Was Judas Iscariot ever a believer in Jesus Christ?
Some hold the view that Judas was, and those who do not.
We can hold different interpretations without any arguing or fighting about this question.
My translation and note on John 6:67-71
67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Will youp also turn away?”
68 Simon Peter then answered him, “Lord, to whom will we go? Yous have the words of eternal life.
69 “We are convinced and have come to know that yous are the Christ, the son of the living God.”
70 Jesus answered them, “Didn’t I choose youp twelve? Yet, one of youp is a devil?”
[Was Judas Iscariot saved or never saved? Those that do look to the fact that Jesus chose him to be an apostle (Matthew 10:2-4), that he preached the Gospel (Matthew 10:5-7), and that he did miracles in Jesus’s name (Matthew (Matthew 10:8). Those that do not look to the fact that there are many fake apostles and ministers (2 Corinthians 11:13-15), false Christians (Titus 1:16, Matthew 7:21-23, and Ezekiel 33:31-32), false prophets (2 Peter 2:1), and false miracles (Matthew 24:24 and 2 Thessalonians 2:9). It seems to be reasonable that Judas was never a believer. The Lord Jesus states here in the present tense, “One of you is a devil.” The Greek word for ‘devil’ is διάβολος diábolos (G1228). It means slanderer, liar, false accuser, and a person who acts like THE devil. Pretending to be a believer is a lie and liar. Compare John 8:44, 1 John 3:8, and Acts 13:10. In the church assembly, there are tares—fakes. See Matthew 13:38. Believers Bible Commentary adds:
In verses 68 and 69, Peter had used the word “we” as meaning all twelve of the disciples. Here in verse 70, the Lord Jesus corrected him. He should not say so confidently that all twelve were true believers. It is true that the Lord had chosen the twelve disciples, but one of them was a devil. There was one in the company who did not share Peter’s views concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.
6:71 The Lord Jesus knew that Judas Iscariot was going to betray Him. He knew that Judas never really accepted Him as Lord and Savior. Here again we have the all-knowledge of the Lord. Also, we have an evidence of the fact that Peter was not infallible when speaking for the disciples]!
71 He was speaking about Judas Iscariot (Simon’s [son]), for he was intending to betray him, [even though he was] one of the twelve.