Thirsty For God Church: turned into Judas Predestined to Betray Jesus?

pricey Roger,

Is our salvation predestined by using God? Or is it as a result of our own free will to respond to God's grace? could Judas Iscariot have changed his own destiny by way of deciding upon to ask for God's forgiveness like Peter did, as an alternative of committing suicide? Or changed into he predestined to betray Jesus?thank you, JST

dear JST,

you have requested two simple questions. One is about free will versus predestination, and the other is whether or not Judas became destined to betray Jesus.

I'm happy that you just asked both. Answering the query about predestination and free will is the groundwork for figuring out no matter if or now not Judas became predestined to betray Jesus.

Predestination Versus Free Will

John Calvin become a leader of the Protestant Reformation who concluded that God elected, predestined, or chose some people to move to heaven and some to move to hell. people had no say-so within the remember.

He taught that if they have been predestined for hell, they had been going to hell. in the event that they have been predestined for heaven, they have been going to heaven.

He based his predestination interpretation on New testomony terms like "predestined" (Romans eight:28-29); "foreknew" (Romans eight:28); "chosen" (Ephesians 1:eleven) and "elected" (Titus 1:1).

Arminianism is only the opposite.

Arminianism is in accordance with free will. Arminianism may be summarized through John three:16: "For God so loved the area that He gave His handiest begotten son that whoever believes in Him might not perish but have everlasting lifestyles."

The operative notice here is "whoever."

In other words, on account that we all have free will, any person can come to Christ for salvation at any age, any time, or any place.

We in my opinion have free will to opt for Christ as our Savior … or not.

The Bible is filled with "free will" pictures of an open-armed Jesus who is longing for americans to come back to him for salvation. All who come will obtain a full welcome and reprieve.

In Luke 15, Jesus taught three parables that exhibit God as looking for the misplaced as a way to bring them safely domestic: the misplaced coin, the lost sheep, and the lost son.

be aware that Jesus isn't electing or predestining the crowd He's instructing–he's pleading with them: "there should be extra rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous men and women who don't deserve to repent" (Luke 15:7).

It looks to me that free will is a better reflection of the biblical photo of God's heart than the concept that He made arbitrary decisions to examine the eternal state of certain people earlier than the basis of the earth.

In summary, predestination publicizes that the best ones to be saved are those whom God has already chosen to be saved. Arminianism places no such restrictions on receiving God's love, salvation, and style.

considering that all of the concerns worried, I arrive at the following conclusion: before the foundation of the universe, God predetermined that every person who obtained Jesus as Lord and Savior would be saved.

Charles Spurgeon, an impressive pastor and evangelist of the closing century, put this in viewpoint:

I desire that God had painted a stripe down the back of all of the go with. i might spend my time pulling up shirttails. but for the reason that he hasn't, i will be able to preach the gospel to every adult.

was Judas Predestined to Betray Christ?

With that being observed, let's tackle the problem of no matter if or no longer Judas changed into predestined to betray Jesus?

in accordance with Jesus, Judas was predestined to betray him.

When night got here, he arrived with the Twelve. whereas they have been reclining and eating, Jesus talked about, "I guarantee you: one in all you are going to betray me—one who's consuming with me!" They all started to be distressed and to claim to him one at a time, "absolutely not I?" Jesus observed to them, "It is among the Twelve—the one who's dripping bread with me in the bowl. For the Son of Man will go just as written about him, however woe to the man by using whom the Son of Man is betrayed! it could've been stronger for him if he had now not been born." (Mark 14:17-21)

based on Jesus, Judas changed into predestined, called, elected, and/or chosen for this betrayal. He had no free will and thus no option within the depend.

Brothers, the Scriptures had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit during the mouth of David spoke in boost about Judas, who became a guide to people that arrested Jesus.

incidentally, Judas' bargain for 30 items of silver turned into foretold in Zechariah 11:12-13 and fulfilled in Matthew 26:14-sixteen.

Did Judas have any choice within the rely? It appears now not. Judas could not exchange his destiny. He turned into foreordained to commit this brutal act. The moment devil entered Judas, the die changed into forged (Luke 22:3).

Now we come to the free will half. once Judas had accomplished his ungodly mission, he became free to make things correct with Jesus. Jesus died for Judas, too.

If Judas had fallen on his knees, repented, and requested for forgiveness, Jesus would have welcomed him into the dominion. however, alas, that's now not in any respect what came about.

examine Peter's response with Judas. Peter also betrayed Christ, but he's in heaven's glory. Why? because out of a way of disgrace and despair, Peter returned to Jesus, repented, and asked for forgiveness.

The Bible tells us that Judas felt unhealthy about what he'd carried out; but instead of returning to Jesus, he hanged himself.

The story of Judas is a paradox. he's the epitome of each predestination and free will. He had to betray Jesus, but he become free to return to Christ and ask for forgiveness.

God offers Us a Hand

Let me use an illustration that might clear things up a little. can we have free will or is everything predetermined? I think the reply is "sure."

It's like once we play a card game. We don't have any control over the playing cards that we are dealt. Our hand is dealt to us as if predetermined.

Now we play that hand. we now have free will to play it any method we need. sooner or later, it's the aggregate of the hand we're dealt and the decisions that we make as we play that hand that determines the influence.

God deals us a hand. There's nothing we are able to do to change that. So, we play that hand. We get to respond to the hobbies of our lives. It's my response (in different words, my moves sooner or later) that determines the meaning of the events in my previous.

There are two distinct Biblical accounts of the loss of life of Judas.

With the payment he obtained for his wickedness, Judas bought a box; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out." (Acts 1:18)

So Judas threw the funds into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:5)

Judas purchased a field. This become expected and predestined via God. Then, on a sturdy tree department, he hung himself by way of the neck. For several days his physique swayed in the breeze. Flies and maggots coated his decaying physique. eventually, some merciful soul determined to reduce down the rotting corpse. When he did, Judas's bloated body hit the ground and burst open.

and that is the end of a extremely unhappy story.

So, JST, i'm hoping that this helps.

God bless,

Roger

Dr. Roger Barrier retired as senior instructing pastor from Casas Church in Tucson, Arizona. moreover being an writer and sought-after convention speaker, Roger has mentored or taught hundreds of pastors, missionaries, and Christian leaders worldwide. Casas Church, the place Roger served right through his 35-year profession, is a megachurch commonly used for a smartly-integrated, multi-generational ministry. The value of including new generations is deeply ingrained right through Casas to support the church movement strongly all through the twenty-first century and beyond. Dr. Barrier holds degrees from Baylor university, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Golden Gate Seminary in Greek, faith, theology, and pastoral care. His regular e-book, paying a ttention to the Voice of God, published through Bethany residence, is in its 2d printing and is obtainable in Thai and Portuguese. His latest work is, acquired Guts? Get Godly! Pray the Prayer God guarantees to reply, from Xulon Press. Roger can be discovered blogging at Preach It, teach It, the pastoral instructing web page situated together with his wife, Dr. Julie Barrier.

Editor's word: This Ask Roger article aspects insights from Roger's daughter, Brie Barrier Wetherbee, a sought-after Bible trainer and conference speaker, writer, analyst, and Christian theologian.

Pastor Roger Barrier's "Ask Roger" column constantly looks at Preach It, train It. every week at Crosswalk, Dr. Barrier puts almost 40 years of journey within the pastorate to work answering questions of doctrine or follow for laypeople or giving suggestions on church management concerns. e mail him your questions at roger@preachitteachit.org.