Jesus told his disciples at The Last Supper that one amongst them would betray Him. It's Judas but Jesus doesn't say this. Jesus knows, however.
Could Judas have changed his mind after the meal? If he had done so, wouldn't that make Jesus flawed in his foretelling? If he couldn't, doesn't that show that Judas did not have free will?
I asked a question about free will and God's foretelling before and got no responses. I'm hoping this is more focused for people to answer.
2007-02-26 04:11:43 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, Judas could have changed his mind but if he had Jesus wouldn't have foretold it becasue Jesus would have known that Judas was going to change his mind.
If Judas had, then the whole thing would have played out differently.
God/Jesus is not bound by our time, our infinite mind etc. Jesus knew at the creation of the earth that he'd become man and die for the salvation of all of us. He knew then that Judas would be the one to turn him over.
God knowing does not negate free will...you can still choose, but God has the foreknowledge of what that choice will be. He doesn't set it up for you to choose that way...he just knows what you will pick.
2007-02-26 04:20:20 · answer #1 · answered by Misty 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm surprised "Ask Mr. Religion" gives such a slanted view of Calvinism. "Hell and heaven were created out of God's love for mankind as a consequence of free will"? That's a bit of a stretch if wrath can be translated as love.
Calvinist thought would be that Judas was simply left in his unregenerate, sinful state. Call it an inability to choose good if you want, but we all stand guilty before God, and Judas was no exception. AMR is partially correct in the interpretation of John 3:16, but two verses down you'll see how the unregenerate stand condemned already, which does indeed make the world of John 3:16 smaller! It says "whosoever believes", not "whosoever chooses" or "whosoever accepts". That belief comes from God, not from any ability Man might think he has.
Anyway, back to Judas, if he was left in his sins, his final destination would not have been affected by choosing or not choosing to betray Jesus. And Jesus knew what he would do anyway.
2007-02-26 11:57:06 · answer #2 · answered by ccrider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We're all given free will, including Judas. God did not create Judas for this purpose, or His saying that We are all made in the image of Christ would be an error. God does not lie, (that's the other Master of some people's lives, satan). Besides, haven't you heard the saying God doesn't make junk? God is Omnipotent, remember? He knows everything BEFORE it happens because He IS God. He knows who will choose Jesus and the gift of Salvation, but still allows us to live our lives and make free will choices. He knew Judas would betray him. God would not be a Loving, Just God if He took our free will away. He didn't make us robots. So, Judas could have changed his mind, but chose not to, therefore, God knew which path he would take in advance. Hope this helps.
2007-02-26 04:25:58 · answer #3 · answered by connie 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Actually, Jesus tells Judas directly at Matthew 26:25 that he would betray Him:
25 Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?” He said to him, “You have said it.”
Prior to this, Judas had already made the arrangements, according to verses 14-16. It was his choice to do so and Jesus told him He was aware of his plot. Therefore, Judas excercised free will. Judas could have repented after he betrayed Jesus, but he didn't, and Jesus knew he wouldn't.
2007-02-26 04:19:03 · answer #4 · answered by Suzanne: YPA 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Consider this as well. Judas was doing as Jesus wanted by identifying him so that he could be arrested. What this means is that Judas was an instrument of God. How do we reconcile any prophecy with free will. It can't be done. You must instead believe that Judas wasn't preordained to betray Jesus but that for Jesus to die on the cross and save us one of his disciples would have to turn him in and he in fact did not know yet which one it would be but only that one of them would have to do it if his mission here on earth was to succeed.
2007-02-26 04:21:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I believe that Judas had free will and yes he could have changed his mind but Jesus knew that he would not. If Judas had changed his mind, it would not have hindered God's plan.
2007-02-26 04:25:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think Jesus didn't really foretold that Judas would betray him. His foretelling was actually a command.
2007-02-26 04:15:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
yes. He could have, but Jesus knew that he would not. Therefore, Judas did have free will, and through His omniscience, Jesus knew what his choice would be and foretold correctly.
2007-02-26 04:18:29 · answer #8 · answered by bobm709 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No Judas couldn't have given back the 30 pieces of silver since he already used the money for scratch tickets. Should've gone to Gamblers Anonymous.
2007-02-26 04:19:44 · answer #9 · answered by Mr. X 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
look up the gospel of judas that they found last year...it says that jesus told him to betray him.
2007-02-26 04:17:34 · answer #10 · answered by elfkin, attention whore 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋