JUDAS : Guilty of the Most Heinous Crime in History? or Victim of Divine Coersion?

Jesus said to him, "Are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

Judas' role in the crucifixion of Jesus has always been the subject of controversy and mystery. Some say that he should be regarded as a hero of the Christian Faith, because if it hadn't been for what he did, Christ's dying to save sinners wouldn't have happened. Is that really the case?

Was this a situation where the devil really did make him do it? Doesn't the bible say, "Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered with the twelve." (Luke 22:3 )

Some might think that Judas deserves an Academy Award for perfectly playing out the role that had been created and written for him by God, Himself. Or perhaps he ought to be exonerated for his betrayal of Christ because he was forced by Divine Providence to do something that he otherwise would not have done.

The "Rock Opera" Jesus Christ: Superstar portrays Judas as the rational one among Jesus and the disciples. In the story, he comes to realize that what started out as a great cause had taken a bad turn and they were headed for disaster. So he decides to take some kind of action to prevent the inevitable consequences of a plan gone really bad. We hear him saying to Jesus, "Every time I look at you, I don't understand how you let the things you did get so out of hand."


Christian theologian R.C. Sproul, addresses the question of how Judas could be held accountable for something that had been determined long ago and had been foretold in the Scriptures:

"Judas was not a poor innocent victim of divine manipulation. He was not a righteous man whom God forced to betray Christ and then punished him for the betrayal. Judas betrayed Christ because Judas wanted thirty pieces of silver. As the Scriptures declare, Judas was a son of perdition from the beginning.

"To be sure, God uses the evil inclinations and evil intentions of fallen men to bring about his own redemptive purposes. Without Judas there is no Cross. Without the cross there is no redemption. But this is not a case of God coercing evil. Rather it is a glorious case of God's redemptive triumph over evil. The evil desires of men's hearts cannot thwart God's sovereignty. Indeed they are subject to it."

Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.  (Luke 22:3-6)

"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." Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, "Rabbi, is it I?" He said to him, "You have said it."  (Matt 26:24-25)

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. (John 17:12)

I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me. (John 13:18)

Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?" He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve. (John 6:70-71)

Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; (Acts 1:16)

Scripture quotes from the NKJV (Thomas Nelson Publishers)
R.C. Sproul quote from the book, Chosen By God (Tyndall House Publishers, Inc.)

ELECTION UNTO HOLINESS

The so-called Five Points of Calvinism are cast in a negative form and can in some ways be misleading. Nonetheless we cannot change the course of history, and so the Five Points have come down to us and we must learn to live with them.

Take the last four points — unconditional election, particular redemption [Christ died to save specific people], the efficacious call of God and the preserving work of God in all whom he has called and joined to his Son:

What is the focal point in all of these? The ultimate focal point, of course, is the display of the glory of God’s grace, as we read in Ephesians 1; but as the immediate focal point, how is that glory displayed? By what means?  By the taking of totally depraved creatures and making them wholly men and women in whom the very likeness of God’s Son can be seen.

What is the goal of election? Ephesians 1:4 tells us: ‘According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that’ . . . we should glory in our election? No! But ‘that we should be holy and without blemish before him’. Election unto holiness!

What is the goal of the atoning work of Christ? Listen to the testimony of Titus 2:14: ‘Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people as his distinct possession, zealous of good works’. He died to have a holy people ‘zealous of good works’.

__Albert N. Martin

(This is an excerpt from Albert Martin's The Practical Implications of Calvinism. Read the entire article,  posted at Let Us Repent and Believe.)

Reformed Theology As Explained By Jesus

“I have my own private opinion, that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what is nowadays called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else. I do not believe we can preach the gospel unless we preach the sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah; nor do I think we can preach the gospel unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of His elect and chosen which Christ wrought upon the Cross; nor can I comprehend a gospel which lets saints fall away after they are called.” – C. H. Spurgeon

Total Inability: Left to ourselves as fallen sinners, we are entirely unable and unwilling to choose God: “Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent Me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”” –John 6:43-44

Unconditional Election: God chose those whom He would save by His sovereign will and out of mercy, not according to any work of merit or faith foreseen in them: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, and that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you.” –John 15:16

Faith is the gift and work of God, not of ourselves: “Then they said to Him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”” –John 6:28-29

Effectual Calling: All those whom God calls to faith in Christ, He saves, without exception: “But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear His voice, and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all His own, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.” –John 10:2-4

Irresistible Grace: All people whom God chooses to save are utterly unable to resist His work in them or thwart His purpose for their salvation: “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never cast out.” –John 6:37

Eternal Security: It is impossible for those whom God gives saving faith in Christ to ever lose their salvation: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” –John 10:27-29

Definite Atonement: Christ came to die for a specific set of people out of the world: the elect, His own sheep: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” –John 10:14-15

“I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.” –John 17:9

God’s Foreknowledge and Eternal Purpose: Before He created the world, God knew whom He would save, and who would reject the gospel and not believe: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are the spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray Him.) And He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted him by the Father.” –John 6:63-65

Predestination: Christ did not only accomplish redemption for those who believed in Him before and during the time He lived on Earth, but for all those who would believe in Him in the future: “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.” –John 17:20-21

Soli Deo Gloria- To God Alone Be the Glory! Amen.

This is a re-posting from Joseph Boyd's Facebook page. (Re-Posted here by permission.)
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See also: Jesus' Commentary on John 3:16
And: Jesus' Comments on the "Five Points" of Calvinism

All For Whom Christ Died

If Jesus Christ were to stand on this platform to-night, what would many people do with him? "O!" say some, "we would make him a King." I do not believe it. They would crucify him again if they had the opportunity. If he were to come and say, "Here I am, I love you, will you be saved by me?" Not one
of you would consent if you were left to your will. If he should look upon you with those eyes, before whose power the lion would have crouched, if he spoke with that voice which poured forth a cataract of eloquence like a stream of nectar rolling down from the cliffs above, not a single person would come to be his disciple; no, it wants the power of the Spirit to make men come to Jesus Christ.

He himself said, "No man can come to me except the Father who hath sent me draw him." Ah! we want that; and here we have it. They shall come! They shall come! ye may laugh, ye may despise us; but Jesus Christ shall not die for nothing. If some of you reject him there are some that will not. If there are some that are not saved, others shall be. Christ shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands.

Some think that Christ died and yet that some for whom he died will be lost. I never could understand that doctrine. If Jesus my surety bore my griefs and carried my sorrows, I believe myself to be as secure as the angels in heaven. God cannot ask payment twice. If Christ paid my debt shall I have to pay it again? No.

From Charles H. Spurgeon's sermon, "HEAVEN AND HELL" based on the text: Matthew 8:11-12

Affirming Divine Sovereignty

R.C. Sproul's post at Ligonier today ties right in to the theme I have been posting about lately, so I've linked it here. Has R.C. been reading my blog; or should I chalk it up to Providence? : )

Reason to Rejoice

"Divine sovereignty is not the sovereignty of a tyrannical Despot, but the exercised pleasure of One who is infinitely wise and good! Because God is infinitely wise He cannot err, and because He is infinitely righteous He will not do wrong. Here then is the preciousness of this truth. The mere fact itself that God's will is irresistible and irreversible fills me with fear, but once I realize that God wills only that which is good, my heart is made to rejoice."

—Arthur W. Pink

This post is from Eddie Eddings' blog, "Facets of Grace" (used with permission)