For Christians only: Do you believe Jews can go to heaven w/o accepting Christ?

Madtown said:

I like the answer, sounds to me like what you're saying is that if a person has a general feeling of a belief in God, that this is what is required for salvation? If so, then as long as one believes in God, they're on the right path.

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Not if they have been shared the gospel of Christ with, then it is as long as one believes and accepts Christ, even though through Christ the object of our faith is still God.

But, for someone who's never heard of Jesus, or the Bible, their version of God will be different than yours. They will worship God as they understand him to be. Even if they have faith, the details of that which they believe are different than what you believe. Isnt' this where we get into trouble, with one group of people asserting that their way of seeing God is superior to that other groups way of seeing God? Isn't this just why different religions exist?

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Yes and No. I don't believe their "version" of God will be different b/c God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Doesn't matter if one is in the US, the UK or depths of Africa. But yes they will worship God as they understand God through His revelation of Himself to them. We all worship God differently, even within the same faith and there is nothing wrong with that. But it is not b/c God is different but rather b/c *we* are different We have different personalities, likes/dislikes, skills, talents, etc all of which can be used to worship God in our own way. I believe different religions exist b/c people often see it the other way around, that God somehow changes, rather than that it is us that changes (that and people distort the truth, but that's a whole 'nother discussion )

I know I'm writing in general terms, but I tend to see flavors of religion as different routes up the same mountain. So, for me, I just never like to hear stuff like "only through accepting Christ" will someone attain salvation, because there will always be children of God on this earth that have never heard of Jesus or the Bible.

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I understand In my beliefs, the only children of God are those who accept Christ and are adopted into the family of God. We are all God's creation, but not all God's children.

pwfaith said:

Yes and No. I don't believe their "version" of God will be different b/c God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Doesn't matter if one is in the US, the UK or depths of Africa. But yes they will worship God as they understand God through His revelation of Himself to them. We all worship God differently, even within the same faith and there is nothing wrong with that. But it is not b/c God is different but rather b/c *we* are different We have different personalities, likes/dislikes, skills, talents, etc all of which can be used to worship God in our own way. I believe different religions exist b/c people often see it the other way around, that God somehow changes, rather than that it is us that changes (that and people distort the truth, but that's a whole 'nother discussion )

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That's what I'm saying, we're all different and as a result there will definitely be differences in how we see "God", across sub-groupings of human beings. God isn't different, but since we are we can't help but have different ideas about what God "is". Face it, if you happened to be born in Egypt, you'd very likely practice Muslim traditions!

pwfaith said:

I understand In my beliefs, the only children of God are those who accept Christ and are adopted into the family of God. We are all God's creation, but not all God's children.

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I respectfully disagree. I believe God created us all, created us equally. Therefore, I'd say we're all children of God, regardless of whatever region of the world we were born into, and whatever religious traditions we were exposed to as a result.

Hope you have a good weekend!

Madtown said:

That's what I'm saying, we're all different and as a result there will definitely be differences in how we see "God", across sub-groupings of human beings. God isn't different, but since we are we can't help but have different ideas about what God "is". Face it, if you happened to be born in Egypt, you'd very likely practice Muslim traditions!



I respectfully disagree. I believe God created us all, created us equally. Therefore, I'd say we're all children of God, regardless of whatever region of the world we were born into, and whatever religious traditions we were exposed to as a result.

Hope you have a good weekend!

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I agree with you there.

The idea that any group or religion has the exclusive blessing of God is entirely man made, and derives from a tribal past.

Following a particular religion gives no exclusive benefit. mankind is on a learning curve. Christians were given a clue of that path with the story of the good Samaritan.

I suspect God's plan includes us all learning this... No tribe simply all humanity under God.

ohhcuppycakee said:

The title pretty much says it all. I found out some people have this view awhile ago and want to know what the Christians on this forum think. So...do you believe the Jews are the only people that can get to heaven without accepting Jesus Christ as their savior?

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There is no place to "go" to. Jesus represents the path, but not in an exclusive, rule-bound way. There are other avatars of the path in different cultures. In the end, God will save whom God will save.

ohhcuppycakee said:

The title pretty much says it all. I found out some people have this view awhile ago and want to know what the Christians on this forum think. So...do you believe the Jews are the only people that can get to heaven without accepting Jesus Christ as their savior?

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The way I understood it ( I may be wrong ) is that Jesus was the ultimate decider on who was going to heaven. He stated that there would be people that would claim to believe in him that he would turn away as well. When I did research it came down to if people had heard of him and his ministry and were not opposed to him then they were okay, the lesser but still they pass.

Remember, I'm neither a Christian nor a theologian so I could be wrong.

Romans 11:

11Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!
13I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry 14in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. 21For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

Madtown said:

That's what I'm saying, we're all different and as a result there will definitely be differences in how we see "God", across sub-groupings of human beings. God isn't different, but since we are we can't help but have different ideas about what God "is". Face it, if you happened to be born in Egypt, you'd very likely practice Muslim traditions!

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Perhaps and perhaps not. There are plenty of Christians who were born in Egypt and many other countries around the world, born into country largely of another religion. The only reason I don't agree with the whole "God is who we make him to be" is b/c I believe we can know God through His word, His character and His attributes. If someone says God is angry and evil, I disagree b/c Scripture tells me God is loving, just and good. Does that make sense? Perhaps it would be better said that how we each relate to God is different, not necessary how we see God should be different. God is God and who God is, is revealed to us in Scripture, but the ways we related to Him may be very different, as well as what attributes/characteristics we focus on the most. Some may focus on God's goodness while others may focus on his love, but God is still both. IMPO, if one's view of who God is does not line up with Scripture, then it is not true of God.

I respectfully disagree. I believe God created us all, created us equally. Therefore, I'd say we're all children of God, regardless of whatever region of the world we were born into, and whatever religious traditions we were exposed to as a result.

Hope you have a good weekend!

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We are certainly welcome to agree to disagree on this matter

John 1:9-13 talks about how to become a child of God.