The Early Church

The early Church presents a revolutionary idea in religion that salvation is by grace, not by works.  (Ephesians 2:8)  This is not to say that actions do not matter, but that we are not saved by those actions.  (Ephesians 2:10, James 2:14)  To me this means that the actions are proof of our faith.  (Matthew 7:16)

 

These teachings differ mainly in two ways.  One is that the Jews thought you had to become a Jew to be saved, where as in Christianity you can be saved even if you are not a Jew.  (Romans 2:9-11, 10:12)  Another belief is that in Judaism not everyone believes that Jesus was the messiah, where as Christianity is based off of the fact that Christ is the messiah.

 

I believe that the similarities are more important.  I think this because “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  (Romans 10:9, 13) So for the Jews that believe in His resurrection, and confess that Jesus is lord will be saved, just as the gentiles will (Romans 10:9, 12)