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So how did Christ's message of salvation from hell resonate with Jews who really did not believe in hell in the first place. I was taught in my theology classes that his message was more practical. Sinning in 1st century palestine was serious and would bring shame and poverty to your family. Jesus's message of the forgiveness of sins gave hope to those who were marked as sinner not salvation from hell. Anytime I bring this up to evangelicals I get the usual bible beat down.

For a religion to be succesful and take off it has to do two things.

It has to inspire people and make them feel great about joining and it has to defame the current status quo.

The serpent was used by many old religions to symbolize a god's coming or exit from the world.
We see this with Wajet and Renulet. We also see this with early Babylonian and Sumatran gods.

Well a "new" (in quotes because some argue it was the first religion, but those people are young earthers) religion comes along, with a new retelling of an old story of man's genesis, but in this telling the snake is evil, the snake is a devil creature.

Rather than many confusing and warring Gods, you now have a God, you have symbols of other religions demonized and made to seem like the antithesis of the Hebrew faith.

A long time later a new faith springs from the Hebrew faith, striking down the oppressive Levitical laws, and allowing sinners a a chance for redemption, by letting the son of God into your heart.
Most people have sinned, so the idea of forgiveness is a great promise. But what's better is now you have a fear of eternal torture in hell or love in heaven. You actually have something to look forward to, after you die of old age at 42 in your dirt fields.

We have seen countless revisions of the Christian church from groups that offer more or take away some of the previous teachings.

We have seen offshoot religions founded that expand on the teachings.

But all religions basically say the same thing.

"Be a good person"

that is the just of it.