Christian Challenge International

"Ask the Pastor"

We frequently receive questions in email from people about doctrine, practice, etc. From time to time we will post the questions and the answers here on the web page. If you'd like to submit a question, simply email our pastor at Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org or use the form below.

Thursday, November 26, 2002

Hi Chris,

You asked a number of questions. I can only cover them in part since it
would take too long to try and be detailed.

> Question:
> dear pastor, i thank you for your information on the jews. i myself was
> aware of jews not being able to go to heaven.

The thing to understand is that heaven is about Jesus. There are a
great many Jews who believe in Jesus Christ. We can expect more to
begin believing in Him in the days to come.

> could you give me more bible reference for this.

Sure --- Here are a few:

"She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save
His people from their sins." (Matt1:21)

"Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you
believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." (John 8:24)

"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one
comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:6)

"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under
heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts
4:12)

"or there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus," (1Tim2:5)

> also. could you give me some differences in the different church
> denomonations.

Chris, this is too broad an area to give much detail on. There are
hundreds of denominations. The one thing that makes all Christian
denominations, Christian, is what they share in common. The common
area of belief is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that he died for
our sins, that He resurrected from the grave and ascended into heaven, and
that He is coming back again.

> also could you inform me if and why jews are considered a christian
> faith.

This is a difficult question because not all Jews are religious. Some are
secular and some are even atheists. But the religious faith of the Jews is
called Judaism, not Christianity. This doesn't mean that some Jews aren't
Christians. It simply means that as a religion, Judaism is a separate
religion from Christianity. There are three major strands of Judaism;
Orthodox, Conservative, and Reformed.

> also i have seen it placed in certain context that the catholic faith is
> considered a christian faith,

Yes, the Catholic faith is considered Christian. Christianity also has
three primary divisions; Catholicism, Orthodox, and Protestant.

> also. are the christian's the only ones going to heaven? are the
> catholic people, and or the jewish people going to heaven.

Everyone who believes in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior will be in
heaven. Anyone who rejects Him, will not be saved.

> i understand that you are not going to heaven unless you know jesus
> christ as your lord and savior.

I'm glad you understand this.

> could you explain hebrews 10 verse 26.

Hebrews 10:26 says, "For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the
knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins."

This Scripture had to do with 'the' sin of rejecting Jesus Christ. At the
time of its writing, it was directed primarily to Jewish peoples, and was
written just prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 a.d. It was sort
of a final warning call.

Verse 27 continues with, "but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the
fury of the a fire which will consume the adversaries." The judgment came
in 70 a.d., when both the city and the temple were destroyed by fire. In
that judgment any semblance of Old Testament Judaism disappeared from the
earth. What is called Judaism today is not Biblical Judaism.

> i thank you for your online ministry. it has been a blessing to me.
> love in god, chris

You are most welcome. Always feel free to write me if you have
questions. I'll do my best to provide some answers.

In Christ,

Buddy

Bro. Buddy Martin - Ask the Pastor

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Lawrence "Buddy" Martin
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org