Being called as a disciple of Jesus Christ does not absolutely guarrantee that one is elect. Judas was called and appointed and worked miracles by the Spirit.

But who would then deduce that being appointed and called by Jesus to be his disciple should not serve as assurance that one will inherit eternal life?

And what was Judas’ sin anyway? Did he not decide that Jesus was an untrustworthy master? Didn’t he line his private purse from the treasury because he couldn’t trust Jesus to provide for them. Didn’t he sell him out because Jesus was on an obvious “suicide mission” to Jerusalem.

Should Judas have been told that his place as a disciple was worthless or did he need to realize that it was a wonderful gift that he should receive in faith and grattitude? Judas decided his place as a disciple was worthless and therefore sold out.

Baptism appoints us as disciples of Jesus. That doesn’t automatically entail salvation because the unregenerate will reject the yoke of discipleship sooner or later. But that hardly makes baptism–being appointed a disciple by Jesus and the Spirit–of no use for assurance.