Most Christians maintain that in order for anyone to approach G-d, or to “inherit the kingdom of Heaven” as they put it, or to “attain salvation” (again, their phraseology), one must go through Jesus. They insist that one cannot do this except through Jesus.
In the first place, it seems rather strange that the Torah should be so insistent that each and every one of us can reach G-d directly.
For example:
For this commandment that I command you this day, it is not too hard for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us and make us hear it?’ It is not over the ocean…. But this thing is very close to YOU in YOUR mouth and your heart to do it.”
— Deut 30:11-14
Evidently, we ourselves are capable of fulfilling the Commandments and obeying Hashem’s will.
And furthermore, we also find that even when the Jews are at the lowest level, even after having served idols, the Torah promises us, “And you will request from there (that low level) Hashem your G-d, and YOU WILL FIND, if you search with all your heart and all your soul” (Deut. 4:29).
We ourselves can find Hashem, if we just do it honestly and sincerely. Why does the Torah not say that we must do it through Jesus? Because belief in Jesus is not necessary, and has never been a part of Torah or Hashem.
And even Jesus said so! Jesus said that if you fulfill the Torah, and do not believe in Jesus, you will still go to Heaven.
You don’t believe me? He says this in Matthew, Chapter 12, verses 31 through 32:
I say to you, All types of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven people. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, he shall be forgiven. But whoever speaks against the Holy Ghost, he shall not be forgiven, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
In other words, it is possible not to believe in Jesus, and still go to Heaven. But not believing in G-d is unforgivable.
I must also add at this point that this passage makes it hard to see why Christians claim that Christianity is a religion of forgiveness and love. Here is something that the Christian bible says can never be forgiven!
The passage I quote next makes both points even more strongly. Jesus says that there are people who will consider Jesus to be their savior and god, and yet will still not go to Heaven!
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 7:21
In other words, even some of the people who do believe in Jesus and accept him, people whose belief in him was strong enough to give them (supposedly) the power to cast out devils, many of them will not go to Heaven anyway. Why not? Because even though they believed in Jesus, they did not do the will of G-d, whom the Christians call the Father. Apparently, it is not enough to believe in Jesus. One must also fulfill what the Torah says.
But the Torah also says that we must fulfill the words of the Torah! And the Torah does not say we need to believe in Jesus!
So why should anyone believe that we need Jesus?
Christians say that G-d cannot accept sin, so therefore everyone is doomed. But G-d, out of mercy, killed himself so that we would have forgiveness.
Yet the Torah clearly tells us that Hashem Himself forgives! All we have to do is repent. For example: “Let the evil person forsake his ways, and the man of sin forsake his evil thoughts, and let him return to G-d and He will have mercy on him, to our G-d, because He greatly forgives” (Isaiah 55:7).
And it says, “Do I desire the death of the wicked? says the L-rd G-d. What I want is for him to return from his ways and live!” (Ezekiel 18:23).
That’s all it takes. Return from sin, and live!