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Could Judas have repented?

The full Biblical answer is yes and no. No because of Judas’ heart. Yes because God could do anything. With a full Biblical perspective, we can say that, like Judas, all humanity has the potential freedom to do the right thing, even though God knows ahead of time all the wrongs we will do. This is what makes us responsible for our sin. We are able but not willing, which is as good as unable, and enough to make us guilty. All humanity knows the difference between right and wrong (Romans 2:14-15) we just don’t do it, apart from a work of God, (Ephesians 2:8) because we are spiritually dead because of sin. (Ephesians 2:1) We have all the potential for doing right, but we don’t want to do what is right. Instead we love the darkness. (John 3:19) This is why the Apostle Paul can say that those who are not in Christ “cannot” submit to His good law (Romans 8:7) and yet still claim we are all still accountable for sin.

Because of sin, we each individually need a miracle of grace. So despite that God knows the future, we can say that moments where Judas was given a seat at the table was yet another opportunity for Judas to repent and do the right thing. Just because God knew what would happen does not take away either Judas’ capability or responsibility to do what is right.

Every moment Judas lived was an opportunity to repent. Now, the following is purely speculative, but if Judas had repented, that would have been a good thing, but like all repentance, that would have been something granted by God, (2 Timothy 2:25) and that would have somehow also been part of God’s plan of redemption, in some other way, perhaps through another kind of betrayal, or simply an arrest.

But that would have been God’s knowledge from the beginning. God’s knowledge doesn’t change as time goes on. God has created a world with creatures who make free choices that they are responsible for, and God knows every one of those decisions. Somehow, though it may hard to understand, both are true: We will all do exactly as God has always known we would do, and yet we freely make those choices.

By knowing everything that would happen before He created, and creating the world He did anyway, God has predestined everything. Humanity is bound to do what God knows we will freely do. So calling Jesus’ kindness and friendship to Judas a kind of invitation to repent is not disingenuous. Those opportunities for him to turn around simply serve to highlight the depth of the wickedness of sin, in Judas (and the rest of humanity), apart from God’s intervention.

Through this example we can be further thankful for the grace God has shown to each one of us who do trust in Christ! If you know and trust God it is because God has intervened in a miraculous and gracious way.

Share your thoughts or questions in the comments below!

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