Our Q&A comments were submitted to Perplexity for review, commentary, and emphasis. The goal was to illuminate key themes and draw out richer connections for reflection. As part of this process, Perplexity also sourced relevant URLs for further study, adding useful context to the discussion.
Fundamentals of the Faith Sunday School notes – various Q&As on Lesson 6, “Salvation:
According to fundamental Christianity, people do not seek after God on their own, apart from God’s active spiritual drawing or initiative. The prevailing doctrinal stance, especially among fundamentalists and many evangelical traditions, is that humanity in its natural, sinful state is not inclined to genuinely seek God for Himself. Instead, the desire to seek God is seen as a result of God’s prior action in drawing or awakening a person spiritually.
Biblical Foundations
Fundamental Christianity cites passages like Romans 3:10-12 (“There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God”) and John 6:44 (“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them”) as explicit evidence that, left to themselves, people do not seek God in a saving or wholehearted way. This is tied to the belief in the total depravity of human nature, meaning that, because of original sin, humans do not naturally desire or pursue God or His ways.[1][2][3]
The Role of God’s Initiative
Fundamentalist doctrine emphasizes the importance of “divine initiative,” meaning that God must act first in the heart of an individual—by the Holy Spirit—before the person is enabled and inclined to seek Him genuinely. Any true seeking of God, faith, or repentance is attributed to God’s grace and not to human effort or merit. Human response, in this view, is always a result of God drawing, prompting, or regenerating the individual.[4][5][6][1]
Seeking Without God’s Drawing
While some passages suggest that people may appear to “seek” for spiritual things or fulfillment, these efforts are regarded, in fundamental Christianity, as ultimately self-centered or misguided unless prompted by God. For example, people may seek pleasure, relief, or purpose, but not God Himself in purity of heart unless God intervenes.[7][1]
Key Implications
– Salvation and faith are seen as entirely acts of divine grace—humans cannot take credit for seeking God or coming to faith, as both are gifts from God.[6][1]
– Churches and ministries labor in prayer and evangelism asking for God’s Spirit to bring conviction and draw people into relationship with Himself, since spiritual hunger is viewed as God’s work within a person.
In summary, fundamental Christianity teaches that apart from God’s spiritual drawing, people do not seek Him; all genuine seeking is prompted by divine initiative, not human willpower.[1][4][6]
Sources
[1] What does it mean that no one seeks God? | GotQuestions.org https://www.gotquestions.org/
[2] Can humans come to Christ without God’s drawing? – Facebook https://www.facebook.com/
[3] If No One Seeks God, How Is Anyone Saved? https://www.desiringgod.org/
[4] The concept of Divine initiative in Christianity https://www.wisdomlib.org/
[5] Topical Bible: Human Response to Divine Initiative https://biblehub.com/topical/
[6] The Divine Initiative | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at … https://learn.ligonier.org/
[7] If No One Seeks after God Unless God Draws Him and Grace Is … https://www.epm.org/resources/
[8] Discovering God’s Purpose for Your Life – C.S. Lewis Institute https://www.cslewisinstitute.
[9] A Guide to Ushering the Presence of God: A Dozen Sacred Ways for … https://club31women.com/
[10] Simplicity of Faith in Seeking God – Facebook https://www.facebook.com/
[11] Unpacking the Difference Between God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit https://www.theorchard.church/
[12] The Word of God or Spirit of God? – Ways to Learn at Ligonier.org https://learn.ligonier.org/
[13] Do the Will You Know: The First Step for Further Guidance https://www.desiringgod.org/
[14] Do you believe it’s possible for someone to genuinely seek God and … https://www.reddit.com/r/
[15] “Holy Scripture: A Dogmatic Sketch” by John Webster https://www.modernreformation.
[16] [PDF] an analysis of christian fundamentalists, the faith-based initiative … https://houstonlawreview.org/
[17] How do I know when God is drawing me to himself? https://christianity.net.au/
[18] The Place of Mary in Classical Fundamentalism (Pt. 2) | EWTN https://www.ewtn.com/
[19] The Chronicler Teaches Us What it Means to “Seek” the Lord https://kennethberding.com/
[20] Will the Fundamentalists Win? A Question Revisited – Whosoever https://whosoever.org/will-
2 Timothy 2:25 instructs that those who oppose the truth should be corrected or instructed with gentleness and humility. The purpose of this gentle correction is the hope that God will grant repentance to those individuals, leading them to a true knowledge of the gospel and the truth. This reflects an attitude of kindness and patience rather than harshness or wrath when addressing opponents or those in error.
The verse highlights the balance in Christian leadership between firmly standing for the truth and responding to opposition with a humble, gentle spirit. The goal is not to win arguments or provoke resentment but to lead others toward repentance—a change of heart and mind that ultimately results in their embracing and knowing the truth of God.
Thus, 2 Timothy 2:25 emphasizes God’s role in granting repentance while also calling believers to exercise gentle, respectful correction, trusting that God will work in people’s hearts to bring about transformation and understanding of the truth.[1][2][3][4]
This ties closely with the earlier discussion about divine drawing and human response: correction and instruction are means God uses to lead people toward repentance, but the actual change of heart is by God’s grace. Believers are to be instruments of this process, marked by patience and gentleness.
Sources
[1] Confronting Errors (2 Timothy 2:25-26) – Life Meets Theology https://lifemeetstheology.com/
[2] What does 2 Timothy 2:25 mean? – BibleRef.com https://www.bibleref.com/2-
[3] 2 Timothy 2:25 Commentaries: with gentleness correcting those who … https://biblehub.com/
[4] 2 Timothy 2:25—Is repentance a gift of God or an act of man? https://defendinginerrancy.
[5] Correcting Those Who Are in Opposition (2 Timothy 2:25) – YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?
[6] Repentance and God’s Will in 2 Timothy 2:25-26 – Facebook https://www.facebook.com/
[7] If God Desires All to Be Saved, Why Aren’t They? https://www.desiringgod.org/
[8] 2 Timothy 2:25 – Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope t… https://www.biblestudytools.
Theologians reconcile repentance as both a divine gift and a human choice by emphasizing the interplay between God’s sovereign grace and human responsibility. Repentance is understood as a grace given by God—He grants people the spiritual ability and conviction to turn from sin, which is necessary because humans in their natural state are not inclined to seek God. Verses like Acts 11:18 and 2 Timothy 2:25 affirm that repentance is “granted” or “given” by God, highlighting its divine origin.
At the same time, repentance involves a real, voluntary human response: turning away from sin and turning toward God. While God enables repentance by changing the heart (often called regeneration or being born again), humans must actively choose to embrace that turning. This means repentance is not forced or coerced by God but is a willing and deliberate decision empowered by God’s grace. True repentance is inseparable from faith; one cannot genuinely repent without faith, and faith naturally produces repentance.
Reformed theologians like John Calvin taught that repentance flows from faith and regeneration, not the other way around. Repentance is both commanded in Scripture and empowered by God’s work within the individual. The human role is responsive, choosing to accept and walk in the grace God provides.
In summary, repentance as a gift refers to God’s enabling grace to change the heart and mind, and repentance as a human choice refers to the willing response to that grace, involving humble turning from sin toward God. Both aspects perfectly coexist in the biblical and theological understanding of repentance.[1][2][3][4][5]
This reconciliation aligns well with 2 Timothy 2:25’s call for gentle correction in the hope that God grants repentance—a divine gift leading to knowledge of truth, which humans must embrace by faith and choice.
Sources
[1] Repentance – The Obligation and Gift – BRIDGE Ministries https://bridgeminlaredo.org/
[2] Topical Bible: Gift of Repentance https://biblehub.com/topical/
[3] Ten Facts You Should Know About Repentance https://www.cgi.org/ten-facts-
[4] How Seeing Repentance as a Gift From God Helps You in Counseling https://biblicalcounseling.
[5] Repentance – The Gospel Coalition https://www.
[6] Reconciling with One Another: Repentance – Grace Church Greeley https://www.gracegreeley.org/
[7] THE GIFT OF RECONCILIATION… | Kirk’s Journal https://klzehnder.com/2021/12/
[8] Theology Thursday: Reconciliation | GCU Blog https://www.gcu.edu/blog/
[9] True repentance is never a “choice” through freewill, it’s the work of … https://www.facebook.com/
[10] Repent (It is not optional) – Jesus Restores https://www.jesusrestores.com/
[11] Two Differences between Forgiveness and Reconciliation https://www.
[12] Forgiveness and Reconciliation Are Not the Same Thing https://in.thegospelcoalition.
[13] The Gift of Repentance: Choose to Repent and Continue to Repent https://speeches.byuh.edu/
[14] The Gift of Repentance by Burk Parsons – Ligonier Ministries https://learn.ligonier.org/
[15] Understanding true repentance in Christianity – Facebook https://www.facebook.com/
[16] Repent and Believe – The Master’s University https://www.masters.edu/
[17] Shall All Be Saved? David Bentley Hart’s Vision of Universal … https://christianscholars.com/
[18] Repentance and Faith: God’s Gifts to Us in Christ – John H Armstrong https://johnharmstrong.com/
[19] Is Repentance a gift : r/TrueChristian – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/
[20] The Divine Gift of Repentance https://www.
In fundamental Christianity and many traditional Christian theologies, the belief that some people are destined for hell hinges on several key doctrinal points related to human sinfulness, divine justice, and God’s sovereign will.
Human Sin and Rebellion
All humans are considered inherently sinful due to original sin and personal disobedience, resulting in separation from God. Because God is perfectly holy and just, sin cannot be ignored or tolerated; it requires judgment. Hell is understood as the just and righteous consequence of unrepented sin and rebellion against God.
Divine Justice and Holiness
God’s nature demands justice and holiness. Those who reject God’s offer of salvation through Jesus Christ remain under the just condemnation of their sins. Hell is thus the place of eternal separation from God, reserved for those who die in unrepentance and unbelief.
Human Choice and Divine Drawing
Fundamental Christianity teaches that God draws people spiritually toward Himself and grants the gift of repentance and faith, without which one cannot be saved. Those who reject or resist God’s drawing and grace remain in their sinful state, freely choosing to reject God’s salvation. This voluntary rejection is a fundamental reason some are destined for hell.
The Mystery of Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
While humans have real responsibility for their choices, fundamental Christianity also holds that God’s sovereign will ultimately determines salvation and judgment. The mystery of why some are drawn and saved and others not is tied to God’s purposes and justice—He is perfectly just and merciful, yet humans bear accountability for their acceptance or rejection of God’s grace.
In summary, some people are destined for hell because they remain in their sin and reject God’s gracious calling and salvation. Hell is seen not as arbitrary punishment but as the righteous consequence of persistent unbelief and rebellion, balanced by God’s justice, holiness, and human responsibility.[1][2][3][4]
Sources
[1] What does it mean that no one seeks God? | GotQuestions.org https://www.gotquestions.org/
[2] The concept of Divine initiative in Christianity https://www.wisdomlib.org/
[3] If No One Seeks after God Unless God Draws Him and Grace Is … https://www.epm.org/resources/
[4] The Divine Initiative | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at … https://learn.ligonier.org/
The Bible teaches that there are different levels or degrees of punishment in hell, with the severity of punishment corresponding to the degree of sin and the individual’s rejection of God. Several biblical passages indicate that the judgment and punishment in hell will be tailored specifically to the guilt, knowledge, and evil choices of each person.
Biblical Evidence for Degrees of Punishment
– Jesus said it would be “more bearable on the day of judgment” for some places (like Sodom, Tyre, and Sidon) than for others who heard the gospel but rejected it, implying varying degrees of punishment (Matthew 10:15; 11:22-24; Luke 10:12-14).
– Luke 12:47-48 tells of servants receiving different numbers of “stripes” (punishments) based on their knowledge and response to their master’s will.
– Revelation 20:12-13 describes people being judged “according to what they had done,” indicating individualized judgment.
– Romans 2:5 speaks of “storing up wrath” for oneself due to hard, impenitent hearts, suggesting accumulative consequences for sin.
Reasons for Different Degrees
The Bible suggests that degrees of punishment depend on factors like:
– The extent to which a person has abandoned themselves to sin.
– The amount of revelation and understanding one had but rejected.
– The personal responsibility one bore (greater knowledge brings greater accountability).
Theological Summary
Scripture portrays hell as a place of eternal conscious punishment, but the intensity and experience of that punishment will vary according to each individual’s sin and rejection of God. This reflects God’s perfect justice, ensuring the punishment fits the crime rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Thus, varying levels of punishment in hell reflect both the seriousness of sin and God’s righteous judgment tailored to each person’s life and choices.[1][2][3][4][5]
Sources
[1] Degrees of Punishment in Hell – The Gospel Coalition https://www.
[2] Are there different levels of punishment in hell? | GotQuestions.org https://www.gotquestions.org/
[3] Are There Different Degrees of Punishment in Hell? https://coldcasechristianity.
[4] Are there degrees of punishment in hell? | Christian Research Institute https://www.equip.org/bible_
[5] Degrees of Reward and Degrees of Punishment – Apologetics Press https://apologeticspress.org/
[6] Is Everyone Punished the Same in Hell? – Desiring God https://www.desiringgod.org/
[7] Is the “Hell has levels” thing Biblical or manmade? : r/TrueChristian https://www.reddit.com/r/
[8] Different Levels of Hell – Third Millennium Ministries https://thirdmill.org/answers/
[9] Are there degrees of punishment in hell? By Hank … – Facebook https://www.facebook.com/
[10] Does Luke 12:41-48 Teach Different Degrees of Punishment in Hell? https://truthmagazine.com/
[11] There will be different levels of punishment in hell! – Facebook https://www.facebook.com/
[12] Levels of Hell – What the Bible Really Says | Bible Study Tools https://www.biblestudytools.
[13] Will SOME PEOPLE be PUNISHED MORE in HELL than OTHERS https://www.youtube.com/watch?
[14] Hell Punishments, Nature of – Biblical Cyclopedia https://www.
[15] Degrees of Punishment | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at … https://learn.ligonier.org/
[16] Degrees of blessing in Heaven/Degrees of Torment in Hell https://puritanboard.com/
The Bible passages that most clearly imply degrees of punishment in hell focus on God’s justice, accountability based on knowledge and actions, and varied consequences for sin and rejection of God’s truth. Key passages include:
– Matthew 10:15 and 11:22-24: Jesus warns that it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for cities that rejected His message, indicating some punishments are more severe based on response to revelation.
– Luke 12:47-48: Jesus speaks of a servant receiving “many stripes” or “few stripes” according to how much they knew and disobeyed, showing different levels of punishment tied to accountability.
– Luke 10:12-14: Similar to Matthew, Jesus compares the judgment of towns that did not receive His disciples to ancient cities, suggesting different degrees of judgment.
– Revelation 20:12-13: People are judged “according to what they had done,” which indicates individualized and varied judgment based on works.
– Romans 2:5-6: Paul says God “will repay each person according to what they have done,” emphasizing personalized judgment and penalty for sin.
– John 19:11: Jesus tells Pilate that those who handed Him over have “greater sin,” implying degrees of guilt that relate to consequences.
These passages collectively imply that God’s judgment in hell is not uniform but proportionate to each person’s knowledge, response, and sin, resulting in different levels of punishment.[1][2][3][4]
Sources
[1] Degrees of Punishment in Hell – The Gospel Coalition https://www.
[2] Are there different levels of punishment in hell? | GotQuestions.org https://www.gotquestions.org/
[3] Are there degrees of punishment in hell? | Christian Research Institute https://www.equip.org/bible_
[4] Degrees of Reward and Degrees of Punishment – Apologetics Press https://apologeticspress.org/
Several Bible apologists and theologians have speculated and written in detail about the concept of different levels or degrees of punishment in hell, often drawing on biblical texts to support the idea that punishment is proportionate to the nature and severity of one’s sins as well as the degree of rejection of God’s truth.
Key Apologists and Perspectives:
– The Gospel Coalition and other Reformed apologists emphasize that although hell’s suffering will be eternal and severe for all, there will be varying degrees of suffering tailored to each individual’s sinfulness, influence on others, and rejection of the gospel. They highlight Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 10:15 and 11:22-24, and Luke 12:47-48 as foundational proof of this principle. The degree of punishment corresponds to “the extent to which a person has abandoned himself to sin” and “the amount of gospel-light that was rejected”.[2]
– Apologetics Press affirms that if there are degrees of reward in heaven, there logically must also be degrees of punishment in hell. They point to Jesus’ rebukes of Chorazin and Bethsaida (Matthew 11:21-24) and Luke 12:47-48 about many or few stripes according to deeds as evidence. The punishment is connected to the opportunities one had to accept Christ and the seriousness with which one rejected Him.[3]
– Cold Case Christianity explores the biblical foundation for different degrees of punishment, noting that divine justice assigns different punishments for different crimes, proportional to their severity. They affirm that hell will display God’s justice by fitting punishment to individual guilt and sinfulness, rather than a uniform torment for all.[1]
– Other theologians discuss how degrees of punishment reflect God’s perfect justice, whereby every sin committed adds to the ultimate judgment one faces (Romans 2:5; Revelation 18:6-7). This view is a caution against sinning loosely, knowing that every sin incurs just retribution.[1][2]
These apologists thus use scripture and theological principles to assert that the degrees of punishment in hell reflect God’s justice, tailored specifically to the sinfulness, knowledge, and accountability of each sinner.
In summary, many Bible apologists recognize and teach that degrees of punishment in hell are biblically and theologically supported, emphasizing proportionality of judgment according to sin and rejection of God’s grace.[2][3][1]
Sources
[1] Are There Different Degrees of Punishment in Hell? https://coldcasechristianity.
[2] Degrees of Punishment in Hell – The Gospel Coalition https://www.
[3] Degrees of Reward and Degrees of Punishment – Apologetics Press https://apologeticspress.org/
[4] Is Everyone Punished the Same in Hell? – Desiring God https://www.desiringgod.org/
[5] How does degrees of punishment affect conditionalism? – CARM.org https://carm.org/
[6] Degrees of Punishment in Hell – Baptist History Homepage https://
[7] HELL IS A BAD WORD (a Place of Never-Ending Punishment That … https://www.facebook.com/
[8] Will there be different punishments in hell or will it all be equal? https://www.reddit.com/r/
[9] Degrees of Punishment in Hell | Reformed Books Online https://reformedbooksonline.
Some Christian apologists argue that Judas was not a true believer. For example, some emphasize that although Judas was chosen by Jesus as an apostle and participated in Jesus’ ministry, including being given spiritual authority and witnessing miracles, he was not genuinely a follower or believer at heart. They point to biblical evidence showing Judas as a hypocrite, a thief, and a betrayer whose heart was hardened and who was indwelt by Satan. This view holds that Judas possessed an outward role but lacked true faith or love for Jesus, making him a false believer rather than a true one. Judas’ betrayal is seen as fulfilling prophecy and as a necessary part of God’s plan, but not indicative of genuine faith on Judas’ part. John 6:70-71 and other scriptures are cited where Jesus calls Judas a devil and the son of perdition, underscoring that he was not a genuine disciple in faith. This perspective is reflected by various Christian teachers and apologists who underscore the distinction between outward discipleship and inner faith.[1][6][7]
Thus, while Judas was an apostle and follower of Jesus in a formal sense, Christian apologetics generally do not support the idea that he was a true believer in the sense of having genuine saving faith. Instead, he is commonly viewed as a tragic figure who was ultimately a false believer who betrayed Jesus for personal gain.
Sources
[1] What We Learn About False Believers From Judas Iscariot https://robertcliftonrobinson.
[2] How does one respond to the Muslim allegation that Judas was … https://www.reddit.com/r/
[3] Was Judas a believer in Jesus Christ and was he saved? – Facebook https://www.facebook.com/
[4] Satan Entered Judas (1 of 2) – Is Judas a true Believer? https://rayliu1.wordpress.com/
[5] Did Judas Exist? – Richard Carrier Blogs https://www.richardcarrier.
[6] Could Judas have died a believer? https://versebyverseministry.
[7] What the Apostle Judas Reveals About the Church – Catholic Answers https://www.catholic.com/
[8] Was Judas ever a real Christian?? – Facebook https://www.facebook.com/
[9] Judas’ Role – Ask a Christian Universalist – Mercy On All https://www.mercyonall.org/
[10] Does Paul Know about Judas Iscariot? – The Bart Ehrman Blog https://ehrmanblog.org/does-
[11] Was Judas a True Believer? – RayKLiu – WordPress.com https://raykliu.wordpress.com/
[12] Was Judas Real? : r/AcademicBiblical – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/
[13] Why Shouldn’t We Trust the Non-Canonical “Gospel of Judas”? https://coldcasechristianity.
[14] Why Did Jesus Choose Judas? – Desiring God https://www.desiringgod.org/
There are some scholarly theologians and Christian thinkers who entertain the possibility of Judas’s salvation or put forth defenses of his standing before God, though such views are minority and often controversial.
Key points from scholarly and theological discussions include:
– Matt McMillen, a contemporary ministry voice, argues that Judas’s repentance in Matthew 27:3-4 shows at least a moment of remorse that some interpret as genuine, suggesting a possibility of salvation or at least that salvation is not definitively closed for Judas. He emphasizes leaning toward the grace and love of God rather than a strict condemnation (John 17:12 also interpreted as Judas being lost from the group of disciples but not necessarily from Christ).[1]
– Some theologians have proposed that Judas’s actions were foreknown and necessary for the fulfillment of Scripture, raising questions about his free will and culpability. Although this does not necessarily imply salvation, it complicates judgment on his eternal state.[2]
– Historical Catholic theology mostly holds to Judas’s damnation, but Saint Alphonsus Liguori taught the bold possibility of liberation even from hell through devotion and repentance, indirectly leaving room for hope of salvation even for grave sinners like Judas. Augustine also told a homily involving resurrection for repentance, showing the historic theological openness to mercy.[3]
– The dominant scholarly theological consensus, including figures like Erasmus, Luther, Calvin, and contemporary scholars, leans toward Judas being condemned based on scriptural descriptions calling him “son of perdition” and that he died in despair, viewed as not truly saved.[2][3]
Thus, while the majority theological opinion is that Judas was not saved, there are nuanced defenses and hopes expressed by some contemporary and historical theologians that do not entirely close the door on Judas’s salvation. These tend to focus on themes of repentance, God’s grace, and the complexity of Judas’s role in divine providence.[1][3][2]
In summary, a handful of scholarly theologians and Christian apologists propose defenses or possibilities that Judas was saved or not eternally lost, but the majority tradition holds him as condemned eternally.
Sources
[1] Was Judas Saved? – Matt McMillen https://
[2] Judas Iscariot – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
[3] Is Judas in Hell? | Catholic Answers Magazine https://www.catholic.com/
[4] Why Did Judas Iscariot Betray Jesus? – The Bart Ehrman Blog https://ehrmanblog.org/why-
[5] Judas Iscariot, the Suicide of Satan, and the Salvation of the World https://www.desiringgod.org/
[6] Judas in the New Testament, the Restoration, and the Gospel of Judas https://byustudies.byu.edu/
[7] Did Judas Iscariot Go to Hell? – Living Waters https://livingwaters.com/did-
[8] Was Judas Saved?, The Gospel of Judas, and Issues of Canonicity https://ichthys.com/mail-
[9] Theologians #speak #out – Facebook https://www.facebook.com/
Several biblical passages are commonly cited to argue that Judas was not saved, emphasizing his role as a betrayer and one who rejected true faith:
– John 17:12: Jesus refers to Judas as the “son of perdition” (son of destruction) whom the Father “lost,” implying Judas was destined for destruction and not salvation.
– John 6:70-71: Jesus calls Judas a “devil” and says that one of the twelve would betray Him, highlighting Judas’s evil nature and betrayal.
– Matthew 26:14-16, 47-50; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6: These passages describe Judas’s deliberate act of betraying Jesus to the chief priests for silver, portraying a willful rejection rather than repentance.
– Acts 1:16-20: Peter describes Judas’s betrayal and death as fulfilling Scripture and calls his place in the apostleship vacant due to his fall, often interpreted as indicating Judas’s loss of salvation.
– 2 Corinthians 5:10 and Revelation 21:8 (by implication): While not naming Judas specifically, these passages refer to the fate of the “traitors” and “unbelievers” who face judgment, often linked to Judas’s fate on the basis of his betrayal.
– Psalm 41:9 (Messianic prophecy): “Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me” is cited to reflect Judas’s betrayal by one who was intimate with Jesus yet ultimately disloyal.
These scriptures collectively underscore Judas’s role as not only a betrayer but as one who rejected Christ to the point of spiritual ruin, justifying the view that Judas was not saved. His betrayal and death in despair are seen as evidence of his lost state in Christian theology.
