Consequence for Sin

Rabbi - I have a Christian friend who wants to know what's the consequence of sins for Jewish people as we don't have Hell as described in the New Testament. Please provide direct references from the Torah where we can understand the Jewish perspective.

Shalom!

Thank you for you question.

Here are some points to share with your friend. 

• The belief that G-d rewards good and punishes sin is a central belief in Judaism. However, it is up to G-d to decide how, when and where these rewards and punishments are given, whether in the world of the next world. 
• In Biblical and Talmudic era the courts were able to administer punishments (usually lashes and occasionally death) 
• Judaism regards the violation of any of the 613 commandments as a sin. 
• When the Temple yet stood in Jerusalem, people would offer sacrifices for their sins. 
• These sacrifices were to atone for unintentional sins committed as a result of forgetfulness or error. 
• No atonement was needed for sins committed under duress or due to lack of knowledge 
• Sacrifices could not atone for intentional sins. 
• Nowadays we don’t have sacrifices, so all sin is atone for though repentance which Maimonides defines as “"The sinner must abandon his sin…decide in his heart never to do it again... and he must regret the past... and confess the sin with his lips.”  (one would have consult a Rabbi how this is done in practice)