“The Gospel of Judas: Still Betraying the True Jesus”

by Dr. Bruce Barnes

We have had a lot of attention recently on the Da Vinci Code and the supposed conspiracy of the church to withhold from the public the “real” truth about Jesus, His marital relationship to Mary Magnalene, His having a child, etc.—all of which is not true, of course! And now coming to light has been the discovery of a “new gospel” we are told: The Gospel of Judas.

According to this work, we have it all wrong about Judas too! He is not the betrayer in the sense that we had always thought. In fact, he is a nice guy who was simply doing what Jesus asked of him. According to this account, Judas is the only one of the disciples who really understood who Jesus was, what he came to accomplish, and the truth that brought him here. The actions of Judas according to this gospel are simply faithful actions of a man who loved Jesus, who understood Jesus, and who was willing to suffer being misunderstood in order to fulfill the purpose of Christ.

Is that so? Have we had it all wrong up until now? How does this harmonize with truth or what we should now believe? Is this indeed a long-hidden gospel account that should have been included in the Scriptures to give us an accurate account of “how it really was”? These questions and more will be answered in the following analysis.

Some within the “intellectual” circles of Biblical antiquities are now making bold claims as they speak of The Gospel of Judas as being a “biblical” or “Christian” text, and even some go so far as to exalt it as “Scripture.” In addition, “some biblical scholars are calling the Gospel of Judas the most significant archaeological discovery in 60 years” while others “,,, say the text not only offers an alternative view of the relationship between Jesus and Judas but also illustrates the diversity of opinion in the early Christian church.”

A most important point needs to be made about such comments. The Gospel of Judas is not a “biblical” text, because that would suggest that it is to be compared with the veracity of the Scriptures themselves. Additionally, this text does not show a “diversity opinion” of the early Christian church! It does show a heretical view that attempted to pervert Christian doctrine, but there is nothing Christian about it even though it talks about Christ. We must not let the rhetoric surrounding the discussion become a confusion.

In the following discussion, I will address what this text is, what it teaches, how to answer the problems you will face in talking with people about it, and then, how to use the discussion even as a tool for witnessing.

I. JUDAS: According to the Scriptures

There is no doubt, and it has never been doubted according to what the Bible says, Judas is the greatest of traitors and betrayers. In order to set the foundation for what The Gospel of Judas will present, first understand wholly what the Bible states about Judas.

His Actions were Prophesied:

The Old Testament prophesies Judas’ act of betrayal in Psalm 41:9 by stating, “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.” This is a Psalm of David and in the section where this verse appears, he is speaking of the threats of his enemies and his needed help. It is this context that Jesus applies the same principle and prophecy to Judas and the enemy He finds in Judas. Jesus says,

I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon (John13:18, 26) [underlining included for emphasis and connection to the prophecy].

Jesus at another time, when praying to the Father, tells the Father that the Scripture was fulfilled in Judas’ betrayal.

While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled (John 17:12).

Another prophecy of the Old Testament is Psalm 109:8 stating,“Let his days be few; and let another take his office.” This also is a Psalm of David, and in this one he is proclaiming the judgement of God on his enemies. The prophecy itself is identified in the New Testament as prophetically making reference to Judas as stated in Acts 1:16, 20

Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

This same Old Testament scripture is also referenced in Acts 1:20 saying,

For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

The Old Testament also provides revelation concerning Judas in Zechariah 11:12-13,

And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

The fulfillment is specifically spoken of in Matthew,

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, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me (27:3-10).

“Jeremy the prophet” is mentioned here because that is the division of the OT [the prophets, beginning with Jeremiah] where the prophecies of Zechariah are found.

His Punishment is Eternal:

Scripture makes Judas’ eternal destination clear as it connects his title to the same as the Antichrist. First, Jesus speaks of it in general terms such as,

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 (Matthew 26:24).

The fate of Judas moves from this general statement to a more specific connection to eternal judgment in John 17:12 where Jesus is praying to the Father,

While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

The term “son of perdition” is uniquely one attributed to Judas; however, a connection to this term is made to the Antichrist and to the beast of Revelation,

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God (II Thess. 2:3-4). And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone (Rev. 19:20).

The destiny of the son of perdition in both applications of the term is the eternal lake of fire!

Consequently, although people might have questions about Judas, one thing stands clear and undeniable: the Bible presents Judas as a friend-kissing betrayer, a treacherous traitor, a double-minded mercenary, and a hell-bound son of perdition. The Scripture leaves no question, but uninspired sources outside the Bible attempt to cast doubt on that picture. Eventually, one has to settle on what is to be trusted: the Bible or some question posed outside of the Scriptural witness.

This brings the discussion to those “uninspired sources” that attempt to counter the biblical testimony. To better understand what The Gospel of Judas will present within its pages, an understanding must be gained concerning the perspective of such writings.

II. JUDAS: Acclaimed in Gnosticism

Those who knowledgeably write about The Gospel of Judas will call it a “gnostic” gospel. Therefore, to deal with The Gospel of Judas, a religious view known as Gnosticism must be examined. We have seen what the Bible says about Judas, and we know who Judas is according to it. However, the picture of Judas from the viewpoint of Gnosticism is quite different. In order to understand the intent of this “gospel,” some historical and theological ideas must be considered.

Gnosticism:

The term “gnosticism” comes from the Greek word gnwsiV (gnosis) which means “knowledge.” The basis of this philosophy is that of coming to secret knowledge so that one could rise above the world and the physical in order to return to the true God. As a whole, Gnosticism adapted its form to various philosophies and periods; one for predated Christianity, another incorporated Christ into it, and still another was Jewish in nature. Since we are more interested in the relationship of Gnosticism as it adapted its views to incorporate elements of Christianity, we will concentrate on how the Gnostics promoted its views as a “Christianized” Gnosticism.

General Beliefs:

Based on Mythology

Because of the various groups with gnostic teachings, defining one set of beliefs is not easy; however, there are some basic similarities from which we can gain general insight. Gnosticism was and is a belief system that adapted Christian stories to its premises of mythology and philosophy. It was their use of mythological origins along with philosophy that formed their basis of religious teachings. Adding to this mixture, the Gnostics intermingled parts of Jesus’ story which resulted in a mythical version of Christianity.

Beliefs concerning the Spirit World

This “mythological” influence is observable in their beliefs about the spirit world. First, they believed that there is a perfect Divine Parent who brought forth emanations in a realm called the Pleroma. This Divine Parent, whom they consider to be the true God, created these emanations from itself, aeons of other beings to surround itself in this spiritual realm. Secondly, they believed that these emanations from the Divine Parent were allowed to bring forth more emanations, and so forth. Of course, permission would be needed from the Divine Parent for them “to create” these emanations (also called aeons and luminaries). Each of these emanations would have both a male and female counterpart. Thirdly, they believed that one emanation was wrong (sinned) in bringing forth a physical creation. This emanation far down the aeon trail named Sophia, decided to create a physically-based realm, but she did not get permission from the Divine Parent, nor did she work cooperatively with her male counterpart. This was wrong and, therefore, everything produced by Sophia in the physical realm is also considered evil and in need of destruction. Fourthly, when the physical creation occurred, fragments of the divine essence in some way separated from the Pleroma and became imprisoned in the physical world and in some, but not all, humans. These confined sparks of divinity are now waiting to come to knowledge (gnosis) and to be released back to the Pleroma where there is peace and light.

Interestingly, all of this is an adaptation of Plato’s philosophy concerning the spirit world. Because Plato’s thinking predates Gnosticism, it is easily recognized where the Gnostic influence originated as it adapted its beliefs to his mythology and philosophy.

Beliefs concerning God and Jesus

Gnosticism also skewed teachings concerning God and Jesus. To them, the God of the Jews was to be rejected because Jews worshiped the God Who created. Because creation was wrong, then the God Who created was wrong. In fact, Gnostics did not believe that the God of creation is the True God. They believed that Jesus came from the True God but not from the disobedient creator god. Therefore, they saw Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth in a three-fold way: to reveal secret gnostic knowledge, to liberate the trapped “divine sparks,” and to return to the Divine Parent and thereby thwart the purpose of the creator god.

The Premise of The Gospel of Judas

This is where the Gospel of Judas comes in. According to this “new-found gospel,” Jesus shares with Judas the secret truth about the spirit world and how divine sparks can return to the True God in the Pleroma. Therefore having shared this message with Judas, his most faithful disciple, Jesus wants Judas to “betray” him so that he may vacate the body and return to the Pleroma. All of this works on the premise that Jesus’ work in sharing the secret “gnosis” will aid in destroying the works of the creator god.

Conclusions of Gnosticism Concerning General Christian Beliefs

Gnostics believed that the biblical record was questionable because of who was behind it. It had to be suspect because it is the message of an erroneous creator god. Nothing spoken, written, or expected by this god could be trusted. As a result of this approach, they believed that the biblical emphasis was wrong concerning sin, redemption, and morality. Since the creator god was wrong in concocting the physical, everything physical was evil by its very nature. Therefore, sin was the creator’s problem, not man’s, and since man was not responsible for the physical, man was not responsible for personal sin nor in need of personal redemption. Additionally, since the misguided creator-god was instrumental in putting the Bible together, the morality directed by this god must also be rejected because it is the rejection of laws regulating a physical universe that should never have existed in the first place.

Interestingly, these beliefs led the Gnostics to esteem those whom the creator-god presented as rebels. Part of the Gnostic “Hall of Fame” were ones such as Cain, who rebelled against God by killing his brother Abel; Esau, who was the nemesis of Jacob, servant of the creator god; Korah, who rebelled against Moses, the lawgiver of the creator god; the Sodomites, who rebelled against morality and physical purity expected by the creator god; and Judas, who alone came to secret knowledge about who Jesus truly was, not the one who would be represented in the upcoming New Testament. As a result, The Gospel of Judas is hailed as a great Gnostic work because it is about one of the heroes of the gnostic faith.

Obviously, the Gnostic view of Jesus is not the view Christians have of Jesus. To Christians, Jesus is the Son of God Himself, God incarnate in the flesh, fully God, fully man, Jehovah in the flesh! To the Gnostic, he was a spiritual being who was an emanation from the divine feminine and who was also housed and trapped in a physical body that needed to be discarded and who will be awarded right to head the Barbelo (an important division of the Pleroma). In purpose, the “gnostic” Jesus did not come to redeem mankind from sin but rather to share “secret” knowledge about the spirit world and to shed his body so he could go to the True God. As a result, Gnosticism rejects any idea of resurrection because the physical must be destroyed, not eternally perpetuated in eternal resurrection.

The Gospel of Judas:

Having finally set the philosophical background for The Gospel of Judas, let us now consider the actual work itself, first with a little background on the text and then its message.

Its origination:

The work was not written by Judas Iscariot because it is obvious that the Bible records his suicide at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion. The work gains its title more from the content and direction of the book rather than claiming any connection to Judas as author. Linguists who have studied the text say that the patterns inherent in the writing reveal a Middle Egyptian variety of Sahidic, which is a Coptic dialect and is the product of a group wishing to sustain the Gnostic teachings.

The text itself was not discovered until1978 in Middle Egypt, and a man named Hanna ended up with the codex. After having been stolen from and later recovered by Hanna, the text once again reappeared in 1982. Probably because Hanna put too high a price tag on the relic, he was not able to sell it. Consequently, he rented a safe-deposit box in a Hicksville, New York, Citibank and kept it there until he was finally able to sell it on April 3, 2000. Eventually, the text ends up at the Coptic Museum of Cairo.

By means of carbon dating, the copy is thought to be from about the third or fourth century, although the original text was probably composed in the late second century. The reason that we know that is because Irenaeus, the bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul, made reference to it in his five-volume work Against Heresies which was written about 189 A.D. The heresies of which he most concerned were those of the Gnostics. Irenaeus said the following concerning Gnosticism and The Gospel of Judas.

Others again declare that Cain derived his being from the Power above, and acknowledge that Esau, Korah, the Sodomites, and all such persons, are related to themselves. On this account, they add, they have been assailed by the Creator, yet no one of them has suffered injury. For Sophia was in the habit of carrying off that which belonged to her from them to herself. They declare that Judas the traitor was thoroughly acquainted with these things, and that he alone, knowing the truth as no others did, accomplished the mystery of the betrayal; by him all things, both earthly and heavenly, were thus thrown into confusion. They produce a fictitious history of this kind, which they style the Gospel of Judas.

Until the discovery of this codex, the Gospel of Judas and its specific contents were not known.

Its message:

The message of The Gospel of Judas comes down to three things. It shows that Jesus comes to Judas with secret knowledge about the spirit world; it reveals that Judas has a spark of the divine in him and is worthy of gnosis; and it shows that Jesus wants Judas to “betray” him for the purpose of getting out of his body so that he might be released to the True God.

Its content specifically supports the entire premise of Gnosticism as exemplified in the following select passages. First of all, The Gospel of Judas presents Judas as the only one who is a perfect human being. In speaking to his disciples. Jesus reportedly states,

Let any one of you who is [strong enough] among human beings bring out the perfect human and stand before my face. They all said, ‘We have the strength.’ But their spirits did not dare to stand before [him] except for Judas Iscariot. He was able to stand before him ... (Scene 1).

Also, the text reveals how Jesus teaches Judas about the spirit world and how the aeons and luminaries came into being by stating,

Jesus said, ‘[Come], that I may teach you about [secrets] no person [has] ever seen. For there exists a great and boundless realm, whose extent no generation of angels has seen [in which] there is [a] great invisible [Spirit] ... And a luminous cloud appeared there. He said, ‘Let an angel come into being as my attendant.’ A great angel, the enlightened divine Self-Generated, emerged from the cloud. Because of him, four other angels came into being from another cloud, and they became attendants for the angelic Self-Generated. The Self-Generated said, ‘Let [...] come into being’ ... and it came into being .... And he [created] the first luminary to reign over him. He said ... ‘[Let] an enlightened aeon come into being,’ and he came into being (Early in Scene 3).

Of course, this suggests that Jesus came with secret gnosis about the spirit world that is passed to Judas specifically. This involves the important enlightenment needed in Gnosticism and needed by those who have a “divine spark” within them and who have opportunity to return to the Pleroma through this gnosis.

In like manner, Judas is portrayed as one who is above the other disciples because of his true understanding of the Gnostic Jesus. In contrast to the Scripture’s report of Peter’s great confession of Jesus’ being the Christ, the Son of the living God, The Gospel of Judas reports Judas making the greatest of Gnostic confessions.

Judas [said] to him, ‘I know who you are and where you have come from. You are from the immortal realm of Barbelo. (Scene 1)

To understand “Barbelo” is to understand the Gnostic view of the emanations of the gods. To state it as simply as possible, the Divine Parent created emanations called The Father, The Son, and Barbelo with each of these creating eight emanations. The Barbelo is the Divine Feminine and is responsible for creating Christ, the Anointed One. Obviously, the terms for Father, Son, and Christ within Gnosticism do not correspond to what Christians know of these persons.

According to the Gospel of Judas, Judas’ work will make him the most hated among men but the most honored in the spirit world.

Jesus answered and said, ‘You will become the thirteenth, and you will be cursed by the other generations—and you will come to rule over them. In the last days they will curse your ascent to the holy [generation]. (Scene 3)

The “thirteenth” means that he will be excluded from the number of twelve disciples because he will be replaced, but as the thirteenth, he will surpass them all. He will ascend to realms higher than them. The disciples are spoken of here as “generations.”

As it concerns the actual betrayal of Jesus for crucifixion, Judas is commended for the work that he will do in helping Jesus vacate the body. Jesus says,

But you will exceed all of them. For you will sacrifice the man that clothes me. Already your horn has been raised, your wrath has been kindled, your star has shown brightly ... (Late in Scene 3).

You will note here that Jesus speaks of the “man that clothes me.” According to Gnosticism, the real person is he that is beyond and free from the physical, that part of the divine spirit that exists beyond the physical world. Since that which is connected to the material is evil, then that which is evil must be discarded. The idea that Jesus is relating is that now that he had delivered his secret knowledge, he could return to the Pleroma. To do that, he must have help leaving the physical behind; that would mean betrayal so that he could be killed. From the text, it is easy to see that Jesus is commending the high estate to which Judas will attain because of his act of betrayal.

Jesus also proclaims that Judas has now understood all things and that he will enter of cloud of enlightenment to discover further revelation.

Look, you have been told everything. Lift up your eyes and look at the cloud and the light within it and the stars surrounding it. The star that leads the way is your star. Judas lifted up his eyes and saw the luminous cloud, and he entered it. Those standing on the ground heard a voice coming from the cloud, saying ... (the rest of this part is lost in the text). (Late in Scene 3, just before the concluding betrayal)

As a conclusion to the book, Judas betrays Jesus, but in a manner that is not exactly like that reported in Scripture.

Their high priests murmured because [he] [Jesus]had gone into the guest room for his prayer. But some scribes were there watching carefully in order to arrest him during the prayer, for they were afraid of the people, since he was regarded by all as a prophet. They approached Judas and said to him, ‘What are you doing here? You are Jesus’ disciple.’ Judas answered them as they wished. And he received some money and handed him over to them (Conclusion of the book).

From such information related in this Gnostic gospel, you can begin to understand why one will either have to discard all of the Bible, Old and New Testaments, to believe any of the Gospel of Judas or disregard the Gospel of Judas and the teachings of Gnosticism to accept the teachings of the Bible. They are mutually exclusive. The messages of the two can in no way be harmonized.

III. JUDAS: Answers for the Critics & Approach in Witnessing

The Gospel of Judas will cause difficulties for some people, but these are questions for which you can have a ready answer. Admittedly, most people you come into contact with will not have read it or know much about it. They will speak on the basis of what they have heard and what they assume are arguments concerning it. However, the ideas you are most likely to encounter are these. Answer to these questions will follow.

“Perhaps the Bible We’ve Had Isn’t All That God Wanted Us to Know.”

If used, this will probably come from someone who does not know the Bible very well anyway, simply because “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Otherwise, they have probably not been around the right kind of church long enough to know the reasoning behind the Word of God being complete. I do not mean that they are simply ignorant, but that level of doubt has to have an opening somewhere.

“The Church Hasn’t Told Us the Whole Truth.”

Some people are simply going to believe that the church has suppressed the truth or at least some of the truth the church did not want heard, and that the Gospel of Judas perhaps is right that Judas was not such a bad guy after all! This feeling is becoming more prevalent and more expressed since the popularization of the Da Vinci Code where such statements are made. It is easy for people to pick up on The Gospel of Judas being another example of what they might believe is the church’s suppression of truth.

“Judas couldn’t have been so bad if the betrayal was necessary for salvation.”

The premise for some will be (not understanding all that we have studied here) that if Jesus had to be betrayed in order to provide redemption, indeed, is not Judas doing God’s will in sending Christ to the cross through the betrayal? How can that be wrong and Judas condemned for the act that began redemption? If it were ordained and prophesied that he should betray Jesus, is he not fulfilling God’s will?

Even these questions presuppose that redemption is the point. In Gnostic thinking, the betrayal of Jesus and even Jesus’ purpose on earth is not a sacrificial redemption; it is everything opposed to that! Three reminders are important here. First, it was Christ’s work, not Judas’, that began redemption. Second, what the Gnostics hail as Judas’ good work in betrayal is not what the New Testament declares as a process of redemption. Third, God uses even evil acts to work His plan, through His foreknowledge, not necessarily through His foreordination.

In order to be a little more forward in your answer to critics and even to use this subject as a tool for witnessing, consider the following facts that might be shared.

1) It was not written by Judas:

It does not claim to be. It was written by an heretical group in the 2^nd century who wanted to give support to their mythological views. All New Testament biblical texts were either written by one of the apostles or by one closely associated with an apostle, or whose content matched the teachings of the apostles. The Gospel of Judas does not qualify on any of these points.

2) It’s a theology completely foreign to the entire Bible.

It presents a theology unlike anything in the Old or New Testaments. Either all 66 books of the Bible must be rejected or all Gnostic writings, such as the Gospel of Judas, must be rejected. The teachings of the two cannot be harmonized.

3) The spirit world presented in it is based on mythology and Platonic philosophy.

You can look earlier in this booklet to share specifics.

4) The church has spread the truth, not suppressed it.

The church did not suppress the Gnostic texts, but it did wholeheartedly reject heretical teachings, which Gnosticism is. In addition, we have seen that the Gospel of Judas is Gnostic literature. There were many errors that attempted to get a hearing in the early church and take people away from the true faith. The church never suppressed the truth, but it did fight the error with the truth! Gnosticism is erroneous, and The Gospel of Judas exalts that error!

5) The Bible Is the Inspired Word of God, Forever.

It not only claims to be the writings forever settled in heaven (Ps 119:89), but it has the testimony of the Jews beginning as far back as the time of Moses; it has Christ’s stamp of approval on the Old Testament during His ministry; and it has the Holy Spirit’s witness and the testimony of the church verifying the New Testament Scriptures for nearly 2,000 years. The Word of God, according to its own report, is not to be added to or subtracted from (Rev. 22:19). There is no more revelation of God to be found and no more revelation of God to come. The Bible is the complete and completed Word of God, forever!

6) Judas Is Still a Betrayer and the Gospel of Judas Betrays the True Christ As Well.

We know that “the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). However, there is one person who does not want that message of freedom in Christ to be known: Satan. He would much rather cloud the message of Christ with mythological secrets of how sin is not the problem and that you are not the problem. He wants people to believe that Jehovah, the Creator of the Universe, is the problem and the one who has sinned. It is Satan’s idea that the purpose of Jesus was not a sacrifice for sin but only to share “secret” knowledge. Listen to these words spoken so many years ago and see if they don’t sound familiar.

Genesis 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

His point is, “Eve, you can become as the gods in a realm above if you will just come to this ‘secret knowledge’ that this Creator God has withheld from you!” GNOSTICISM TO THE CORE!

There is a reason why Satan is attempting to have the Gospel of Judas (and Gnostic texts) betray the true message about Who Jesus is and what He came to do in redemption of sin.

Genesis3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Satan knows that the true message of the Bible is about the very Person Who is foretold to come from the seed of the woman: the One Who will provide the death blow to him and to his realm. That death blow is through the redemptive work of Christ in people’s hearts and eventually to him personally in eternal judgment.

7) Gnosticism Is a Secret for a Privileged Few; but the Gospel Is Preached Freely to Everyone.

Gnosticism is for special, trapped, divine sparks; but in Gnosticism, not everyone has a divine spark and hope of spiritual salvation. On the other hand, the Bible presents salvation in Christ as an open message for all who will hear and come. The Bible is clear that He is “... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9b). “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13). “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (I Tim. 2:3-4).

The Gospel of Judas has no good news, because just like its name sake, it betrays the true message of Jesus Christ. The devil wants to keep the true message of Christ a secret. But the truth is not a secret; it is published; it is proclaimed; it is exemplified by many of those whom you know. The truth and the true message is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, God Himself Who came to this world for the express purpose of redeeming humans from a devil’s hell.

Don’t let Judas nor the supposed gospel that carries his name betray the true message that all of mankind need to accept today. Satan used this ploy with Eve, and he will use the unrivaled betrayer of history to continue his deceit.

When Judas betrayed Christ, the Bible says that he “betrayed innocent blood.” What is happening is that the Gospel of Judas is now after yours. Your blood is not innocent of sin, but if you allow yourself to be fooled, the innocent and pure message of Christ will be betrayed to you, and your eternal destiny lies in the balance.

Put your confidence in the testimony of the Scriptures and not that which is based on myth. Put your faith in Jesus Christ Who died for your sins. It is not just for a few that this message comes; it is for anyone who will hear the truth and allow that truth to make you free.

I conclude with the testimony of Paul:

Galatians 1:6 ¶ I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

If you are interested in studying more Scriptures that speak against the Gnostic theme, you might read the following and compare their teachings with the information provided in this booklet about Gnosticism. I John 1:1-3 ; I John 1:8,10; I John 2:18-21; I John 2:27; I John 3:8; I John 3:11-12; I John 4:1-3; I John 5:20; II John 7, 9-10; Jude 3-4; Jude 7-9; Jude 11.

Bibliography

Gnosticism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

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Hoeller, Dr. Stephan A. “An Introduction to the Gospel of Judas,” BC Web Lecture, 39 min., http://www.bcrecordings.net/store/index. php?main_ page=page_4.

Irenaeus. Against Heresies. Chapter XXXI: “Doctrine of the Caanites.” From The Gnostic Society Library: http://www.gnosis.org/library/advh1.htm.

Kasser, Rodolphe, Marvin Meyer, and Gregor Wurst. The Gospel of Judas. National Geographic Society: Washington, 2006.

National Geographic; http://reference.aol.com/natgeo/_a/lost-gospel- revealed-says-jesus- asked/20060404161809990001?ncid=AOLRNL00120000000001.

National Geographic; http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/ 2006/04/ 040 _ 060406_judas_2.html.