Is There Evidence That Judas Was a Believer?

Summary

Grace in Focus – "Is There Evidence That Judas Was a Believer?"
Grace Evangelical Society | December 19, 2025
Hosts: Bob Wilkin & Sam Maher
Duration: Approximately 13 minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode addresses a frequently debated theological question: Was Judas Iscariot ever a true believer? Bob Wilkin and Sam Maher dig into listener Carlos’s question about Judas’s possible salvation status, examining relevant Scripture passages and arguments. They explore perspectives within Free Grace Theology and engage with common interpretations regarding assurance, regeneration, and what the New Testament actually says about Judas.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting Up the Controversy

• Topic Introduced (00:54):
  Bob frames the conversation—Did Judas ever experience new birth? Was he a believer from the beginning, or possibly at the end of his life?
  • Bob:

    "That's an extremely rare view. The people I know who believe that Judas was born again before he died think that he was born again between the time he betrayed Jesus and the time he committed suicide." (01:14)

  • The idea Judas was "born again from the beginning" is considered by Bob as having little to no scriptural support.

2. Evidence from Jesus Sending Out Disciples (Luke 9-10) (02:06)

• Argument Presented:
  Sam notes that Judas participated in casting out demons and healing via Jesus’s authority.
• Bob’s Response:
  Not everyone sent out was necessarily saved. Even among the 70 or 12, Judas is distinguished elsewhere as an exception.
  • Bob:

    "We know Judas is an exception for a number of verses. For example, in John 13:10 he says, you're clean, but not all of you. That was in reference to Judas." (02:36)

3. John 6:64 and Belief among the Disciples (03:10)

• Carlos’s Evidence:
  Points to Jesus’s teaching about the "bread from heaven" and the disciples' reactions. Some disciples walked away, but Judas stayed.
• Bob’s Reasoning:
  Staying doesn’t prove belief. Some who stayed were still unbelievers, as was Judas.
  • Bob:

    "The simple Explanation of John 6:60, 66 is there were believers who departed and there were believers who stayed. ... There were unbelievers who departed and there were unbelievers who stayed. Judas probably wasn't the only unbeliever who stayed." (05:03)

4. John 13 and The Cleansing of the Disciples (05:43)

• Discussion of “Cleanliness”:
  Sam tries to parse whether "You are clean, but not all of you" (John 13:10) refers to positional salvation or fellowship.
• Bob’s Explanation:
  Double meaning:
  • Positionally clean: All but Judas had new birth.
  • Ongoing cleansing: All need regular forgiveness (foot washing = ongoing cleansing after salvation).
  • Bob:

    "They were all positionally clean except Judas. Number two, they all needed their feet washed for fellowship, forgiveness." (06:10)

• Reinforcement:

  "At the moment of faith, a person is clean, but that person needs ongoing cleansing. That's the foot washing." (07:28)

5. Acts 1:25 – “Judas went to his own place” (08:29)

• Carlos’s Argument:
  If Judas fell from "ministry and apostleship," did he fall only out of fellowship, not salvation?
• Bob’s Review of Commentators:
  • FF Bruce, Newman & Nida, and Jamison-Fausset-Brown see "his own place" as a euphemism for judgment or damnation (bad part of Sheol/Hades).
  • If Judas was originally set for the Twelve’s reward, his removal implies he never truly believed.
  • Possibility remains (though not evidenced) that Judas could have believed in the window between betrayal and death.

6. Key Theological Principle: Assurance Based on Faith (11:11)

• Bob’s Summary Statement:

  "Anybody who believes in Jesus has everlasting life, even Judas. So if Judas had ever believed in Jesus for the gift of everlasting life, then he's with the Lord today. But I don't see any evidence that he ever did. We're never told he believed. We’re told he's the Son of perdition. We're told he's not clean. We're told he went to his own place." (11:11)

• Cautions:
  • Some universalists claim Judas (and all) will be saved, but Jesus warned the way is narrow (Matthew 7:13–14).
  • The overarching call: "Study the Scriptures... it’s profitable." (2 Timothy 3:16–17)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On rare views about Judas's salvation:
  “That’s an extremely rare view...” (Bob, 01:14)
• On John 6 and the walking away of disciples:
  “Some of those who departed were unbelievers doesn’t prove that Judas was a believer because he didn’t depart.” (Bob, 05:03)
• On John 13 and cleansing:
  “At the moment of faith, a person is clean, but that person needs ongoing cleansing. That’s the foot washing.” (Bob, 07:28)
• On Judas’s ultimate fate:
  “It’s highly likely that Judas is right now in the bad part of Hades. But it is remotely possible he came to faith between when he betrayed Jesus and when he died.” (Bob, 11:55)
• Closing encouragement:
  “I’d encourage all of you to study the Scriptures because it’s all profitable.” (Bob, 12:24)
• Final sign-off:
  “Keep grace in focus.” (Sam, 12:38)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:54 – Question posed: Was Judas a believer?
• 02:06 – Review of Judas’s ministry powers and what that implies.
• 03:10–05:43 – Deep dive into John 6:64, 66, and the implications of believing/disbelieving disciples.
• 05:43–07:35 – John 13 and issues of spiritual cleanliness and ongoing cleansing.
• 08:29–11:55 – Discussion of Acts 1:25 and interpretations of "his own place."
• 11:11–12:38 – Summary: Is there any evidence Judas was a believer? The call to personal study and faith.

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Conclusion

Bob Wilkin and Sam Maher carefully weigh scriptural evidence and historic interpretations, ultimately concluding that there is no clear biblical evidence that Judas was ever a believer, though the remote possibility remains if he had a last-minute change of heart before his death. They distinguish between those who participate in ministry and those who possess true faith, highlighting Judas as a cautionary example and urging listeners toward personal study and assurance rooted in Christ.

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Transcript

[A]

The following is a listener supported ministry from the Grace Evangelical Society. Is there evidence that Judas was or was not a believer? Is it possible that he was a believer? This and other questions just ahead here on Grace in Focus. Glad you are joining us today. This is a ministry of the Grace Evangelical Society in North Texas. Our website is faithalone.org and we invite you to go there and get information about our upcoming national annual conference in 2026. The dates May 18th through the 21st. Plan now to be with us for a great time of fellowship and learning. It is family friendly, so come get the information you need and get registered faithalone.org and now with today's question and answer discussion, here are Bob Wilkin and Sam Maher.

[B]

Alright Sam, I believe you have a quite controversial question from Carlos. And he's basically asking, is there evidence that Judas was born again before he died?

[C]

I think Carlos is asserting that Judas was born again from the very beginning of the ministry alongside the other disciples.

[B]

Okay, so that's an extremely rare view. The people I know who believe that Judas was born again before he died think that he was born again between the time he betrayed Jesus and the time he committed suicide. That what happened was he betrayed Jesus, then he felt great remorse over it, which the scriptures say he regretted betraying Jesus. And some people interpret that to mean that he believed in Jesus for his eternal salvation and that even though he committed suicide, that can't undo the new birth. And so Judas went to be with the Lord, et cetera. But the idea that Judas was born again from the beginning, the evidence isn't there. But let's hear the evidence Carlos has, and then I'll see if I can shoot it down.

[C]

Okay, so he let's start with the disciples being sent out with authority to cast out demons and to cure diseases and heal the sick.

[B]

Okay, so in Luke, we're told that he sent out 70 disciples. Right?

[C]

Well, Luke 9, he sends out the 12 disciples, specifically the 12. And he says, I give you power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases. And then in chapter 10, he sends the 70 out, says something similar. And then halfway through chapter 10, the 70 return.

[B]

Yeah. In verse 20 he says, don't rejoice the demons are subject to you. Rejoice, your names are written in heaven. The thing about that is that doesn't mean that all 70 of the people had their names recorded in heaven. Hypothetically it could, but we know Judas is an exception for a number of verses. For example, in John 13:10 he says, you're clean, but not all of you. That was in reference to Judas. And we do know from John 6:64, some of Jesus disciples did not believe in him.

[C]

Yeah, that's the next one we should get into. That's another one that he cites as being a defense.

[B]

So I would say this. Judas cast out demons. Judas probably was preaching the kingdom, saying, the kingdom is coming, the Messiah is offering the kingdom. But Judas did not believe that by faith in Jesus he had everlasting life. The evidence for that is Jesus calls him the Son of perdition. And that is not something you would say of a born again person. We do know that he says you're not clean while Judas is present in John 13:10, he says, but not all of you referring to Judas. So Judas was not spiritually cleansed at that point. But what other verses does he have?

[C]

Well then he's got John 6:60, 64, where Christ is teaching. He's talking about he's the bread which came down from heaven. And then verse 60 says, Therefore many of his disciples when they heard this, said, this is a hard saying. Who can understand this? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples complained about this, he said, does this offend you?

[B]

Right. And then in verse 64, he indicates that he knows some of those who are his disciples don't believe. Right?

[C]

Yes, 64, he says, but there are some of you who do not believe. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were, who did not believe and who would betray him.

[B]

Yeah, and it's interesting, it's some that don't believe. But didn't many go back. Look at verse 66.

[C]

Yep, many of his disciples went back and walked with him no more.

[B]

Yeah. Hodges makes the point that while many walked with him no more, some were unbelievers. Which Hodges argues that means some of those who walked with him no more were believers.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Which is of course Carlos's argument. He's saying, but Judas didn't depart. And so here's what I would say. The simple Explanation of John 6:60, 66 is there were believers who departed and there were believers who stayed. And in fact, Jesus said, you're not leaving too, are you? To the twelve, there were unbelievers who departed and there were unbelievers who stayed. Judas probably wasn't the only unbeliever who stayed. The fact that some of those who departed were unbelievers doesn't prove that Judas was a believer because he didn't depart. Right.

[C]

His next one, also in John, and this is a bigger one, talking about the cleanliness here. And this is where I think this conversation has deeper implications. So your understanding of this verse would be, you're all clean, but your feet still need to be washed. That means they were believers, they were born again, they had everlasting life. But just like First John 1:9 talks about, you still need to ask forgiveness so that you can be forgiven and cleansed of all unrighteousness.

[B]

Okay, now that's partially what I believe. I think there's a double meaning. When he says, you are clean, but not all of you. It goes on to say, for he knew who would betray him, therefore he said, you were not all clean. So at the very least, that referred to Judas. But I would argue that it also referred to the fact that not all of Peter was clean. He needed his feet washed, and all of the disciples needed their feet washed. And so I think it's a double meaning. Number one, they were all positionally clean except Judas. Number two, they all needed their feet washed for fellowship, forgiveness. Remember that in Titus 3:5, Paul speaks of the washing of regeneration. At the moment we're born again, we're cleansed. But first John 1:7 says, if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, then the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. And first John 1:9 says, if we confess our sins, he's faithful to forgive us our sins, that is those we confess, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, including the ones we didn't confess. So I see in John 13 a teaching about cleansing. Not forgiveness per se, but about cleansing. And what he's saying is, at the moment of faith, a person is clean, but that person needs ongoing cleansing. That's the foot washing.

[A]

We will rejoin in just a moment. But years ago, Zane Hodges wrote the Gospel Under Siege. Sadly, this is still true, and GES president Bob Wilkin has recently written its sequel. Bob's new book, the Gospel Is Still Under Siege, is a book about theological clarity on the biblical teaching about eternal salvation. It is available now Secure yours today at the Grace Evangelical Society's bookstore. Find [e-mail] store. That's faithalone.org store. Now back to today's content.

[B]

I don't think this verse supports the idea that Judas is born again. I think this supports the view that Judas is not yet born again. That's why he says, but not all of you. Judas was not clean in his position. The issue here is not fellowship. The issue here is positional cleansing. I agree.

[C]

And if you make the argument that this is not talking about positional cleansing, then there's so many other verses that you have to deal with, like the ones you just mentioned. I wouldn't make that argument. The last verse I want to look at with you that he cites is Acts 1:25. It says to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. So what Carlos is arguing here is if Judas was part of the ministry and apostleship and he fell because of a transgression, then that means he must have been a believer. But he fell out of fellowship by his transgression, by bad works.

[B]

Okay, now this is the verse Acts 1:25 that I think may well suggest that Judas went to part of Sheol. Notice what he says here. Matthias was chosen by Lot to take Judas's place. So Judas originally was going to be one of the 12 sitting on the 12 thrones, ruling over the 12 tribes of Israel. If he was a believer, that's what would have happened to him. But because he wasn't, his place was taken by Matthias. And what does it mean? He went to his own place. Obviously his own place wasn't sitting on one of the 12 thrones. And here's what some commentators say. I look this up. FF Bruce says the reference to Judas is going to his own place is no doubt euphemistic, meaning it's not literally talking about place. But they're avoiding saying he went to hell, but the reticence with which they alluded to his fate might be marked and emulated. The circumstances of his death gave them little ground for optimism in this regard. But they would not take it on themselves to say what his own place was. And by hell, I mean Sheol or Hades. And the bad part of it, here's what Newman and Nida say in their handbook on Acts, the place where he belongs is literally his own place. But the meaning is that Judas went to the place that was proper for him, that is he got what he deserved. Now, I suppose you could argue he just died. He went to Sheol or Hades, but not necessarily the good or bad part. You could argue that. So it's possible. You could argue, as I have friends that do, that say he came to Faith between the time he betrayed Jesus and the time at which he committed suicide. Okay, that might be possible. Here's a third quote. Jamison, Fawcett and Brown say that he might go to his own place is euphemistic or softened expression of the awful future of the Traitor. In other words, they think he's headed to the bad part of Sheol. In any case, Carlos, I appreciate your question. Let me make this clear, Sam, and I know you agree with me. Anybody who believes in Jesus has everlasting life, even Judas. So if Judas had ever believed in Jesus for the gift of everlasting life, then he's with the Lord today. But I don't see any evidence that he ever did. We're never told he believed. We're told he's the Son of perdition. We're. We're told he's not clean. We're told he went to his own place. It's highly likely that Judas is right now in the bad part of Hades. But it is remotely possible he came to faith between when he betrayed Jesus and when he died. And if so, he's with the Lord now. Good question. Obviously, people that study the Bible can hold this view. But I also know people hold this view who are universalists. And that is a position we can't sustain because the Scriptures are clear. We do know from Matthew 7, 13 and 14 is the way is narrow that lead to life and few find it. And so it's not the vast majority of people who come to faith in Christ and find the way, the truth and the life which is Jesus. So I hope that you find this helpful. I'd encourage all of you to study the Scriptures because it's all profitable. Second Timothy 3, 16, 17. Well, in the meantime, Saint, what are we going to do?

[C]

Keep grace in focus.

[A]

Read many from our library of thousands of free magazine and journal articles [e-mail] resources. That's faithalone.org did you miss an episode of Grace in Focus that you really wanted to hear? Just come to faithalone.org and that's faithalone.org we have all our past episodes right there on the site. Our team is really great about answering questions, comments and feedback. If you've got some, we hope to hear from you. Let me give you our email address so you can do just that. It's radioaithalone.org that's radioaithalone.org now friend. We thank you so much for being with us all this week on Grace and Focus. Have a great weekend. Don't be too busy to fellowship with others in a Bible teaching, Bible believing church. Let's meet again next week and until then, let's keep grace in focus. The proceeding has been a listener supported ministry from the Grace Evangelical Society.