Judas & Heb 6:4-6

If we look at what the Bible says about Judas, we can see that not everyone who had taken part in the works of Jesus was a believer.

Judas was anointed by Jesus, along with the other disciples, to perform miracles:

‘Jesus called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.’ Mat 10:1

 

However, we are told Judas never 'believed'

‘“But there are some of you who don’t believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who didn’t believe, and who it was who would betray Him.’ John 6:64 

‘Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that His time had come that He would depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, . . . Jesus said to Peter, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” For Jesus knew him who would betray Him, therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”’ John 13:1-2 & 10-11

 

On the day of Judgement all unbelievers will be made to call Jesus Lord:

‘That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ Phil 2:10-11.

 

As well as that we are known by whether we have believed and are therefore either in the Spirit or remain in the flesh:

'Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know Him so no more.' 2 Cor 5:16

 

On the day of judgement, Judas, along with others, will say that they performed miracles:

‘Many will tell me on that day, "Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?" Then I will tell them, "I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity."' Mat 7:21-23

 

In the same way, there is nothing left for those who, like Judas, have experienced every possible means of witness as to who Jesus is without believing:

‘For concerning those who were once ‘shown the light’ and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put Him to open shame.’ Heb 6:4-6

It is worth noting that the list in Heb 6:4-6 does not contain anything that we know leads to salvation. Judas was shown the light. He tasted the heavenly gift. He partook of the Holy Spirit. He tasted the good word of God. He tasted the powers of the age to come. But all without accepting that Jesus is God the Son of God.

Having experienced all of that and still not believed, ("fell away"), what else could possibly bring him to repentance? It is impossible.

All of the things in the list are part of the way Jesus is revealed through the Gospel by the Holy Spirit. If a person rejects everything that says who Jesus is, then there is nothing left for them.

So, this is not talking about a believer who rejects Jesus because it doesn't even mention having once believed. It is too easy for us to fear the worst all the time. I call it Chicken Little: He got one bump on his head and believed the sky was falling in. He convinced everyone he met that they need to tell the king and in the process got everyone killed!

We read one verse that seems to us, on the surface, to say that we can lose our salvation. But rather than find out what it is actually saying we panic. We let fear rule us. And worse, we put that fear into others. We need to look past the superficial and see what it is actually saying. Think of it like bomb disposal. Don't panic and run away, stay calm and deactivate it.