Bible Discussion Thread

could judas how hung himself be save

judas looked like jesus, therefore he was the spirit of the world, not the spirit of God.

Jesus knew that Judas would betray him. He was called a son of perdition

"Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me. ( Psalm 41:9 NKJV)"

Judas was holder of the monies, and he betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. When it was done, that demon left him__Judas hung himself and scripture said his abdomen poured out his innards.

In the first book of Acts, the 11 Disciples met and chose another 12th Disciple.

I assume you meant to ask:

Could Judas who hung himself be saved?

If your question is specifically about Judas Iscariot the answer is no with near certainty, but he was already doomed before he chose to hang himself based on Jesus' statements about him and the pronouncements against him in the Gospels and Acts from even before the moment he betrayed Jesus. His death by hanging himself seems to have been viewed as a fitting end for a wicked man, much the way Haman's death by hanging on the gallows he built for Mordecai in the book of Ruth is viewed as a fitting end for a man who utterly hated God's people. Judas' judgement has in many ways been made known in advance much more as a warning against betraying our brothers and Christ, than as a warning against how his life ended as a consequence of that betrayal.

If your question is instead:

Could anyone who hung himself (or committed suicide by some other means) be saved?

I would have to leave that decision to God. I have known a Christian brother who had a vital ministry in music who ultimately committed suicide several years after he moved on to serve elsewhere. I didn't know him or his family well enough to get a real understanding of what led him to make that decision. Understandably those who knew him better than me focused on his gifts and the moments in his life that affirmed he had faith. I choose to focus on that as well.

Having known and survived long-term clinical depression myself, it takes real faith to endure the pain, despair and seeming hopelessness of that condition. I am much more concerned with praying for mercy upon those that experience it than on trying to know God's mind regarding anyone that has not survived it and who's judgement has not been revealed in advance. Through my experience with depression I have learned that our lives are loved by more people than we ever realized and we will see it if we choose to put any pain we know into Christ's hands and praise him as we endure it.

Hi Rich,

Good reply. Many have asked about Judas' judgment. But this side of heaven, I really do not think that nay of use can really know. This determination is really up to God. I think that there is hope for anyone who repents. I, myself, don't feel that I can judge the value of Judas' repentance. I just believe that God is merciful and leave the judgment to Him.

I am not Judas' judge for eternity, God is and I will consider Him justified in whatever He ultimately decides concerning Judas. But I shouldn't avoid saying his life choices are used in the New Testament as one of it's strongest and most fearful warnings against the deceitfulness of the human heart and that no one should imitate his example, particularly if the devil and this world are trying to tempt us to betray our brothers and Christ as they tempted him. Esau repented of a kind, but the blessing he obtained by it is not the blessing of Abraham's covenant and the testimony of scripture that he comforted himself with a murderous heart against his brother upon his father's death after he made his outward appearance of repentance and the Apostles assessment of him is strong evidence I should take warning against following his example of repentance.

Final judgement is God's affair and my opinions not only won't persuade or dissuade God from doing whatever He sees fit to do, they are unwelcome and I should not seek to know how it will finally play out as though my opinion or knowledge of that will do me any good there. I view it the same way I view trying to know the day or hour of Christ's return. It is not only unnessary for me to know that since that knowledge is the Father's alone, trying to obtain that knowledge is more likely to be dangerous for me and subject to misuse by my deceitful heart than helpful in preparing me for Christ's return.

But pointing out the warnings scripture give us in what God reveals in advance of final judgement and Christ's return is clearly meant for me and all who seek God. Real repentance requires us to acknowledge God is right in what he says about our deceitful hearts and deeds so they are brought into His light. Once our lives truly seek out His light rather than darkness, faith and love will grow in us and ultimately will all be shown to be a work of God's grace.

Well said. Rich