Matthew 27:3 says, “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.” The phrase “repented himself” shows remorse, regret, and sorrow over what he had done, but the passage does not show saving faith in Christ.
Judas also confessed, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood” (Matthew 27:4). That was a true statement, but confession of guilt alone is not the same as receiving Christ. He went to the priests with his guilt instead of coming to Christ by faith. He returned the money, but he did not trust the Saviour. He felt the weight of sin, but he did not lay hold of mercy.
The end of the passage makes that plain: “And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:5). Saving repentance turns a sinner toward God; Judas’ remorse drove him into despair.
The Lord had already said of Judas, “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). In John 17:12, Jesus called him “the son of perdition.” That is not the description of a saved man.
So the conservative Baptist answer is clear: Judas experienced remorse, not saving repentance. He confessed his sin before men, but he did not receive Christ as Saviour. True salvation is not merely feeling sorry, admitting guilt, or trying to undo wrong; it is trusting the Lord Jesus Christ. As Acts 16:31 says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
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