Question from a Site Viewer
My wife recently died. She was a Jew. Will there be Jews in heaven?
Tim’s Answer
When you ask your question, I do not know if you mean that your wife was of Jewish nationality or Jewish in her religion. Certainly, there are many Jews in heaven, just as there are many from other races of people. Jesus was Jewish, as were Peter, James, John, Paul, Andrew, Barnabas, all of the apostles, and most of the early church. We affirm that they will all be in heaven. In fact, the greatness of the gospel is that both Jews and Gentiles now are brought into one body, the church, and have equal access to the Father and to heaven.
However, just as not all Gentiles will be there, neither will all Jews. Scripture tells us that no one can come to the Father except through Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Even the Psalms tells us that we need to
. . . kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
Psalm 2:12
Our way to the Father and to heaven is through Jesus Christ.
While this may not be a popular message in some circles, and though we may wish that there were many paths to the Father, such is not the teaching of Scripture. Scripture teaches us that we are sinners.
For there is no one who does not sin.
1 Kings 8:26For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin.
Ecclesiastes 7:20For in Your sight no one living is righteous.
Psalm 143:3
Scripture also teaches us that God cannot look on wickedness (Habakkuk 1:13). Therefore, we are in trouble. But there is hope.
Isaiah tells us that there is one coming who would take our sins upon Himself (Isaiah 53:5-6, 8, 10, 12). Now, there is no need for such a horrendous thing to happen, if there was another way to have our sins resolved before God. God would be very needlessly cruel to put our sins on someone else if there was another way to the Father. But Isaiah tells us that this One on whom the sins are laid would justify many by bearing their iniquities (Isaiah 53:11). Daniel tells us that the Messiah would be cut off, but not for Himself (Dan. 9:26).
Jesus came and died for our sins, just as Scriptures foretold. He now offers a life with God, though faith (trusting in) Jesus as our Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-13). He calls us to simply come and believe (John 3:16), to turn and follow Jesus. All who do so will be brought into the kingdom of the Son of His love (Colossians 1:13-14).
This is the way for all peoples. It does not matter what nationality the person is. There is no distinction between Jews and Gentiles when it comes to access to the Father (Romans 10:12-13).
I hope this helps you.
May the Lord Jesus guide you into His truth.
tim
How then do the jews before Christ’s Assention get to heaven? Jesus said no one comes to the Father but through me.
Jews and Gentiles before the time of Christ get to heaven by faith in God, as Hebrews 11 points out. Even though they may not have known about Christ as we know Him, their way to heaven is through Christ, as He is the One who covered their sins (Romans 3:25).
Greetings.
Tim, I believe you are being a little coy with your answer. Do you really think that the viewer was talking about a “Jew by natural birth”? I, of course, can not be sure but it seems to me that he is speaking about a “Jew by faith”. To think that Jesus would forbid someone from entering heaven because he or she was of the same race as He was, is silly. I suspect that you do not want to answer the real question. I would like to hear your answer myself. If you are not sure of what it means to be a “Jew by faith”, I suggest that you visit a local synagogue. I am sure that you will find people who would be happy to teach you of their faith.
Tim isn’t being coy. He is simply stating the Biblical truth that a Jew, a Gentile, or anyone, can make it to heaven via faith in the Jesus of the Bible. What exactly do you think he’s trying to hide?
Greetings.
Eric, the question was a rather short (just six words) and simple one, “will there be Jews in heaven?” I doubt very much that the question is about his wife’s family tree or her DNA. The person wants to know if his wife’s Jewish faith will hinder her from getting into heaven. Its a simple “yes or no” question. We are not talking about before the time of Christ we are talking about now. People who accept the Jewish faith do not confess Jesus as Lord, plain and simple. This rejection of Him would bar them from heaven, this is clear. Tim never answers the question, I suspect it is because Tim does not wish the offend the husband but a straight answer is deserved. The message of the Good News can sometimes be rather harsh to those who have relatives that have rejected it, but for the sake of those still searching we must not be afraid to offend people’s feelings in order to save them. Jesus, Peter, Paul and others spoke plainly and saved many by speaking boldly.
Neither you nor I know the heart of another person. All we can do is observe their works and hear their words. But ultimately we are taught not to judge. There is one judge, and I am not Him. For this reason, I will not consign someone to hell. That is God’s prerogative. I can say what Scripture says, that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ. But there are many Jews as well as many Gentiles who come to a saving knowledge of Christ at the end of life. I have seen God work in some amazing ways to answer the prayers of His people. It is God’s great desire to have people turn to Him.
I think the first statement in Tim’s answer is almost irrelevant. Tim goes on to say that there will be Jews in heaven and Gentiles in heaven but that there is only one way to get there. I think his answer is very clear and very sound.
Greetings.
LETS BE CLEAR, the issue here is not “Jewish by blood” but “Jewish by faith”. Jesus said quite clearly, “No one comes to the Father except through Me.” So let us speak boldly and not be afraid to speak the obvious, Moslems, Buddhists, Hindus, and yes, Jews are not going to the Father unless them repent and accept Christ. This is not my judgement but God’s and to imply that I am somehow judging people because of this is wrong. Of course we do not know someone’s heart, but out of the HEART the MOUTH speaks. Many people will miss heaven because Christians were too afraid to speak the truth boldly and clearly.
What about people today who live in primitive, remote parts of the planet who have not heard of Jesus? Will they go to heaven? What about young children who die before they can understand salvation through Christ? Will they go to heaven? I also have a hard time with this one…a murderer who gives his life to Christ on his deathbed or on death row…will go to heaven?
Those who have never heard, the children, and those who commit heinous crimes against others can each pose challenging issues to our understanding of God and His ways. But the answer to such questions lies with God. Our desires and wishes do not resolve the issue. We cannot make God to be like we want Him to be. He is Himself. What we know is that He is good, He is just, and He wants no one to perish. This is the message of the cross. Given what the Word says about God, I am far more worried about those who have heard and have not accepted His invitation.