Can a person lose their place among His disciples? The Bible tells us yes. Judas did. At the beginning Judas was sent out by Jesus with all authority and power to work miracles and heal the sick; “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.” (Matthew 10:1-4) What happened to Judas?
Wayne Jackson writing for the Christian Courier explains; “Of the twelve, the Lord subsequently said: ‘While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost, except the son of destruction” ([John 17] v. 12, ESV). Focus on the term ‘except’ in the last phrase. It translates the Greek ei me. Baptist scholar A. T. Robertson stated that ‘this phrase marks an exception,’ and he cites this passage (1919, 1188). In his commentary, Word Pictures in the New Testament, he says Judas was a ‘sad and terrible exception’ (1932, 278). This constitutes positive proof that ‘the men’ of verses six through eight embraced the full complement of the twelve. Jesus ‘lost’ Judas. The traitor’s lostness resulted from his wrong choices, and he ‘fell away’ (Acts 1:17, 25). Judas was a disciple and chose to throw it all away.
The Bible tells us that falling away isn’t just going through periods of doubt or confusion about religion or God. It is way more than that; “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.” (Hebrews 6:4-6) Falling away is an open rejection of Jesus after experiencing His power, love and intimacy. You have to heal the sick, cast out demons and work in His power and authority to be susceptible to this kind of falling way. It isn’t simple ‘back sliding’ which can be repented of.
Nominal and immature Christians or religious fakers can’t be a Judas. We shouldn’t be quick to label any person a Judas or judging any individual’s salvation (or damnation). Engaging in that kind of condemnation of others may well be a step down the road to becoming a Judas.
Steps Down The Road 