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

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.

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)

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)

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.

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.