Another great question asked after the service.
Again, Romans 10:11-13 will help us. After Jesus goes back into heaven and the message of Jesus spreads through the world in Acts, we get a different flavor of a message. The main message of Jesus was for his Jewish audience, and now the message was spreading to include Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews). Jesus wanted to show his own people that he was the one they were longing for and now the whole world would be included.
Paul explains that Jesus is Lord of all, Jew and Gentile alike. Their will be no difference. If you are a Jew who comes to Christ, or a Gentile who comes to Christ we are all part of the same family. The word Christian is only used 3 times in scripture and was made up by non-Christians during the 1st century. It was a reference to being "little Christ-ones". The people were so impressed by the lives of disciples of Jesus they called them Christians. The word disciples is used 260+ times in scripture. It means to be a learner, apprentice, follower of Jesus. That is a better definition for anyone who follows Jesus. Christian has too much political and religious baggage to be helpful. Many of the early Jews who believed in Jesus were considered Jewish Christians. See Acts 15 for an early debate over this issue, in the early 1st century church.
If we came from Jewish stock, we could be said to be Messianic Jews, but most people that come to faith in Jesus are considered Gentiles. The heart of the message of Jesus is a relationship with God through a person, namely, Jesus (See Hebrews). That is why I like to say we are followers of Christ, disciples of Jesus, or part of the Jesus movement. It gets at the heart of being in a relationship with God and confessing Jesus is Lord! Jesus was not interested in starting a world religion, he was interested in starting a movement by the Spirit, in the lives of people, and his church. Jesus main message was the kingdom of God, not sign up to a religion, club, or philosophy. Jesus came to show the Jew and the Gentile that God has come, he is showing us how to be truly human, how to live, how to be rescued from sin and death, and that God is putting the world back together through his Son. Amen!!!
Hope this makes sense. Correct me where I need correcting and respond with any questions you may have for me.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Great Question #1: Do Jews go to heaven when they die if they don't beleive in Jesus?
I had a great question asked of me after the service today. This is one of two great questions...
This is not an easy question because I have always believed that God is a merciful God and his grace extends further than I could ever imagine, or our finite minds could imagine (See Romans 11:33-36). So with any question regarding a persons salvation whether they be Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Mormon, or atheist, we must tread lightly and not try to play or be or know God's mind. When people die and have not professed Christ as Lord; in any tangible or visible way, I am often asked this question. But, we need to answer this question based on what we do know, based on history (scripture) and faith.
You need to check out Romans chapters 9-11 for answers to this question. Paul in the beginning of this chapter is in anguish over his people, the Israelite, Jewish people, that they have not believed in the Messiah, Jesus. Paul being a devout Jew was zapped by God on the Road to Damascus in Acts 9, and saw Jesus as the Risen Messiah. Paul did not become a Christian at that moment, he experienced the full expression of Judaism and became a follower of Jesus, he now followed the Messiah, the one he had been waiting for, the one revealed in the Hebrew scriptures, the one he had been persecuting. He wanted so badly for his own people to know this Messiah, because at this point many Jews did not in the Jesus movement.
Paul knew that Israel was still God's chosen people. The problem was that even within this people many did not follow God. Even within his own people they refused to believe in the Messiah, Jesus.
Romans 10:1-4 is the key for us. Even though Jews were devout for God, they refused to believe in Jesus, in his righteousness, they were still trying to find a different way. Paul then makes it clear that if they confess with their mouths and believe in their hearts that Jesus is Lord, they will be saved as well (9).
So do Jews go to heaven when they die? Yes, if they believe that the Messiah Jesus is the fulfilment of their faith. Do Mormons go to heaven, Buddhists, Muslims, yes, if they believe that Jesus is Lord of all. God can even show himself to these religions because his love is that great, and he desires to save and reveal truth to all man.
Lastly, don't give up our Jewish friends. Read chapter 11:25-36. God is still saving many Jewish people, and showing them the fullness of their faith, the Messiah Jesus. They are still his chosen people and many will see and believe. Love our Jewish heritage, love our Jewish neighbors, that is the best thing we can do as disciples of Jesus.
Please respond with clarification or any questions you may have for me.
This is not an easy question because I have always believed that God is a merciful God and his grace extends further than I could ever imagine, or our finite minds could imagine (See Romans 11:33-36). So with any question regarding a persons salvation whether they be Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Mormon, or atheist, we must tread lightly and not try to play or be or know God's mind. When people die and have not professed Christ as Lord; in any tangible or visible way, I am often asked this question. But, we need to answer this question based on what we do know, based on history (scripture) and faith.
You need to check out Romans chapters 9-11 for answers to this question. Paul in the beginning of this chapter is in anguish over his people, the Israelite, Jewish people, that they have not believed in the Messiah, Jesus. Paul being a devout Jew was zapped by God on the Road to Damascus in Acts 9, and saw Jesus as the Risen Messiah. Paul did not become a Christian at that moment, he experienced the full expression of Judaism and became a follower of Jesus, he now followed the Messiah, the one he had been waiting for, the one revealed in the Hebrew scriptures, the one he had been persecuting. He wanted so badly for his own people to know this Messiah, because at this point many Jews did not in the Jesus movement.
Paul knew that Israel was still God's chosen people. The problem was that even within this people many did not follow God. Even within his own people they refused to believe in the Messiah, Jesus.
Romans 10:1-4 is the key for us. Even though Jews were devout for God, they refused to believe in Jesus, in his righteousness, they were still trying to find a different way. Paul then makes it clear that if they confess with their mouths and believe in their hearts that Jesus is Lord, they will be saved as well (9).
So do Jews go to heaven when they die? Yes, if they believe that the Messiah Jesus is the fulfilment of their faith. Do Mormons go to heaven, Buddhists, Muslims, yes, if they believe that Jesus is Lord of all. God can even show himself to these religions because his love is that great, and he desires to save and reveal truth to all man.
Lastly, don't give up our Jewish friends. Read chapter 11:25-36. God is still saving many Jewish people, and showing them the fullness of their faith, the Messiah Jesus. They are still his chosen people and many will see and believe. Love our Jewish heritage, love our Jewish neighbors, that is the best thing we can do as disciples of Jesus.
Please respond with clarification or any questions you may have for me.
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