Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 1/15/2007

Question
Is there any place in the bible that states Judas was condemned before he was ever born.

Answer
Hi Linda,
    The New Testament gives several statements concerning Judas and his betrayal of the Lord Jesus.
    Jesus knew when He chose him he would betray Him.  "For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him." (John 6:64, 71)  The verse says Jesus knew, but it does not say God caused him to betray the Lord.
    Judas was not foreordained to betray Christ, though it was God's plan that Jesus be crucified for the sins of the world.   Judas however, made a choice to betray the Lord.  He could have not betrayed him also.  
    Jesus would have been somehow been arrested and falsely tried and sentenced to be crucified, however it was Judas' choice that caused him to be the betrayer.   
Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, (Matthew 27:3)
    His feeling afterward are recorded also.   The evil of his nature probably gradually unfolded itself till "Satan entered into him" (John 13:27), and he betrayed our Lord (John 18:3). Afterwards he owned up to his sin with "an exceeding bitter cry," and cast the money he had received as the wages of his iniquity down on the floor of the sanctuary, and "departed and went and hanged himself" (Matt.  27:5).
   In Matthew 26:21-25, Jesus revealed that Judas would betray him. Jesus said it would be better if he had never been born.  Jesus said in verse 24, "The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born."    That verse states that it was in God's plan that Jesus be betrayed.  It does not say Judas was condemned before he was born.    
   Judas allowed his greed and love of money to control him and that allowed the Devil to enter into him and tempt him to betray Jesus for the money.(See Luke 22:3)
   I hope this answers your question.  If you have further questions or comments please write.
Cooper Abrams
http:bible-truth.org