Christianity vs. Judaism
Christianity and Judaism share a common heritage. Both affirm the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Both recognize the Old Testament Scriptures. Both uphold many of the same moral truths and historical events. Yet despite these similarities, Christianity and modern Judaism arrive at vastly different conclusions about the most important question a person can ask.
Who is Jesus Christ?
Christianity teaches that Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Son of God, the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, and the only Savior of sinners. Modern Judaism rejects Jesus as Messiah and continues to await another. That difference changes everything.
While Judaism does contain some truth, rejecting Jesus Christ leaves a person without a saving relationship with God. Since we believe that salvation is found in Christ alone, we must recognize Judaism as inadequate to save, and Jews in need of Christ — the true Messiah.
In light of these truths, Christians must be equipped to reach Jewish friends with the gospel and engage in meaningful conversations with the goal of reaching them for Christ. In this article I’ve laid out the primary differences between Judaism and Christianity so you can have a strong foundation for gospel conversations with Jews.
Question #1: Who Is Jesus?
What Judaism Teaches
Modern Judaism rejects Jesus as the promised Messiah of Israel. Depending on the branch of Judaism, Jesus may be viewed as a teacher, a historical figure, a failed messianic claimant, a heretic, or someone largely irrelevant to Jewish faith and practice. Regardless of which sect you research, Judaism does not recognize Him as the Son of God, the divine Messiah, or the Savior of the world. Instead, Judaism continues to await the coming of the Messiah.
What Christianity Teaches
Christianity teaches that Jesus is the fulfillment of hundreds of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. He was born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), descended from David (Jeremiah 23:5), rejected by His own people (Isaiah 53:3), pierced for sinners (Isaiah 53:5), and raised from the dead (Psalm 16:10). Jesus did not merely claim to be a prophet. He claimed equality with God when He said, “Before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58).
Christians believe Jesus is truly God and truly man, and that he is the promised Messiah who came to save His people from their sins.
Why This Matters
Jesus Himself said: "Unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins" (John 8:24).
Therefore, the question of Jesus is not secondary. It is the dividing line between truth and error, heaven and hell, salvation and condemnation. If Jesus is who He claimed to be, then rejecting Him is rejecting God's provision for salvation.
Question #2: How Is a Person Made Right with God?
What Judaism Teaches
Modern Judaism generally teaches that a person is reconciled to God through repentance, obedience, prayer, Torah observance, good deeds, and God's mercy. While various branches of Judaism differ in their emphasis, the common thread is covenant faithfulness rather than faith in Jesus Christ. Following the destruction of the Temple in AD 70, prayer, repentance, and charitable acts largely replaced the sacrificial system as the means by which a person seeks forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
What Christianity Teaches
Christianity teaches that no sinner can be made right with God through obedience or religious effort. "There is none righteous, not even one" (Romans 3:10). “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). The Law exposes sin but cannot remove it. "Through the Law comes the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20).
God's solution was not human obedience but a divine Redeemer who took on flesh to die for sinners (John 1:14). Jesus lived the perfect life sinners could never live and died the death sinners deserved to die. Through faith in Christ, God forgives sin and credits Christ's righteousness to the believer. 2 Corinthians 5:21 declares, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
Why This Matters
This is the difference between trusting in what Christ has done and trusting in what we do.
The Apostle Paul wrote concerning many of his fellow Jews saying, "For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:3). No amount of sincerity, morality, or religious devotion can erase guilt before a holy God.
Only Christ can.
Question #3: What Happened to the Sacrificial System?
What Judaism Teaches
The Old Testament sacrificial system was central to Israel's worship. Yet since the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in AD 70, sacrifices have ceased. Modern Judaism generally teaches that repentance, prayer, good works, and acts of charity have taken the place of animal sacrifices.
What Christianity Teaches
Christianity teaches that every Old Testament sacrifice pointed forward to Jesus Christ. The blood of bulls and goats never ultimately removed sin. Those sacrifices were shadows pointing to the coming Messiah. Jesus became the final and perfect sacrifice. Hebrews 10:14 says, "By one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified." No further sacrifice is necessary because Christ accomplished complete atonement on the cross.
Why This Matters
The Old Testament repeatedly teaches that forgiveness is connected to blood sacrifice. "Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:22). Christianity explains why sacrifices ended and ties it to Christ who was the Lamb of God. Therefore, with no belief in Jesus as the Lamb of God, nor any modern-day sacrifices being offered for sin, the burden of proof lies upon Judaism to explain how forgiveness can be obtained apart from the sacrificial system God Himself established.
Question #4: What Is the Purpose of the Law?
What Judaism Teaches
Judaism views the Torah as God's covenant instruction for His people. Obedience to the commandments remains central to Jewish identity, worship, and faithfulness. The Law serves as a guide for how God's people should live.
What Christianity Teaches
Christianity agrees that the Law is holy, righteous, and good. However, Christians believe the Law was never intended to save sinners. Instead, it reveals God's holiness and exposes human sinfulness. Galatians 3:24 says, "The Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ." The Law points beyond itself to the Messiah who perfectly fulfilled it.
Why This Matters
The Law is not a ladder by which sinners climb to heaven. It is a mirror that reveals our need for a Savior. If righteousness could come through keeping the Law, then Christ died for no purpose (Galatians 2:21).
Question #5: How Is a Person Saved?
What Judaism Teaches
Modern Judaism does not teach salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Instead, salvation (being accepted by God) is generally understood through repentance, obedience, covenant faithfulness, prayer, good deeds, and God's mercy. While there are significant differences among Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Judaism (also called “Progressive Judaism”), all reject the Christian belief that Jesus is the only way to God. Judaism teaches that a person should pursue righteousness by faithfully following God's commands and living as a member of God's covenant people.
What Christianity Teaches
Christianity teaches that every human being stands guilty before God because of sin.
No amount of religious devotion, morality, repentance, charity, or law-keeping can remove that guilt. Jesus Christ lived a perfect life, died as a substitute for sinners, and rose again from the dead. Salvation is received through repentance and faith in Him alone. Acts 16:31 proclaims, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith." Therefore, a Christian's hope is not found in personal righteousness but in the righteousness of Christ.
Why This Matters
This is the central issue. The difference between Christianity and Judaism is ultimately not about ceremonies, traditions, dietary laws, or worship practices. It is about the gospel. Christianity teaches that sinners are saved by what Christ has done. Judaism teaches a system that does not require Christ at all.
The question all must ask is very simple, but life-altering.
How will you be saved from sin?
Can a Jew Be Saved Apart from Christ?
This question often makes people uncomfortable, but Scripture answers it plainly.
The answer is, no.
Some foolishly think that Christians who say such things are antisemitic, or that we teach they are not saved because Jewish people are worse sinners than anyone else or because God does not love Jewish people. This could not be further from the truth. We believe that Jews are not saved apart from Christ because the Bible teaches that every human being (Jew and Gentile alike) is saved exactly the same way — through faith in Jesus Christ.
Even Peter preached to a Jewish audience declaring, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Jesus Himself said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6). The Apostle Paul loved his fellow Jews deeply. Yet he wrote, "Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation" (Romans 10:1). If Judaism were sufficient to save, Paul would not have prayed for the salvation of his fellow Jews. In fact, Paul explains that many of them were seeking to establish their own righteousness rather than receiving the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ (Romans 10:3-4).
The New Testament repeatedly teaches that Jewish ancestry cannot save, nor can circumcision. The message of the New Testament was Christ alone saves! That was the message preached by Jesus, Peter, John, Stephen, Paul, and every apostle. The gospel is not God's plan for Gentiles while Judaism remains God's plan for Jews. There is one Savior. One gospel. One way of salvation. Jew and Gentile alike must come to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:12 says, "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him."
So, what will you do with Jesus Christ?
