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Judaism Afterlife and Salvation


Jewish attitudes toward afterlife and salvation reflect a variety of perspectives on what happens to body and soul after death based on various biblical, rabbinic, medieval folklore, and theological sources.

When examining Jewish intellectual sources throughout history, there is clearly a spectrum of opinions regarding death versus the afterlife.In the biblical text of Psalms, there is a description of death, when people go into the earth or the "realm of the dead" and cannot praise God.First reference to resurrection is collective in Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones, when all the Israelites in exile will be resurrected.There is a reference to individual resurrection in the Book of Daniel (165 B.C.E.), the last book of the Hebrew Bible.

During the Second Temple Period, the Sadducees, High Priests, denied any particular existence of individuals after death because it wasn't written in the Torah, while the Pharisees, ancestors of the rabbis, affirmed both bodily resurrection and immortality of the soul, most likely based on the influence of Hellenistic ideas about body and soul and the Pharisaic belief in the Oral Torah.The Pharisees maintained that after death, the soul is connected to God until the messianic era when it is rejoined with the body in the land of Israel at the time of resurrection.

Judaism of the second Temple period (and prior) considered the concept of salvation more national (corporate) than exclusively personal, as modern Christianity views it. The salvation of the individual Jew was connected to the salvation of the entire people. This belief stemmed directly from the teachings of the Torah. The idea of corporate salvation of Israel is reflected in Paul's letter to the Romans, particularly in chapters 9-11.

Although God, in the Torah, taught His people sanctification of the individual, He also expected them to function together (spiritually) and be accountable to one another. This was (and is still today) perceived to be a source of conflict, as it often meant having to "limit" your personal spiritual experience on account of someone else.

The concept of salvation was tied to that of restoration for Israel. It included such ideas as:

    * Rescue from national enemies
    * Restoration of national symbols
    * State of shalom among peoples
    * Inauguration of the age to come
    * Liberation from Rome
    * Restoration of the Temple
    * Free enjoyment of their own land
    * Inauguration of a new covenant between Israel and her God

Some of the Scriptures that testify to these things are: Isaiah 2:1-4; 11:9-10; 27:12; 33:22; 42:1-6; 45:14,23; 49:5-6; 23; 51:4-5; 52:7-10; 54:3; 56:1-8; 60-66; Ezekiel 17; 20:42; 34; 36:9-12; 39:26; 47:13-48; 48:35; Daniel 7; Micah 2:12; 4; 5:10-15; 7:17; Amos 9:11-13; Zechariah 2:11; 8:20-23; 14:1-11; Zephaniah 2:9;10; Joel 3:17.

The Jews of the first century expected to be rescued from foreign dominion. This would occur after they suffered (a purification process) for past breaches of their covenant with God. (See: Deuteronomy 4:32, Isaiah 40:1-2, Jerermiah 31:27-40, Ezekiel 18; 36:24-28, and Hosea 14:2.)

Ideas regarding the Messiah did not have a concensus. The exception to this would be the Qumran community, whose literature has a highly developed sense of Messiah. Even in the Qumran literature however, one can see evolving thought about Messiah. They seem to go from a two-Messiah theory to a belief in a single Messiah as represented by Melchizadek, who resolved the "conflict" of Messiah being both King and Priest. This will be discussed later in this study.

Perhaps the one view of Messiah shared among the groups was that His main task would be directly related to the restoration of Israel. (Hence some of the opinions expressed by the people about Yeshua, in the Gospels.)

http://www.yashanet.com/studies/romstudy/rom2.htm





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Mitzvot D'Oraita: Commandments from the Torah



At the heart of halakhah is the unchangeable 613 mitzvot (commandments) that G-d gave to the Jewish people in the Torah (the first five books of the Bible).

Some of the mitzvot d'oraita are clear, explicit commands in the text of the Torah (thou shalt not murder; you shall write words of Torah on the doorposts of your house), others are more implicit (the mitzvah to recite grace after meals, which is inferred from "and you will eat and be satisfied and bless the L-rd your G-d"), and some can only be ascertained by deductive reasoning (that a man shall not commit incest with his daughter, which is deduced from the commandment not to commit incest with his daughter's daughter).

Some of the mitzvot overlap; for example, there is a commandment to rest on Shabbat and a separate commandment not to do work on Shabbat.

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Salvation- In The Jewish View


"Humankind, created by this one God, is inherently good. There is no original sin, no instinctive evil or fundamental impurity; human beings are made in God's image and are endowed with an intelligence that enables them to choose between good and evil. They need no mediator, such as Christians have in Christ, but approach God directly. All people--Jews and Gentiles alike--attain immortality as the reward of righteous living, although concern for life after death is an issue of minor significance for Jews."

Handbook of Denominations, p.159.

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Salvation , the concept of salvation, is intrinsically different from the Christian point of view to the Jewish point of View. Jews believe that salvation is a result of righteous living and in following the many Mitzvots (Torahic and Rabbinical) and observing the holy days as promulgated by G_D to Moshe (Moses).

In Judaism, Salvation is not simply by faith, but more so by righteous works and in strict observance of the Law.

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1A. Things One Must Believe in Islam ; Islamic Requirement

 

      “They say: ‘Become Jews or Christians if ye would be guided (to salvation).’ Say thou: ‘Nay! (I would rather) the Religion of Abraham the True, and he joined not gods with Allah.’ Say ye: ‘We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) prophets from their Lord: We make no difference between one and another of them: And we submit to Allah (in Islám).’” S. 2:135-136 

       

      “It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces towards East or West; but it is righteousness- to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and give Zakat (regular charity); to fulfill the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God fearing.” S. 2:177 

       

      “The Messenger believeth in what hath been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believeth in Allah, His angels, His books, and His messengers. ‘We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His messengers.’ And they say: ‘We hear, and we obey: (we seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys.’” S. 2:285

       

      “O ye who believe! Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and the scripture which He hath sent to His Messenger and the scripture which He sent to those before (him). Any who denieth Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messenger, and the Day of Judgment, hath gone far, far astray.” S. 4:136

       

      “Be ye foremost (in seeking) Forgiveness from your Lord, and a Garden (of Bliss), the width whereof is as the width of heaven and earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His messengers: that is the Grace of Allah, which He bestows on whom He pleases: and Allah is the Lord of Grace abounding.” S. 57:21

       

1B. Necessity of Believing in Muhammad

 

      “And obey Allah and the Messenger; that ye may obtain mercy.” S. 3:132

       

      “Those are limits set by Allah. those who obey Allah and His Messenger will be admitted to Gardens with rivers flowing beneath, to abide therein (for ever) and that will be the supreme achievement. But those who disobey Allah and His Messenger and transgress His limits will be admitted to a Fire, to abide therein: And they shall have a humiliating punishment.” S. 4:13-14 

       

“O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination.” S. 4:59

 

“All who obey Allah and the messenger are in the company of those on whom is the Grace of Allah,- of the prophets (who teach), the Sincere (lovers of Truth), the martyrs, and the Righteous (who do good): Ah! How beautiful is there fellowship!”

 

“He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah. But if any turn away, We have not sent thee to watch over them.” S. 4:80

 

“Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and beware (of evil): if ye do turn back, know ye that it is Our Messenger's duty to proclaim (the message) in the clearest manner.” S. 5:92

 

“Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth, from among the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” S. 9:29

 

“The answer of the Believers, when summoned to Allah and His Messenger, in order that he may judge between them, is no other than this: they say, ‘We hear and we obey’: it is such as these that will prosper.” S. 24:51

 

“Say: ‘Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger.’ But if ye turn away, he is only responsible for the duty placed on him and ye for that placed on you. If ye obey him, ye shall be on right guidance. The Messenger’s duty is only to preach the clear (Message).” S. 24:54

 

      “Only those are believers, who believe in Allah and His Messenger. When they are with him on a matter requiring collective action, they do not depart until they have asked for his leave; those who ask for thy leave are those who believe in Allah and His Messenger. So when they ask for thy leave, for some business of theirs, give leave to those of them whom thou wilt, and ask Allah for their forgiveness: for Allah is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful. Deem not the summons of the Messenger among yourselves like the summons of one of you to another: Allah doth know those of you who slip away under shelter of some excuse: then let those beware who withstand the Messenger’s order, lest some trial befall them, or a grievous chastisement be inflicted on them.” S. 24:62-63

       

      “It is not fitting for a Believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger to have any option about their decision: if any one disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path.” S. 33:36

       

      “Verily those who plight their fealty to thee plight their fealty in truth to Allah; the Hand of Allah is over their hands: then any one who violates his oath, does so to the harm of his own soul, and any one who fulfills what he has covenanted with Allah,- Allah will soon grant him a great Reward.” S. 48:10

       

      “Seest thou not those who were forbidden secret counsels yet revert to that which they were forbidden (to do)? And they hold secret counsels among themselves for iniquity and hostility, and disobedience to the Messenger. And when they come to thee, they salute thee, not as Allah salutes thee, (but in crooked ways): and they say to themselves, ‘Why does not Allah punish us for our words?’ Enough for them is Hell: In it will they burn, and evil is that destination!” S. 58:8 (Cf. S. 58:13)

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In both religions, Judaism and Islam, focus is more placed in righteous works and outward works as means of salvation. Only in Christianity where Salvation is given. Given in Christ. Christ gave Salvation to many -- for those who believe.

Christ came because it was apparent that the Jews were transgressing the Laws and were not completing the Law (note the justice God had dispersed on Israel throughout history).

Salvation in Christianity, in Jesus Christ, is through basis of faith and actually living that faith.

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