Does Christianity believe Jews may go to heaven?

[♔Goodguy1066♔]

Some person on the TD said non-christains can't go to heaven (in his religion). Is this true?

[Bovril]

The only authoratitive answer is... it depends who you ask.

[Sadreddine]

Depending on how you interprete "the only way to the Father is through me".

If you believe it means following his fundamental teachings, they should.

If you think it means believing that Jesus (s) is God and the Son of God at the same time, who sacrificed himself for humanity in the cross yadda-yadda because Paul said so, people who do not suscribe to this are going to Hell.

The latter is the opinion of the average christian, by the way.

[Bovril]

The latter is the opinion of the average christian, by the way.

I'm not sure you're right. I think the 'average Christian' would be a little confused on the issue. If you ask many of them "Is Moses going to heaven?" then they'd say yes, but if you asked them seperately "do you have to believe in Jesus to get to heaven" they'd also say yes.

[Doctor]

Depending on how you interprete "the only way to the Father is through me".

If you believe it means following his fundamental teachings, they should.

I like to think of it in this way, but I think there are a lot who believe your other definition.

[Helm]

Seeing as Jesus won't absolve them of their sins I'm guessing they wouldn't. Why else be a Christian if anyone can get in?

It's also equally likely that it's the Jews not Christians who have it right.

[Exarch]

Some person on the TD said non-christains can't go to heaven (in his religion). Is this true?

good q
apparnlty what's supposed to happen according to some christian fundies (and according to revelations) is that the jews get their full homeland in all its former glory after builing their temple (with christian fundie support) then jesus comes back, pwns their israeli arses for not believing in him and whisks away the jews that do convert to christianity.
yeh, that's whut's supposed to happen, believe it or not.

[Caledonian Rhyfelwyr]

Reformed theologians such as Calvin etc argued that Jews could be saved, since the curse of the law pointed them to their redemption in Christ. They were denied a more direct connection with him after the golden calf scene, however the veil was lifted after Jesus was sacrificed.

No Christian I know denies that Abraham, Moses, David etc are in heaven.

[G-Megas-Doux]

Interestingly, if Christians did believe that the Jews go to heaven because they believe and follow the teachings of the same God, does that mean that Muslims believe that Christians and Jews go to heaven?

Also do the Jews believe that the Christians or Muslims go to heaven and believe in the same God as them? They believe that the Edomites believed in the same God as them and accepted but that the Edomites were not Israelis just kin.

Do Christians believe Muslims go to heaven?

Do all parties just believe that the others are religious sects that are not following the current word of God and the correct beliefs and as such the other sects are wrong?

You cannot really ask the first question without the other questions.

[Helm]

Muslims may stand a better chance because they revere Jesus a little as a prophet of Islam, so it depends if that's good enough for Jesus or not. Whatever faith happens to be true you'll have an awful lot disasapointed people not getting into the afterlife of their choice either way.

[Monarchist]

I don't think it's really too black and white as that. Obviously murderers who "believe" in Jesus are likely going to Hell, but the most virtuous, nice, kind, and good person who is an atheist may not, in the end. I tend to believe that God gives everyone a last chance at the end, just as you're drifting off into the wings. If Jesus truly is the incarnation of truth, love, and grace, it can hardly be otherwise, or else He was lying to us. In the end, however, none of us can truly know or say - not even the lovely atheists who think they know so much. God will do what He does. If I deserve Hell... well, that's where I'm going. Don't have much of a say in the matter, if I've practiced the wrong religion all my life, now do I?

[Helm]

Don't have much of a say in the matter, if I've practiced the wrong religion all my life, now do I?

But why would God care what religion you followed?

[Tacitursa]

But why would God care what religion you followed?

More importantly why would god send down so many prophets to teach people different things.

My guess is its like God poker and there are many gods.

They all sit around a big table randomly choose a planet in the universe , Create life on it and then they have a competition to see who can get the most followers.

Once a god has reached the required number of followers to win they all destroy the planet.

[Ummon]

The answer is simple: God knows - worry of your own soul.

[Carpathian Wolf]

The answer is simple: God knows - worry of your own soul.

Orthodox answer right here.

[roy34543]

Isnt the first circle of hell reserved for that?

[basics]

" Some person on the TD said non-christains can't go to heaven (in his religion). Is this true?"

Goodguy1066,

Jesus said that unless a man is born again he cannot enter heaven. This applies to Jew and Gentile alike. So Jews will be saved as Gentiles will be saved, the word meaning made perfect in the eyes of God. And being made perfect there therefore is no obstruction to them entering heaven at all when they die or give up life on this planet.

This is how simple the Gospel is. But, religion has to intercede so that it can get a part to play and in playing its part it makes the Gospel hard for men to bear. It adds what is not there to place a yoke on man so that in the eyes of whatever organisation it is that man is bound by rule and regulation to it. Rather than be free he becomes bogged down by another institution not disimilar from the one Jesus came to exercise the Jews from.

[Sir Winston Churchill]

No, the person you are talking about must be a narrow-minded extremist.

[byzantineklibanophori]

Well, Apostle Paul did make the dispensation that even if people did not become "Christian" or "Saved" or had the chance to reject or hear the message it would not be counted against them since if they, in their condition, conducted themselves in a manner fitting to God (love, mercy, compassion) they would be held in regard even in comparison to some so called Christians.

The point that both Paul and even Jesus makes is that what you call yourself by "Christian" or not "Christian", is no guarantee of salvation - but dependent on the genuineness of your heart and how you conduct yourself. If you read in the New Testament, Jesus socialised with the marginalised of society more than he did with the "righteous" religious figures - obviously a statement about what inside than what outside.

One thing that miffs me is the arrogance of Christians who act like they're on top of things and make others feel bad about...or at least try to.

[Monarchist]

One thing that miffs me is the arrogance of Christians who act like they're on top of things and make others feel bad about...or at least try to.

I believe that following the tenets of Jesus Christ, without necessarily learning them from Him, leads to something more positive than eternal torment. God will tell, I suppose; then again, maybe not. Human beings need to stop questioning God so bloody often, and I am one of them! There is a certain revelation which comes, at the end of every day, no matter if you're praying or just falling asleep. It is the revelation that the blood continues, and the systems keep going. If Jews act Christ-like (whether or not it's because of Christ), they will likely join Christ. If not, there's nothing we can do.

I love all the questions regarding whether X, Y, or Z are "true", when none of us can ever know. Why don't you try praying to God and asking?