief ever be an unsaved man? We are not saved by works but our works can determine if we are saved. Judas Iscariot was probably just there for publicity, not real service. Psalm 41 and 55 talk about the tragic fate Judas Iscariot would suffer. He had EVERY chance to repent but he kept blowing it. Even during the events after the betrayal, he had EVERY CHANCE.

Here's what John MacArthur says about Judas on page 115 of the Gospel According to Jesus:
Judas (Iscariot, emphasis mine) illustrates false discipleship. Note carefully the characteristics of his hypocrisy. First, he loved temporal gain more than eternal riches. He wanted glory; he wanted success; he wanted earthly treasures. Perhaps he was disappointed that Christ did not fulfill all his political expectations for the Messiah. He may have had his heart set on a high position in Christ's earthly kingdom. It is typical of false disciples that they get on board with Jesus to get what they want but when instead of delivering He makes demands on them, they turn away. Such people reveal that they never had genuine faith to begin with. They are like the seed that springs up in rocky soil. It grows well for awhile but when the sun comes out it withers and dies (cf. Matt. 13:20-21). They follow Christ for a season but eventually sell Him for selfish desire, money, prestige or power.
Second, Judas was marked by deceit. His show of faith was only a masquerade. False disciples are masters of subtle deception, adept at deluding others. They pretend to love the Lord but their kisses are the kisses of betrayal.
Finally, Judas and all false disciples are in it for what they receive. They are satisfied with a salved conscience, peace of mind, a good reputation, or spiritual self-satisfaction. Some of them profess Christ because it is good for business or because they think trusting Christ will bring health, wealth and prosperity. But they will sell the Savior just as Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. Like Judas, they love the world and they love darkness. Their half-hearted faith turns inevitably to hard-hearted unbelief.
I fear that the multitudes like Judas in the contemporary Church. They are friendly to Jesus. They look and talk like disciples. But they are not committed to Him and are therefore capable of the worst kind of betrayal.
A real disciple on the other hand may fail in Christ but will never turn against Him. A true Christian might temporarily fear to stand up for the Lord but would never willingly sell Him out. Inevitably, true disciples will falter but when they fall into sin, they will seek cleansing. They won't wallow in the mire (cf. 2 Peter 2:22). Their faith is neither fragile nor temporary; it is a dynamic and ever-growing commitment to the Savior.

Further actions proved that again, he was a deserter or never a Christian to begin with when he agreed to sell Jesus for money (Matthew 26:14-16) as no Christian in any sense, would ever do such a thing as to trample on Jesus for money as a fruit of salvation. Eventually the fact that he committed suicide simply concluded the chapter of him being unsaved. In Matthew 27:3-10, the fact that he confessed to the priests rather than to God proved that again, he was no true follower of Christ. It must be remembered that betrayal is NOT an unpardonable sin. Every lost person can be counted as a betrayer and that Jesus is still more than willing to forgive. Peter denied Jesus but Jesus forgave Him when he repented. Please note that Peter did not repent of his denial to get saved again but rather... it was a result of being saved.

What can be learned from Judas Iscariot? Jesus is still and is still waiting for the lost sinner to repent (metanoneia or a change of mind for the better) and come to Him. Sadly, many still refuse. They refuse to repent of their sins which in effect, they refuse the remedy for sin (John 3:20, John 5:40). Most people are just like Judas Iscariot, they pretend to be Christians but at the light of God's Word (well even the Jesuit order CANNOT outwit the Bible), these infiltrators are later revealed not to be Christians in so many ways like a continued lifestyle of sin and teaching dangerous heresies like works salvation, or promoting a false brotherhood between Christians and non-believers.

Updated on: March 28, 2013