Christians: Are some people just flat out un-saveable?

Question

I was reading in Exodus how God hardened the Pharaohs heart so that he would deny Moses' request to let Israel go. So my question is did the Pharaoh ever really have a chance at doing the right thing by letting Israel go? It seems to me that he was a goner from the get go. If so, does that mean there are some people in the world that just can not be saved? Furthermore, if it's someone’s destiny (God's will) to not be saved, should they not be saved by grace for fulfilling their destiny? Case in point, it was Judas Iscariots destiny to fulfill prophecy by betraying Jesus. Did he face eternal damnation or did he fulfill God's will (or both)? I've meditated a lot about these questions and am curious to what others think.

Answer 1

No. I do not believe anyone is flat out un-saveable.

Especially those who are, in a sense, sinning to serve a purpose.

So many "holy rollers" never even consider this. God has really gifted you by revealing this to you.

Jesus himself said to Judas - go and do what you MUST do. Judas played his part in salvation. The only thing that made him different from Peter, who also denied Christ, is that Judas judged himself and Peter threw himself on God's mercy.

Pharaoh's heart was hardened to show God's glory. In a very backwards way he did the work God wanted him to do.

We can not know, while we walk this planet, what people we might think of as sinners are actually doing the work God wants them to do. That is why we should not judge.

Answer 2

IMVHO
Pharaoh did what he thought best for Egypt and his gods but in the end had to concede
"His (Moses') God is God"
He had a choice but was influenced to take the wrong one. Yet Egypt has been a country for 7 thousand years while Israel rose and fell three times with big gaps in between? Like the oak and the willow?
Judas Iscariot is a bit more controversial. In the bible it's suggested that he did what he did to fulfill prophesy. Many things done during Jesus's ministry where calculated to fulfill passages in the old testament. He committed suicide out of grief or was killed in revenge. Ether way he did Gods will and would only be damned for the suicide if it occurred.
Of course the Gnostic Gospels have a different idea The Gospel of Judas, on the other hand, portrays Judas in a very different perspective than do the Gospels of the New Testament, according to a preliminary translation made in early 2006 by the National Geographic Society: the Gospel of Judas appears to interpret Judas's act not as betrayal, but rather as an act of obedience to the instructions of Jesus. This portrayal seems to conform to a notion, current in some forms of Gnosticism, that the human form is a spiritual prison, and that Judas thus served Christ by helping to release Christ's spirit from its physical constraints. The Gospel of Judas does not claim that the other disciples knew gnostic teachings. On the contrary, it asserts that the disciples had not learned the true Gospel, which Jesus taught only to Judas Iscariot. And his (Jesus's) wife Mary?

Answer 3

I'd be careful about Exodus, and what is ascribed to pharaoh. Just be conscious that victors write history, and a certain amount of spin is involved in making his motivations seem inscrutable. In reality, anything from Egyptian politics to unresolved family issues with Moses might have been at heart of why he took the actions he did. Historically, it was probably unnecessary for his "hardened heart" to need a solely supernatural explanation.

In the case of Judas, his biggest sin, as it always is, was in not choosing the forgiveness and grace God would freely have given him - EVEN after betraying Jesus.

After all, Jesus forgave Peter his three denials by offering him the chance to say three affirmations on the shores of the sea of Tiberius. (John 21)

Jesus is always willing to save the fallen. Always. This was open even to Judas. That he did not use his free will and choose this path and hung himself in a field is a great tragedy - and not a destiny fixed for him by God.

Answer 4

Pharaoh, had many chances to free the Israelites and chose not too- God allowed his heart to stay hardened. Judas- was the person that betrayed Jesus- yes but if he had repented he would have been forgiven. There is NO sin too big for the cross of Christ.

Answer 5

God hardened the heart of Pharaoh is absolutely correct. Pharaoh never had a chance to let Israel go. He was doing the will of God by not letting them go. There are people that God will not save because he does not want to. Could He? Of course he could. It is He that makes a person come alive spiritually and if he doesn't then He will put them in Hell. God often raises up evil men to do HIS will it is not uncommon for him to do so. Also, read Romans 9. It is about Predistination. It will explain alot about God's will towards men.

Answer 6

The only unsavable one are those who refuse to listen.

As for destiny, that's going into the free will issue. I've thought long and hard about Judas and Jesus' death quite a bit myself; was Jesus SUPPOSED to be executed, or was he just kind of screwed over and made the best out of a terrible situation? Given his Godly omnipotence, I think he could have saved humanity through some other method than dying for us if he had the chance. But I think to say that any one person has a solid destiny (aside from Jesus, of course) would be God sinning against Himself by denying us our own free will.

Answer 7

Jesus predicted that Judas would betray him, and because he betrayed him, Jesus was handed over for crucifixion and God's will was fulfilled. Judas was a critical part of the plan. Will Judas be in heaven? Yes, I believe he will be. Our salvation, once we accept Jesus as our savior, cannot be withdrawn. We all (Christians included) deny Christ every day.I don't think God views Judas' sin/betrayal any differently than the sins we commit today. He knows we are not perfect, and he gives us his promise of salvation if we believe on Him. He said he stands at the door of each heart and knocks, and if the person answers he will come in and sup with him. Hope this is helpful.

Answer 8

Haven't you read? It is written that EVERY manner of sin shall be forgiven. Even the Pharaoh has a chance at salvation. But don't ever try the old DESTINY routine with God because it won't fly. Repentance however soars.

Answer 9

well the Pharoah had plenty of chances to let the Isrealites go.

He was not a goner from the get go, and made a choice.

Well Judas decieved Jesus and yes it was his destiny too do that. However, Was Judas sorry and did he ask for forgiveness afterwards?

Answer 10

It wasn't until after Pharaohs hardened his own heart several times that G-d intervened and hardened it. There is numerous theological reasons for this but the most obvious relates to free will. G-d's intervention violated Pharaoh's free will so G-d hardened his heart as Pharaoh himself would have if not for G-d's intervention.