As God's chosen people, are Jews automatically saved?

from the old testament

• Many Old Testament prophets speak of a time of comfort, peace, and joy (Micah 4:2-4; Isaiah 32:17-18; 40:1-2; 61:7, 10), but we now know this promise will be fulfilled at the millennial kingdom when Israel will be blessed and her enemies judged and destroyed. This ethnic/national/political salvation is what Judaism looks forward to, not individual salvation from the bondage of sin.

from the new testament

• Jesus described Himself as “the way, and the truth, and the life” and asserted, “No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Jesus is the only way to approach God for forgiveness. Salvation isn’t possible without faith in Christ.
• The apostle Paul points out that simply being born a Jew will not bring salvation: “For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God” (Romans 2:28-29). Rituals and rites are insufficient to save.
• Romans 9:6-7 makes it clear that genetic descent alone cannot save: “For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring.”
• John 3:18 says, "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." There is no salvation without Jesus.
• Hebrews 10:1-10 describes how Jesus was the source of salvation even in the time of the Old Testament. The sacrifices were only a reminder of sin. The blood of bulls and goats could not wipe away sin. Instead, Jesus had to come to fulfill the law. The progressive revelation of the Bible means that Jews are responsible for what God has revealed to them. Before Christ, they needed to have faith in a righteous and gracious God (Romans 4:3-8). Now that Jesus has come, they are without excuse. As Hebrews 1:1-2 says, "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world."

implications for today

“It’s not what you know; it’s who you know.” From college graduates looking for a job to foodies trying to get into the hottest restaurant, lots of people believe that saying. Maybe the ancient Israelites did, too, because of their status as God’s chosen people. But as John the Baptist told the Jewish religious leaders, “And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham” (Matthew 3:9). They may have been banking on their national identity to save them, but Jesus made it clear salvation is through Him alone (John 14:6).

In that sense, it really is “who you know,” but only if that “Who” is Christ. Those who know Christ as Lord are saved. National identity, tradition, rituals, good works—none of it leads to salvation. Knowing this, believers must share the Gospel with Jewish friends who have the wrong idea of what leads to eternal life. May they realize, as the apostle Paul wrote, “there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’” (Romans 10:12-13).