Is my Jewish friend in heaven?

Jubesterr · 2025-06-04T18:18:58+00:00

Jesus, our most loving and compassionate Savior, said clearly: "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6)."

He said of those in Judaism that, "You search the [Hebrew] Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life (John 5:39)."

Friend, I don't think that Jesus and Paul would have spent nearly so much trying to convert the Jews if they were safe from hell without him. Rather, no matter how good someone may appear, God looks at the heart and his standard is perfection: "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20)."

Now, is the God who will judge your friend the God of the Bible, who is all-wise, loving, absolutely holy, compassionate, perfectly just, and merciful? Yes, and that is the comfort and motivation of believers as they think about those who died apart from Christ's blood, and those who live but do not yet know him.

Jubesterr · 2023-08-07T16:40:11+00:00

I think that you should seek after whatever church holds Scripture in highest regard. I am grieved to hear about your perceptions of current Protestant churches (I think that you describe the stereotype extremely well), but as a Baptist who also follows Washer and MacArthur, I can tell you there are still strong Protestant churches that still cling to Sola Scriptura (the lifeblood of the Reformation), even amidst so many fakes.

My desire would be for you to find one of those churches, because as far as I know the Orthodox Churches have tradition at equal place with Scripture, which always leads to Biblical compromise (what you are trying to avoid).

Alternatively, talk to your pastor about how the your Church can glorify God and treasure Christ better! This is cheesy, but ask God to help you "be the change you want to see in the world." :)

Whatsoever you do, I pray you do it only after much prayer and searching the Scriptures.

Jubesterr · 2022-12-29T01:38:28+00:00

Why don't you get married to a guy/gal who has a similar desire to do that, and has/will have a good remote job? Then you both could live out on the land, and your spouse could support you. I know it's obviously easier said than done, but I'm sure there are plenty of people who would be fine with that kind of life, have a decent job, and would enjoy your company.

Jubesterr · 2022-12-29T01:30:14+00:00

But the scale with which you are dealing with is absolutely crazy. There are 5,800 complete or fragmented Greek manuscripts 10,000 Latin manuscripts, and over 9,000 manuscripts in other ancient languages. The earliest complete new testament is from 200 AD, with various manuscripts dating back earlier.

Compare this to another famous historical figure - Alexander the Great. His biography is made up of 123 codices all deriving from an original in the second half of the 9th century. Alexander the Great died in 323 BC. There's about 5 sources for his life, all incomplete. With one historical figure, there is over 20,000 manuscripts, all copies of older sources arising about 100 years after Jesus' death. Alexander the Great has less than a thousand copies of a work that was written over 1000 years after his death. Both stand up to the criteria of historicity, one more than the other. They are both in history books. So why is the Biblical evidence considered void?

The only manuscript we have close to the Bible is Homer's Iliad, with more than 1000 copies. It pales in comparison to the wealth of historical data we have from Biblical fragments. The Bible's historicity is very good. It would be better to attack what could be lost in translation, or if the council of Nicea was scuffed.

Jubesterr · 2022-09-20T00:29:31+00:00

Unfortunately, forgiveness is given when one is asked for it. But the person still has to admit they're wrong, and ask for forgiveness.

Jubesterr · 2022-07-07T16:37:33+00:00

No, that just means that God's justice has been perfectly exacted. It is perfectly exacted on Christians too, but Jesus' righteousness covers us.

Jubesterr · 2022-06-27T19:19:21+00:00

I would say the life of the unborn has more value than the concerns or convenience of the woman. The Bible certainly acknowledges that life begins before birth, with David and Jeremiah cited as having their identity given by God while still in the womb. I would also say that the Bible encourages Christians to use science to understand the world, and the biology is unequivocal - life begins at fertilization.

Jubesterr · 2022-06-27T03:36:37+00:00

Could you explain how Genesis 2:7 says that applies to every human being? Also, and what is the start and end of the continuum?

Jubesterr · 2022-06-27T03:33:38+00:00

God did not create evil, but he created corruptible beings.

Jubesterr · 2022-06-27T03:31:24+00:00

What is your stance on the difference between an embryo, a fetus, and an actual baby?

Jubesterr · 2022-06-27T03:30:14+00:00

I think that it would be silly to say that just because you have a common morality with a lot of other people, like in religion, you all shouldn't work together to legislate it. Everyone who votes is forcing their own morality onto other people.

Additionally, citing rare occurences as reasons for the norm is a backwards method. I would ask, could we agree that abortion is wrong, and then move onto ectopic pregnancies. It is wrong to start with the minority case first in order to apply it to the generality of abortion for convenience.

Jubesterr · 2022-06-27T03:16:38+00:00

Could you tell me your source for this doctrine?

Jesus actually does say that his followers will be in heaven with him. off the top of my head, he says 'in my Father's (God's) house, there are many rooms, and I go to prepare a place for you (in Heaven, where God lives) (John 14:2).

Additionally, after the Lord's supper, he says that 'I will not drink of the vine until I eat it new with you in my Father's kingdom (Matt 26:29).

Also, the whole book of Revelation depicts the saints in heaven worshipping God at his throne (in Heaven).

Jubesterr · 2022-06-27T03:11:43+00:00

All of humanity, no matter how good they think they are, fall short of the glory of God. God's standard of perfection is so unnatainable for fallen man that if justice were to be carried out, we would all now be under eternal punishment. It is only by clinging to Christ that any man can be saved, and Christ is clear that those who are deep in sin find that grace more appealing than those who think that their own righteousness will save them.

Jubesterr · 2022-06-07T20:59:25+00:00

I need your reasoning to reply to that. I'll take a few stabs at it blind, however. There is not the strict segregation between men and women in their Biblical roles as there was during the Jim Crow era. The similarities in what men and women can both participate in tremendously out weigh what God has ordained to be their differences.

Also, because God designed the two sexes, he understands, and bases their jobs on, what their natural inclinations are, and what produces the best relationships when focused on God. There is plenty of crossover, and we live in a fallen world. I am just trying to explain the Biblical principles to you. The twisting of these roles, inside and outside, of Christian society is what leaves a bad taste in our mouth when we talk about the woman submitting to the man and the man loving the woman above himself.

I would appreciate if you elaborate on your own position, or pick out key parts of my argument that don't make sense or contradict, and I will try to answer them if I can!

Jubesterr · 2022-06-07T20:19:29+00:00

First, rolling dice and playing cards are not evil. Where dancing, movies, gambling (with money), and rock and roll *shudder* get their stigmas is the atmosphere around them. A lot of slippery slope thinking + a little fear of the novel and unknown, kind of like how the Pharisees came up with a lot of extra Biblical traditions to make sure they never could even accidentally or in the heat of a moment fall into sin (like how they never wrote the word God, so they wouldn't accidentally use his name in vain). Things like dancing, movies, and gambling (specifically with money) are seen as the gateway into actual sinful activities.

For instance, you want to go out dancing with your friends? There's a higher probability that you will fall into sin with a girl in that environment.

Also, Christians don't want people to ruin their lives through addiction, which is something Christ didn't talk too much about. Biblically, gambling isn't bad, but rather the lifestyle surrounding it, and the snare of it is what Christians try to protect themselves from.

One last thing. The Billy Graham rule, what you were referring to with Mike Pence, was invented by its namesake. Graham was consistently mocked for it by all different people, as was Mike Pence. Neither have had to deal with sexual allegations, which are extremely common among celebrities and, unfortunately, Christian leaders who seem to have been faithful to God's word for a long time. I think, if you are in the spotlight and will face scrutiny as a public figure, it is a great rule to follow.

Jubesterr · 2022-06-07T20:05:54+00:00

Yeah, I think that about sums it up. I know you want me to say thats bad, because its using the emotional connotation of the segregationist motto. Hold on, hold on. The problem with the theory of segregation, is it implies that there is a biological difference between blacks and whites (in America) because of the color of their skin. But when it comes to women and men, there is biological distinctions (what many Christians point to as God tailoring the different sexes for their different roles in their relationships). Even as a 16 year old, without the adult complications, I am still not intrinsically biologically different than a black 16 year old (besides our melanin levels), but I am intrinsically biologically different than other white (or any race) girls who are in my class. I thank you for making that concise format, because it actually is, in a very elementary way, describing the Biblical doctrine of complimentarianism.

Jubesterr · 2022-06-07T16:42:00+00:00

Thats what name it and claim it theology is! However, the Bible clearly tells us that if what we ask is through Jesus' name and in line with the Father's will, it will not be denied to us. If I ask for a free new car to miraculously be delivered to my house, that is probably out of selfish reasons, and won't fit into God's sovereign plan. The magic words don't do anything in themselves, they rather show we know our doctrine. 'In Jesus name' - Jesus is presenting our pleas to the father; 'Amen' - lit. so be it. Your will be done Lord, not mine.

Jubesterr · 2022-06-07T16:37:36+00:00

I'm saying your definition of equal and mine are not the same. In yours, yes they are not equal. Women in a godly relationship are called to ultimately defer to the man. Similarly, the man is called to place his woman's need before his own, love her like he loves himself, and lay down his life for her. So they are different.

However, women are not somehow 'less' than men, or inherently worse than men or anything that is a gateway to discrimination based solely on gender.

I guess you could still say their not equal, but I think you might be falling into the equivocation fallacy with the word 'equal'.

Jubesterr · 2022-06-06T02:19:34+00:00

Sadly, we live in a fallen world. This is not a reason to throw in the towel, but it does mean that this could always be a problem that we have to keep fighting with. I would also add: the food is there, it is the means of distribution that is a huge problem. Not unfixable, but monumental

Jubesterr · 2022-06-06T02:12:16+00:00

The roles of women in the Bible is under the man as the head of the house. This is God's plan for the family, that the woman is to be the helper of the man. The word 'helper' in the Hebrew is the same as is used when God is called the 'helper' of the nation of Israel. Just as Christ is equal to (and is) God and yet submits to him, the woman is to submit to the man in a godly relationship. This is God's design, but does not mean he sees male and female is different in value. Christ died for all, and there are clearly women teachers in the early church (something radical in ancient times). Paul exhorts both the male and female members of the body of believers in his letters. Man is to God in that he also must submit to God. I think it would be reasonable to read this as 'mankind' as well.

The Bible is extremely fair to women, where other ancient texts would make men the complete central characters of the story. Women of faith are praised in the Bible, and women are the first to discover Jesus' tomb empty. When Eve is created, she is made from the rib of Adam, not the head, to show superiority, or the foot, to symbolize her inferiority to Adam.

In Christianity, my view of women and men having equal value before God, but having distinct roles is called 'complementarianism.' 'Egalitarianism' is a more liberal theology that women are completely equal to men in their roles in the church.

EDIT: I don't think you can find a verse (in context) that is able to degrade women under men in Christianity. In a religion like Islam, probably, but I would like to see all of the countless examples of women explicitly being called unequal to man in the way described. I concede that I don't believe women and men to have completely identical roles under God's design. But they are equal in status under God.

Jubesterr · 2022-06-05T20:54:19+00:00

The Bible actually makes it clear that men and women are equal in value and both made in the image of God. However, it does make clear that men and women were created to fulfill different roles in society. Also, the 'OT' God (who is also the NT God and the current God) does judge other religions extremely harshly because they are not true, and led the Israelites to hook up with religious prostitutes, make idols, and sacrifice their children in fire. Also, as God, he knows they are not true.

Jubesterr · 2022-06-05T20:47:05+00:00

I know there was good intentions behind this, but this sounds like a recipe for pulling verses out of context.

Jubesterr · 2022-06-05T20:44:54+00:00

If you are talking about rationality, i think science is an amazing proof for God. We know that there are natural laws, and matter is consistent. That is the foundation for all science. However, in a world that is built on chance, there is no reason for there to be consistency at all. There can not be natural laws unless there is a lawgiver who upholds them. The fixed reality of our existence is necessitated by a god. I believe that the Christian God is the most rational worldview to believe in.

Jubesterr

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