Is My Jewish Friend Saved?

Q

I have a friend who is Jewish and at one time in the distant past professed her belief that Jesus was her Savior. Now she will only go to the Jewish temple and refuses to come to church with me. My question is: has she committed the unforgivable sin? Also, is there no place in heaven for those Jews who died loving God but have not accepted Jesus as His Son? You have said in other teachings that God has turned His attention away from the Jews to the Church and will turn back to them after the Rapture. Would God not provide a place for those who now die loving God the Father to wait for the second coming of their King as in the old testament where he provided paradise/sheol for believers who waited for the first coming of the Messiah?

A

There are two possibilities where your friend is concerned. Either she wasn’t really sincere when she professed her belief in Jesus and therefore wasn’t saved, or else she was sincere and has wandered off. If it’s the former it doesn’t mean she never will be saved, just that she isn’t yet. If it’s the latter, the Lord is looking for her and at the proper time will bring her back into the flock.

Jesus said, “No one comes to the father but through me” (John 14:6). And speaking of Jesus Peter said, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). That’s always been true. Old Testament believers didn’t know His name, but from Genesis on they knew there was a coming redeemer and their sacrifices were evidence of their belief in Him. Without that belief the sacrifices were not acceptable.