This used to bother me so much! When I was a little girl I thought that if you were a good person then you would be going to heaven, you were indeed saved. I remember looking at people and saying "They seem really nice, I'm sure they're going to heaven", as cute/funny as that seems it was bad! Not that I knew any better at that age, but I was doing that because I was wondering if I was a good enough person - if I was going to heaven or not. I believed that movie "All Dogs Go to Heaven" for the first few years of my life. "See theres even good dogs, just like they'res good people!" . . . no. Not so much. Obviously I found out that animals dont have souls, it was crushing. Where would my Mr. Barky Buns Schnauzer go after that UPS incident?!
But back to the real issue - salvation. I've heard a lot about how Jews aren't saved if they don't believe in Yeshua. When I hear this, my mind goes mad - how can a Jew not be saved?! It doesn't seem right to me. Jews are so serious about their beliefs, I realize not every Jewish person is religious, but most who are - its awesome what they do! Jews drastically change their lives to live according to Torah. We don't see this drastic change in christianity, well, not very often at least - and when we do, it seems to fade away.
I believe full-heartedly that many Jews are saved! Because what are we saved by? Faith! If we look at a Torah observant Jew - they have so much faith, a lot more than your average John Wayne from Riding With Jesus Cowboy Church! (Yeah, its real.) So by following Torah, something that most christians don't do, I think a Jew can be saved - not because of works, but because they walk in their faith, and also they are following Yeshua if they realize it or not.
I would like to add that only HaShem knows who is saved, because it really is all about the heart of the person.
Romans 3:27-3127 So what room is left for boasting? None at all! What kind of Torah excludes it? One that has to do with legalistic observance of rules? No, rather, a Torah that has to do with trusting. 28 Therefore, we hold the view that a person comes to be considered righteous by God on the ground of trusting, which has nothing to do with legalistic observance of Torah commands. 29 Or is God the God of the Jews only? Isn't he also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, he is indeed the God of the Gentiles; 30because, as you will admit, God is one. Therefore, he will consider righteous the circumcised on the ground of trusting and the uncircumcised through that same trusting. 31 Does it follow that we abolish Torah by this trusting? Heaven forbid! On the contrary, we confirm Torah.
