(Before reading this post, please understand that there is a definite distinction between the religion of Judaism and the Jewish people. Judaism is a religion, while the Jewish people are a separate ethnic group. While many Jews believe in the precepts of Judaism, not all Jews hold to this religion. Many others place their faith in different belief systems. This post considers the religion of Judaism and how it differs from Christianity.)
While the history of the Jewish people reaches much farther back in time, the term “Judaism” will be used to refer to the system of beliefs that developed in Jewish culture between 200 BC and 70 AD. From 200 BC on, new traditions and ways of life developed that moved Judaism further from the religion of ancient Israel. One of the primary developments was the impact of the office of the rabbi — a Jewish leader who holds religious authority. After the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD, rabbis became the authorities for establishing religious traditions and laws. As a result, Judaism is heavily influenced by the teachings and insights of these leaders.
While much of Judaism was heavily influenced by the teachings of the early rabbis, the religion has since divided into three major groups — Orthodox, Reform, and Conservative. Orthodox Judaism places a heavy emphasis on tradition and strict adherence to the Law of Moses, as interpreted by the rabbis. When the Enlightenment swept across Europe during the eighteenth century, many Jews felt the best way to preserve their identity was to pursue modernization. The denomination of the faith that this movement gave rise to was eventually termed Reform Judaism. Because of its emphasis on innovation and modernization, this branch is more liberal than the other two. Finally, Conservative Judaism takes a more middle-ground approach. While not as strict as Orthodox, Conservative Judaism does have some liberal elements as well.
Regardless of the denomination, Judaism maintains the basic premise that man is naturally good. As a result, man is supposedly able to earn his salvation. Whether that be ultimately realized in the legacy a person leaves (Reform and Conservative) or in a future physical resurrection (Orthodox), man is believed to be capable of achieving it on his own. However, man isn’t in that kind of situation. Romans 3:23 says that “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”. Psalm 14:2-3 provides an Old Testament reference, as well:
“The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.”
When addressing the Jewish religious leaders on one occasion, Jesus put it a bit more bluntly:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” – Matthew 23: 27-28
While Jesus was addressing the hypocrisy of these leaders, the diagnosis of the human condition is the same. Despite any attempts at attaining righteousness on his own, man’s efforts to earn salvation are like whitewashing a tomb. People may appear to be good by the things they do and the ways they live, but their hearts are “desperately sick” (Jeremiah 17:9).
When God led the Israelites out of Egypt, He made a covenant with them. That covenant required them to observe numerous laws and regulations. However, many years after the Israelites had taken possession of the Promised Land, the nation that had been so magnificent under David and Solomon’s reign split in two. Eventually, both Israel and Judah would turn away from the Lord, be invaded by a foreign nation, and taken into captivity. Despite their unabashed apostasy, God promised the establishment of a new covenant:
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Jeremiah 31:31-34
The new covenant that God promised was ultimately realized in His Son, Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the price for every sin committed by every human being. Whereas the sacrifice of animals was required to sanctify a person under the old covenant, Jesus’ death freed us from sin and is able to “…purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” (Hebrews 9:13-14)
“Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.”
Hebrews 9:15
Judaism proclaims that good works are required for salvation to be obtained. However, the covenant that God has made with mankind through Christ leaves no room for us to obtain salvation on our own. It is only by His grace and mercy that we can ever receive eternal life. (Titus 3:5-7) Because of his sinful nature, man maintains the belief that he can better himself on his own power. While the “word of the cross” (1 Corinthians 1:18) may seem foolish to many, it is the only hope that mankind has for eternal redemption.
“Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
