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April 21st, 2011
12:01 AM ET
My Take: Is Judas in heaven or hell? God only knows
By Craig Gross, Special to CNN I heard a news clip promoting my recent speaking engagement at a church, and they mentioned that I deal with some of "the greatest sinners of all time." I thought to myself: Do I? Would people who are caught up in porn and sexual sin addictions consider themselves some of the greatest sinners of all time? Probably not. Without a doubt, Judas, the biblical disciple of Jesus, is considered the greatest sinner of all time because of what he did to Jesus. Here is the passage from Luke 22:21-22.
No surprises there. But for the one who turns him in - who turns traitor to the Son of Man - this is doomsday. Let me tell you a little bit about what the Bible says about Judas: He was personally chosen to be an apostle by Jesus. He spent 3 1/2 years traveling with Jesus. He saw all the miracles of Christ in person. He watched as Christ healed the sick, raised the dead and cast out demons. In terms of experience with Jesus, whatever you can say about Peter, James and John, you can say about Judas. On top of all this, he handled the money, which is most of the time the most trusted one in the bunch. No one suspected that Judas would betray Jesus, which tells me he was a believer. His life was changed. He knew Jesus personally. In a dark moment of his life, he made a mistake. A big one. He sold Jesus out for 30 silver coins or so. The moment he knew what he had done, he felt remorse, and he killed himself. I am not here to debate theology. The facts are the facts. I don't think Judas was “The Mole,” like the reality show character who's there to sabotage the game from the beginning. I think he made a mistake and now has gone down as committing the biggest sin of all time. Judas heard every message, saw every miracle, and still screwed up. Recently, I asked on my Facebook page: "Is Judas in heaven or hell?" The first response was:
There is a button on Facebook that I have started to love. It is called “unfriend.” I won't unfriend you because you believe differently than I do, I just don’t need more theologians as my friends on Facebook who speak with such confidence when it comes to someone's place in eternity. A debate continues on my Facebook wall. I love how everyone is so convinced they know whether Judas is in heaven or hell. I don't know who gets in, actually. Do I believe in heaven and hell? Yes. I believe one is dark and one is light, and they both last forever. Belief Blog: What if there is no hell? What is interesting to me is that in the upper room where Jesus and his disciples shared their last supper together, the 12 disciples all talked about how they were so great. Peter left the room and denied Jesus three times. Judas left the room and sold Jesus out for 30 coins. One committed suicide, and one went on to build the church as we know it today. Both Peter and Judas committed the same sin. They both denied Jesus. But why do most people think one goes to heaven and one goes to hell? This is not the debate Christians need to be engaged in. We don’t know. Instead of wasting our time on these types of arguments inside our little Christian world, maybe we should look inside ourselves this Easter. It is easier to debate these issues and make speculations about others than it is to actually look at ourselves in the mirror. It is always easier to think someone else is worse off then we are. But maybe as we approach Easter, we can be reminded that for Christians, the cross and the grave should silence all of these debates. We all fall short and deserve death, but because of what Jesus did on the cross 2,000 years ago, we are able to have life. And I believe that where you end up, God only knows. |
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Editor's Note: 
I don't think Christians have the responsibility to judge others. We can point to scriptures that should help others realize that their actions are contrary to what Jesus taught. But aren't we warned not to judge because our judgements will be used against us?
Who cares ? Does it really matter ? Why concern yourself with souls that have already departed. Worry about your current flock instead.
Can someone tell me where god is, right now?
I have a better question than any above.
Why is this in the news? I understand that this is an opinion article, but what kind of relevance could this possibly have to anything real or significant? Nothing is the answer a reasonable person should provide. There is nothing significant about assuming or debating which eternal life Judas is enduring. A great many of your points have little to do with actual scripture which has even less to do with the moral scaffolding of 21st century life.
CNN, please keep this drivel away from real news.
Ian Michael Smith
Jesus said in John 17:12: While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
Judas is the son of perdition and the son of perdition is lost.
I hope everyone knows and remeber a few years ago when they came across artifactes detailing what actually happened. Jesus asked him to betray him.
neither because religion is a bunch of crap
Muslims aren't worthless to God; however, the are lost without Jesus.
Muslims believe in JESUS(pbuh),more than the Christians do. they respect him as they respect prophet Muhammad(pbuh).
Muslims never take Jesus' name in vain or disrespect him, he got the people a message about worshiping the one GOD,just like Muhammad(pbuh) did.
Nobody is granted heaven for his deeds or beliefs, Heaven is granted only by the mercy of GOD.
Read the Quran with an open mind, the first verse revealed in the Quran is "Read!,in the name of your creator,who created man from a clot...", [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FUTtKFH-KU]so rather than quoting what the terrorists quote(who BTW are misleading muslims and opponents alike,by reading verses out of context), use your logic, use your intelligence, read and understand.
the Quran (unlike the bible which is modified every once in a while to add/remove verses and claim them to be the gospel) was revealed to Muhammad(pbuh) by angel Gabriel over a period of 22 years,and then written down as it was revealed, has only one version, never edited and will never be, it's GODs word,and GOD HIMself swears in the book that he will protect the book,and challenges mankind to provide at least one verse similar to it. generations have tried and failed, GOD protects his book, his message. A third on Muslims around the world have memorized it,and almost every Muslim memorizes a few verses.
Islam is a religion of common sense and logic, it does not confuse like the Christians are confused about trinity(which BTW is removed from the BIBLE, how can it be GODs word,when content is added and removed by people??), if believing is JESUS puts you in heaven, what about the people before JESUS, even Moses or Noah or Adam??
How about i break the speeding rules and you get the ticket? How can a man be GOD? how is Christianity different than say Hindu or buddhism, where they all worship idols of men?
JESUS was just a messenger, he got us a message. the mailman is not GOD, he is just a mailman. follow his message, and his message is ONENESS of GOD, not trinity.he never said "I'M GOD,WORSHIP ME".
As a pastor (with 9 years of professional post-graduate study), it is hard not to be incensed at speculative op-ed pieces like this. The Scriptures are quite clear–Judas is in hell. Jesus says about Judas, "Woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man, it would have been better if he had not been born." (Matthew 26:24). Judas did not heed his Savior's call or warning, but followed through. Could he have been forgiven? Yes. Christ paid for his sin, just like he paid for the sin of the whole world. But Judas did not believe it. He despaired that Jesus could pay for his sin, so he took his life. Read Acts 1, Mr. Gross–where the Bible tells us "Judas left to go where he belongs" (Acts 1:25). What else can that mean? You try to cast doubt upon the clarity of God's Word. What you are doing is wishing away hell, as if only the Hitlers and Stalins might be there. The reality is that every single person is born destined for hell, because all of us have fallen short of God's demand for perfection. To sell hell short is to say what Jesus did, to fix our problem isn't all that important, or impressive. Jesus became sin for us, he took our sin upon himself, and suffered hell upon the cross. Hell is not just "dark" – it is God turning his back on a person to suffer only his wrath. That is what Jesus suffered when he cried, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matt 27:40). It is not just a "trifle" debate, you do a disservice to everyone when you act as if you have it right and we theologians are arrogant. It is you, Mr Gross, who is arrogant to deny the Scriptures. May your readers find their comfort there and not in the words of feeble men.
Amen pastor......... Thank you for posting biblical truth and not your opinion!!!
Grace be with you and God bless.
I see you wasted your money on usless education, please next time you want to take a course in "Religion" send your money....I'm cheaper and more at to tell you the truth...
“I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.”
Dude, he is a simple test. Take a rock and whatever deity you choose to believe in and ask this deity (nicely) to move the rock. (sorry, you cant use cliches like "Don't tempt me, or any line from the "Bilble" and if this obect moves by the hand of your deity, then I will change my course. else if it nevers moves, then I would question why I thought there was a God in the first place.
The sad truth is you can't nor will it ever moive. Remeber your deity has a name (God is germanic and of the 6th century) Prior to that name used like Jehovaj, Hasheim..YAWEH.. Yet you laugh at people like John Smith seeing Jesus in a top hat. The names are no differnet than HERS or ZEUS and yest you attempt to prove what you can not. One day you will catch on, until then your nothing more than a Shaman of old.
“I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.”
Richunix – there will be a day when you learn that my education was not a waste, and that there is a God and his name is Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Savior. Apart from that your reply was too poorly written for me to bother replying. Slurs like yours don't prove anything. I hope you realize that the thrust of this article is an internal debate among Christians–and an important one. If hell doesn't really exist (such as Rob Bell suggests) or no one really goes there, as this article was hinting at, then maybe you won't either. But if I'm right, you are in for a heap of pain. Now is your time to repent and find God. On the day you die, you'll find out how wrong you are.
Dec 2012 is the day God will come again to change the world. St. Malachy about 1000 years, ancient Mayan over 5000 years, Nostradamus 700 years, Sister Lucia about 100 years, and many others gave us a prediction of the date that God will come in his extremely anger to clean up the bad souls . Be prepared!
Jesus has come once. He'll be again even Islam believed it
You know – the Universe is big enough for all religions, even the narrow minded and judgmental religions.
Jesus in John 17:12: While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
The son of perdition to whom He referred was Judas. Sadly, Judas is lost.
Dec 2012 is the day God will come again to change the world. St. Malachy about 1000 years, ancient Mayan over 5000 years, Nostradamus 700 years, Sister Lucia about 100 years, and many others gave us a prediction of the date that God will come in his extremely anger to clean up the bad souls . Be prepared!
Jesus has come once. He'll be again even Islam believed it
First: Dec 2012 is not a day.
Second: You say "about" about a zillion times – what if somebody was off?
Third: If I max out my credit card in Nov 2012, and the world doesn't come to an end, I'm sending you the bill.
That's kind of a bad month for us, being the holiday shopping season and school vacation. Could god come in January '13 insead? Thanks!
[7:187] They ask you about the end of the world (the Hour), and when it will come to pass. Say, "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord. Only He reveals its time. Heavy it is, in the heavens and the earth. It will not come to you except suddenly." They ask you as if you are in control thereof. Say, "The knowledge thereof is with GOD," but most people do not know.
You need a psychiatrist.
We are all Judas one time or another, let's face it. So Graig is right: Let's look at ourself in the mirror! And actually Judas is wherever we want him to be, hell or heaven, it doesn't matter
TO THE AUTHOR: You unfriend people on Facebook because you ask a theological question and you're offended that people reply with what they believe? You're a pompous ass. "I just don’t need more theologians as my friends on Facebook who speak with such confidence when it comes to someone's place in eternity." - You speak with such confidence too, giving your opinion about what Christians should and should not be debating. STUFF IT ALREADY.
No Heaven or Hell been opened to receive their eternal guests yet..!
All mankind from Adam date to the last earthly life date will be resurrected and judged on judgment day then only all will be directed to hell and then save those righteous to heavens...as per verses [19:71] & [19:72].
Same faith would apply for Al-Jinn (Fire Creatures) although they came into earthly life many ages before Adam&Eve (Water Creatures)..
[56:49] Say, "The early generations and the later generations.
[56:50] "Will be summoned to a meeting on a predetermined day.
------
Special Warning to the Leaders
[19:68] By your Lord, we will certainly summon them, together with the devils, and will gather them around Hell, humiliated.
[19:69] Then we will pick out from each group the most ardent opponent of the Most Gracious.
[19:70] We know full well those who are most deserving of burning therein.
Everyone Sees Hell*
[19:71] Every single one of you must see it; this is an irrevocable decision of your Lord.
[19:72] Then we rescue the righteous, and leave the transgressors in it, humiliated.
The Majority
[19:73] When our revelations are recited to them, clearly, those who disbelieve say to those who believe, "Which of us is more prosperous? Which of us is in the majority?"
[19:74] Many a generation have we annihilated before them; they were more powerful, and more prosperous.
[19:75] Say, "Those who choose to go astray, the Most Gracious will lead them on, until they see what is promised for them – either the retribution or the Hour. That is when they find out who really is worse off, and weaker in power."
[19:76] GOD augments the guidance of those who choose to be guided. For the good deeds are eternally rewarded by your Lord, and bring far better returns.
Believing in God does not cost any thing, so why not believe or at least try too. If all you nonbelievers are wrong; and
I trust that you are, just think of the price that it will cost you some day.
Does this not go against the very concept of faith as defined by the church? I didn't think one was "permitted" to believe "just in case."
It costs my dignity to believe in fairy tales created so that the elite can control the masses by promises of "heaven" and "eternal life".
Pascal's Wager much? One of these days you'll do some thinking of your own. If only that day were today.
He's in neither place, because much like god, neither place exists. Religion is for idiots.
It is not that I find religion hateful or without any merit . Just that the world has out grown its fears that created it. Religion tried to explain the world and at some point why we are here. But then men relaized they had power in the faithful and learned to abuse such power through faith and sadly they killed those who did not share the same faith. No Religion is a relic of our past. No one (BAR NONE) has in the proceeding 2000 years has seen anything like the miracles so stated in the Bible.
“I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.”
Oh it can have a cost alright. If you truly believe and want to live that life then it can cost big time. The apostles believed and it cost most of them their lives. Also, if you watch what happens to those with blind belief it costs some people the ability to think for themselves. They end up with small minds and slip into intolerance. Yeah belief can certainly have a price whether your committed or a mindless sheep that thinks whatever you're told.
I'm going to guess... neither?
heavensent you dont have the authority to send anyone to hell or judge watch what u say.... AMA A TU PROJIMO COMO A TI MISMO
no one comes through the father except through me. I do not think CNN has the ability nor the tools or understanding to make decisions for Jesus.
@fda,
Why would CNN needs tools to answer a question so stories that were created by man, in order to inpsire a stronger belief into what I'm selling...In short make my story better than yours.
“I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.”