Dr. Joshua Kennedy is the lead pastor at Praise Tabernacle in Egg Harbor Township. He writes “Dear Minister” for the Herald.
Question: My Jewish grandfather was a really good person and loved my family deeply. He was kind, generous, and full of wisdom. But I’m not sure he was a Christian. Will I not see him in heaven?
Answer: First, let me say that your love for your grandfather is beautiful and deeply honoring to his memory. It’s clear he left a legacy of goodness and care that shaped your life, and that should never be minimized.
This is one of the most painful and personal questions anyone can ask. It brings us face-to-face with both our love for others and the eternal truths of our faith. And you’re not alone in asking it—many believers wrestle with the eternal destiny of those they deeply love but are uncertain about their relationship with Jesus.
The Bible teaches that salvation is found in Christ alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). This is not about exclusivity for the sake of exclusion, but the radical nature of grace: we are not saved by our goodness, heritage, or even our sincerity—but by trusting in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Scripture is clear about this, and we can’t water it down without losing the power of the gospel itself.
That said, we must also acknowledge that God is just, and God is good—more just and more good than we are capable of comprehending. Abraham, the father of faith (and of the Jewish people), once said, “Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” (Genesis 18:25). That gives us room for trust where there is uncertainty. You and I do not know the whole story of a person’s soul—what they may have come to believe in their final days, or how God may have reached them in moments we weren’t privy to.
Was your grandfather a good man? Absolutely. Will that goodness earn him heaven? No, not for him, or for any of us. But could the mercy of God have reached him in a way you didn’t see? Possibly. That’s why we place our hope not in what we know or don’t know about others, but in what we do know about God: He is holy, He is merciful, and He is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9).
So, what can you do now? Honor your grandfather’s legacy by living out the faith you now have—by sharing the gospel with love and clarity, and by praying for those around you who haven’t yet come to faith in Jesus. Let the grief propel you toward compassion and urgency.
In the end, trust the heart of the One who sees every soul clearly, and whose justice and mercy work perfectly together.
Grace and peace,
Dr. Joshua Kennedy
Senior Pastor
Praise Tabernacle
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