Will Jews go to Heaven? They don’t believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but weren’t they the chosen people?
Pastor Ryan Nunez of Palm Valley Church: Making judgments on who will or will not be in Heaven is beyond any of us to decide or determine. This is even more important to note when we are talking about entire groups of people. God alone knows the heart of man, so only He can judge. However, this question comes up quite often because of Israel’s (Jews’) unique role in God’s plan of redemption.
Having eternal life—a life that continues in the presence of God for all eternity (Heaven)—is the result of being made right with God. Our natural state is being separated from God because of our rebellious nature to live outside of God’s boundaries. The Bible calls this rebellion sin. In order for us to be made right with God, our sin needs to be removed and forgiven. This key passage from Paul’s letter to the Romans explains this well.
“But now God has shown us a way to be made right with Him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He Himself is fair and just, and He makes sinners right in His sight when they believe in Jesus.” Romans 3:21-26
The point of this passage is that our belief and faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to be right with God. Forgiveness of sin is only possible by trusting in Jesus Christ alone. Any other way of believing leads to spiritual death.
So rather than focusing on a specific group of people, a better question to ask might be this: Is there any other way to Heaven other than faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior? The answer to that is no.
But isn’t there a special exception for Jews since they are God’s “chosen people?” Look at what Paul has to say later in his letter to the Romans.
“Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with Himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in Him are made right with God.
“For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. But faith’s way of getting right with God says, ‘Don’t say in your heart, “Who will go up to Heaven [to bring Christ down to earth]?” And don’t say, “Who will go down to the place of the dead [to bring Christ back to life again].”’ In fact, it says, ‘The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.’
“And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, ‘Anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced.’ Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on Him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:1-13
Following the “Law” of the Jewish Scriptures is not what makes us right with God; it is faith in Jesus Christ. No exceptions. There is no other way.
Jennifer: I’ve been asked this question many times over the years of my life and practice. I am so glad to finally have an answer. I love how Pastor Ryan dove deeply into Scripture to answer this.
Ultimately, we don’t get to say who will or won’t go to Heaven. That’s for God to decide in the end since He knows every one of our hearts.
The beauty of being a Christ-follower is that there IS only ONE way—no ifs, ands or buts. It actually makes it really easy to have eternal life…no guessing about being good enough, doing enough good, helping enough people or any of the other questions people torment themselves with when it comes to entry to Heaven.
