Do all Jews go to Heaven?
Nope – neither do ALL “Christians” in the human sense of the word, that is…. The Bible is very specific as to what it means to be a Christian – to be “Born again” as Christ puts it… But I was asked if Jews got a “free pass” because they are God’s “chosen people…” So, let’s talk about that in my letter to my friend Karen…
Karen,
This is the Biblical answer to your question about Jews – they do not get a free pass – Paul tried to explain “Election” to the Jews of his day – he used Abraham (Father of the nations, as deemed by God) to explain what that means in regards to the “New Covenant” which is faith… or “to believe” in Christ (Greek word for this type of belief is a daily, undeniable “active, living like Christ)… Romans 3 & 4. (The best book that describes the doctrine of Christ in my opinion).
Earlier in Romans we see the beginning of Paul’s conversation with the Jews who believe, like you said, they get a free pass – Paul said, not so fast….
“… For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. [1]”
Because the Jews believed that they were “saved” simply because they were Jewish is false – just the same, the Bible says just because we are ALL children of God – doesn’t make us ALL Christians (and that goes for those who say, “I believe… I’m a Christian – Jesus says in Matthew 7:22-23 – they’ll be cast into hell):
“On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ [2]
So – the issue now is “The Law” vs. “The New Covenant” – The Old Testiment did not have Jesus, they had a set of rules- the 10 commandments as well as the actual ark of the covenant (Read more about this in Genesis through Deuteronomy these are the “Books of the law”). So this is what the Jews refer to on a regular basis when referring to the Law –
One of those “laws” made up by the Jews themselves… was circumcision – what they believed was an outward expression of their “faith” – Jesus said, NOPE – it’s not because of what YOU (WE) do… it’s because of what I am going to do (Meaning His death and resurrection – the final sacrifice that bridges the gap between man and God).
So that’s where we pick up Paul’s conversation with the Jews…. They did not believe that Gentiles (or anyone else, for that matter) could have a relationship with God… they were supreme…. They were also still living under the old law and did not believe in or live by Christ alone. They believed (and still do) that it is by their “good and holy works” (which God says is “like filthy rags” Isaiah 64:6 – Isaiah gives a perfect picture:
“Your holy people held possession for a little while; our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary. We have become like those over whom you have never ruled, like those who are not called by your name.” [3]
By the way Paul was not just a Jew – he was a former murderer of Christians – before getting bonked on the head by God Himself…
“ Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.” (Romans 3:29-30)
Chapter 4: “What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.
He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. [4]
I hope this helps.
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Ro 9:6–8). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Mt 7:22–23). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Is 63:18–19). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Ro 3:29–4:17). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
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6 comments on “Do all Jews go to Heaven?”
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Holly T. Ashley 
The answer to this question is yes, this is one of Gods great and wonderful mystery’s.In the book of Romans 11:25-29 it says I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved. As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for Gods gifts and his call are irrevocable. So basically God has hardened the hearts of the Jews to not except Jesus as there Savior, until all the people who are not Jews, Gentiles or Christians, except Jesus as there Savior that are going to.
Very interesting perception. Totally incorrect – but interesting. There will not be one single Christian left behind – whether that Christian be of Jewish decent or that of an Italian, Irish, Asian, etc. Don’t get Christianity mixed up with a religion or a nationality. It is neither.
Where did you get that I said that some Christians would be left behind?
Until all the people who are not the Jews, which are the Gentiles or Christians, have excepted Jesus as there Savior that are going to do so.
in regards to my statement “There will not be one Christian left behind…” I meant that there are people who call themselves Christians who are not- the TRUE Christians will rise and not one will be left behind; whether they are Jew, Greek, etc… There is not special treatment based on nationality as stated in the my previous reply.
Isaiah also tells us that, “The number of the sons of Israel be as the sands of the sea – only a REMNANT will be saved.”
“Jacob I loved, Esau I hated.”
Paul (Since you quoted Romans) also points out that there is a difference between ethnic Israel and spiritual Israel.
Proof is that Isaac was chosen over Ishmael and Jacob rather than Esau. God freely chose – based on Him alone – it is NOT a birthright.