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Judas, patron saint of "necessary evil."

Include in that list things like "just war" and "torture to save millions" and you begin to see my thinking.

Judas performed a task REQURED BY GOD.

Is it necessary that God condemns him without possibility of forgiveness for acts that God deemed necessary? This is clearly beyond my grade level, but I have always believed that anyone can enjoy God's forgiveness through belief in Jesus. Is Judas unique in your mind as being excluded from that possibility?

I actually choose to believe that Jesus has specifically cherished Judas' soul through the centuries of guilt that he has suffered for his acts. It was necessary for someone to play this part. Judas was the "sacrificial lamb" that made the Lamb of God's necessary sacrifice happen.

He's the SOB special forces guy that tortures Bin Laden to find the nuke. He's Jack Bower. What he does is wrong, but someone has to do it. Would God condemn someone for that, if He forgives our sins for doing what is NOT necessary?

Is he spared suffering for his actions? No. God is merciful but will not let us lie, even to ourselves. But this is true of all of us. "I'm saved, your not" Christians are in for a rude awakening when they have that discussion with Jesus. They will not be spared their own sins, even if they believe. But their belief is what will sustain them through that trial, where all of their (our) faults are exposed without any obfuscating or excuses. If we can be forgiven for what we have done I have to believe that Judas can be forgiven for his.

Judas was the "sacrificial lamb" that made the Lamb of God's necessary sacrifice happen.

The Muslims believe that Judas was the person who died on the cross. So you're right there with them

You are kidding, aren't you?

I actually choose to believe that Jesus has specifically cherished Judas' soul through the centuries of guilt that he has suffered for his acts. It was necessary for someone to play this part. Judas was the "sacrificial lamb" that made the Lamb of God's necessary sacrifice happen.

Sounds like you're arguing from some sort of pre-destination position, leaving out free will.

Judas was not a puppet on a string. He used his free will (which all humans have) to betray His Master for money.