Lesson summary
One page: key verse, five things to remember, the comparison chart, and a reflection question.
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All lessons › Stop 8 of 8
Stop 8 · Rainbow Peak
Salvation & the World to Come
Do you have to be Jewish, or Christian, to have a place with God?
Step 1 of 5 · about 5 min left
Who has a place with God?
Christianity teaches that salvation is a gift received by faith in Jesus: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Christians differ on the details, but most agree that Jesus is the path to eternal life.
Judaism teaches something that surprises many people: you don't have to be Jewish to have a share in the World to Come (). An ancient rabbinic text, the Tosefta, says, “The righteous of the nations of the world have a share in the World to Come.”
The rainbow covenant
After the flood, God made a covenant with Noah and all humanity, sealed with a rainbow (Genesis 9:12–13). Jewish tradition teaches that it includes seven universal laws, the :
The seven Noahide laws
1No idolatry
Worship only the one God.
2No blasphemy
Honor God's name.
3No murder
Value every human life.
4No theft
Respect what belongs to others.
5No sexual immorality
Keep family life holy.
6No cruelty to animals
Never eat a limb from a living animal.
7Justice
Set up fair courts of law.
Maimonides wrote that a non-Jew who keeps these laws because God commanded them is one of the “pious of the nations,” with a share in the World to Come.
No go-between needed
“The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.”
Psalm 145:18In Judaism, anyone can speak to God directly, at any time, in any language. Micah summed up what God asks of every person: “to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
Side by side
Side by side: Salvation
4 comparisonsTopic Judaism Christianity How is a person saved? By turning to God and living righteously. God judges with justice and mercy By God's grace, through faith in Jesus (Eph. 2:8–9) Can outsiders be saved? Yes. The righteous of all nations have a share Most churches teach salvation comes through Jesus Must others convert? No. Converts are welcome, but not sought Christians share the Gospel and invite others to believe Who speaks to God for you? You do, directly (Ps. 145:18) Jesus intercedes for believers (Heb. 7:25) The end of the trail
Judaism's vision of the future is a world where everyone knows the one God, Jew and non-Jew together: “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:7).
This is where our trail ends. But a quest for truth never really ends. Keep asking questions, keep reading in context, and keep your CLUE tools close.
Pause and ponder
After eight stops, which idea surprised you most? Write it on your printable and share it with someone.
Five things to remember
- Christianity teaches salvation by grace through faith in Jesus (John 14:6; Ephesians 2:8–9).
- Judaism teaches that the righteous of all nations have a share in the World to Come.
- God's covenant with Noah includes seven universal laws for all humanity.
- Every person can speak to God directly, with no go-between (Psalm 145:18).
- Judaism welcomes converts but doesn't seek them.
Trail quiz
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Your free printables
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Finish the quiz to unlockAny score unlocks all three.
Finish the quiz to unlockAny score unlocks all three.