Bible Study Judas Iscariot

[Sinthesis]

Is giving up his life for the sake of his people preferable to living his life for the sake of his people?

 

[Guest]

Is giving up his life for the sake of his people preferable to living his life for the sake of his people?

Why didn't the Palestinians let Samson marry his woman? That's what began his hatred towards them. At the end of his life, he was in captivity. How can you live your life for the sake of your people when you're in captivity and have been physically blinded by your enemy.

 

[Sinthesis]

Is giving up his life for the sake of his people preferable to living his life for the sake of his people?

Why didn't the Palestinians let Samson marry his woman? That's what began his hatred towards them. At the end of his life, he was in captivity. How can you live your life for the sake of your people when you're in captivity and have been physically blinded by your enemy.

As a Israelite, Samson was not supposed to marry a Philistine woman.

Paul spent the last years of his life blind and in chains seeking to save gentiles. Samson, blind and in chains, brought the world down around him to kill gentiles. Here stands a stark contrast between the accepted ways of God's People before and after Jesus' work, because both Samson and Paul were men of Faith in God.

 

[Guest]

[MENTION=8173]Sinthesis[/MENTION] why do you think Samson killed himself.

 

[Sinthesis]

Vengeance, but of course God used this act as judgment on the Philistines as well.

Jdg 16:28 ¶ And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
Jdg 16:29 - And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.
Jdg 16:30 - And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with [all his] might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that [were] therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than [they] which he slew in his life.​

Being blind he might not have known for certain he would die, thus the prayer for death. Samson isn't the only biblical character to pray for death.

 

[Guest]

[MENTION=8173]Sinthesis[/MENTION] this wasn't suicide, notice that he prayed to the Lord for strength, and he got his strength back. Is that not the Lord's will? Notice that they plucked his eyes out, he could no longer protect his people from the Philistines because he was blind now. Also keep in mind that Samson was in captivity. If you were Samson, what would you have done? blind and in captivity.

 

[Guest]

@Sinthesis better yet, show me one born again christian that has slit their wrists in the bathroom and killed themselves because they were depressed.

 

[Sinthesis]

Neither Samson nor Judas were Christian because there could be no Christianity before the resurrection. Perhaps not even until Pentecost. Neither Samson's nor Judas' final acts were Christian in nature, but they were not supposed to be. Samson was blinded both literally and figuratively in that he could no longer see any other use for himself beyond killing more philistines. Kind of like a second millennium BC suicide bomber.

 

[Guest]

Neither Samson nor Judas were Christian because there could be no Christianity before the resurrection. Perhaps not even until Pentecost. Neither Samson's nor Judas' final acts were Christian in nature, but they were not supposed to be.

Then why did the Holy Spirit appear in the OT? Is the Holy Spirit not part of Christianity? Was Jesus walking the earth teaching ministry not part of Christianity? So based upon your belief, Christ didn't judge Judas for deceiving him because Christ wasn't dead yet? lol. Judas is the reason he is dead.

What is Christianity to you, and what is your belief in who Jesus Christ is? Can you please reply to quote or use mention/username. The way to use mention is type @username. This way I know you wrote back to me.

 

[Atonement]

Blessings to you in our Lord Jesus Christ

Judas undoubtedly committed serious sins, but so have many people that we consider saints today. Consider the apostle Peter. He denied Christ three times, was not present at the foot of the cross during Jesus' crucifixion, and he hid in the upper room after Jesus' resurrection for fear of the Roman soldiers. However, today, Peter is considered the "rock" upon which the Church is built. What about the good thief who was crucified next to Jesus? He wholeheartedly believed in Jesus and repented when he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Luke 23:42). We know that this thief entered the kingdom of heaven because of Jesus' reply to him: "Today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).

In Judas' case, we just don't know where he remains for eternity. His sins were extremely serious. He betrayed the Son of Man for 30 pieces of silver. We're uncertain about what his motivations were. Scripture only tells us, "Then Satan entered into Judas" (Luke 22:3). If Judas was completely under the influence of the Evil One at the time, then is he fully responsible for his actions? We can tell that Judas regretted his actions because he tried to return the money.

Prior to the betrayal, Judas' only recorded sin was stealing from the money box. The other 11 apostles had accounts recorded of them of sins which included unbelief, lust for position and power, not being mindful of the things of the spirit but of man, all the disciples left Him, Peter denied Him 3 times in one night, falsely condemning people to fire when Jesus said He came to save, etc.

Many in the 2nd and 3rd century taught Judas hung himself to get to Hades ahead of Jesus and meet Him there because he knew He (Jesus) had entered His Kingdom through death. (Origin, Theophanes, Theophylact, etc.)

The immediate question that is raised here is "why?" Why didn't Judas ask for forgiveness? He knew that Jesus had a heart for the sinners, and saw Him forgive many that had repented and turned away from their sins. So why did he have to end his life? We're uncertain if Satan completely took control of him when he betrayed Jesus. Because we don't know this, we really can't tell whether Judas is now living in eternal pain and agony or eternal glory. Only God knows the final destination of Judas' soul.


God Bless


Edited - Line in red

 

[Guest]

[MENTION=90960]Atonement[/MENTION] Do you think his prophets when walking with him were so sinful because the resurrection and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit hadn't occurred yet? Why were they followers in the first place, was it curiosity of who he was? How does God judge people before the resurrection had taken place? Was everybody considered an unbeliever before the resurrection?

 

[Atonement]

[MENTION=90960]Atonement[/MENTION] Do you think his prophets when walking with him were so sinful because the resurrection and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit hadn't occurred yet? Why were they followers in the first place, was it curiosity of who he was? How does God judge people before the resurrection had taken place? Was everybody considered an unbeliever before the resurrection?

Greetings to you in our Lord Christ Jesus

Thank you for the reply urk, let me break your question(s) down and try to explain them the best I know how:

1) Do you think his prophets when walking with him were so sinful because the resurrection and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit hadn't occurred yet?

My response:

When we open the Bible which is the Authority of the Word of God, we find no passages that relate directly or indirectly to this first question. What we do know from Scripture, is that mankind had fallen because of the acts of Adam and Eve from the time of Genesis. I wouldn't say these men were "prophets" but rather apostles. That I believe will help me, at least clarify my position on who these men were. You asked about the Holy Spirit that had not been given until Pentecost (50 days after the resurrection). Paul clearly teaches us in Romans that all have fallen short of God's Glory, so to answer the first part of your question, no - it was not because the Holy Spirit had not come down yet, it was because of a fallen world in which we live.

2) Why were they followers in the first place, was it curiosity of who he was?

My response:

Again when we open the Word of God there is no passage that inclines us to believe either one way or they other. However, it does state that the disciples marveled at some of the miracles Jesus had been doing. For example - The feeding of 5000 men with five loaves and two fish, the rebuking of the storm, raising Lazarus from the dead and others. So speaking to you urk as a man myself, I believe there was some curiosity to this man they were following.

3) How does God judge people before the resurrection had taken place?

My response:

Before the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, God judged men by the Torah or the law that was passed down by Moses.

4) Was everybody considered an unbeliever before the resurrection?

My response:

Please read these passages and tell me what you see in common -

Hebrews 11: 4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: "He could not be found, because God had taken him away." For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Hebrews 11:9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

Hebrews 11:11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.

Hebrews 11:13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.

The theme here is Faith - so to answer your question, no not everyone before the resurrection was considered a unbeliever because great men like David, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Samuel etc. all had faith and it was by their faith that God used them to fulfill His Word..

I hope this has answered your question..

God Bless and have a wonderful week

 

[Guest]

[MENTION=90960]Atonement[/MENTION] Ty for awesome response. Also, I've recently learned that believers indwelled with the Holy Spirit can still be tempted by Satan, but Satan cannot possess their souls any longer because of the blood of Christ. Temptation and possession are two different things. Since Judas existed before the resurrection and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, do you think he was tempted or possessed by Satan to deceive Jesus. Do you think a born again christian that is indwelled with the Holy Spirit is able to commit suicide? Lastly, do you consider Judas an apostate/false prophet? Blessings.

 

[Atonement]

Greetings again to you urk

Let me begin by first saying I agree that, as Christians we are still able to be tempted by Satan, but he is not able to "posses" the Christian.

Paul's letter to the saints of Ephesus speaks about Spiritual Warfare in Ephesians 6:10-20

Since Judas existed before the resurrection and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, do you think he was tempted or possessed by Satan to deceive Jesus

Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples,

Do you think a born again christian that is indwelled with the Holy Spirit is able to commit suicide?

This can be a tough one to answer..

The Holy Spirit was given to us, to help minister to our spirits, guide us spiritually and seal us with a promise. However, we do live in a sinful fallen world, and if not careful we can allow this world and the weight (circumstances) of this world to cause us despair. Can a person take their own life if having the Holy Spirit? I'm not sure, but I believe they possibly can, but I believe that their conscience (spirit) would be telling them not too.

Is this a forgivable sin? The Bible say's all sin is forgivable except for blasphemy of the Holy Spirit which is to refuse Christ as Lord and Savior. So I would have to say it is, but I like to leave this up to God and His righteous judgement.

Lastly, do you consider Judas an apostate/false prophet?

I would not use the term "false" apostle, but I would suggest that we do not follow in his footsteps nor consider his ways.

Again hope this helps

God Bless

 

[Dan1966]

It is not our place to say one way or the other.

 

[cgl1023]

Is Judas Iscariot in Heaven or Hell?

Based on the account in the 4 Gospels and the book of Acts, He would have gone to hell. He was dead before the day of Pentecost which is the start of the Christian era. He would have had no redeemer when he died and he would have died a Jew. His status does depend on what happened after Jesus preached in hell and "led captivity captive" (Eph 4:8).

 

[Mizzy]

Is giving up his life for the sake of his people preferable to living his life for the sake of his people?

Jesus thought so.

As for Judas: Jesus died for Judas just as He did me. Did Judas realize this & repent or was his repentance just a continuance of his errant ways? We cannot know.

 

[turnorburn]

Jesus said of Judas..

John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

tob