Old Testament Salvation

How were Old Testament Saints saved? First, does it really matter? 

Exodus 33:19 Romans 9:15

·       From these verses: God’s grace and compassion are one in the same.

·       Mercy is God treating a person better than he deserves.

·       From these verses: It is strictly God’s choice to whom he will be gracious unto and have mercy on. And the criteria that must be met before one comes under God’s grace and mercy. It does not matter if we agree or not.  We are saved by grace through faith unto obedience of the gospel. 2Thes 1:8; 1Pet 4:17

·       Today the Bible makes it clear God bestows His, grace, mercy and righteousness to anyone who by faith trusts in Christ and Him alone for their salvation.

Eternal life after death was not a mystery in the Old Testament:

Job 19:25-26; 2Sam 12:23; Psalm 17:15; Isaiah 26:19, Dan 12:2

·       John 5:39-40 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

It has been taught that those who were saved during the times of the Old Testament were looking forward to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the gospel proclaimed in 1Corinthians 15:1-4. This is not so.

·       Romans 16:25;  Ephesians 6:19  the mystery of the gospel, mystery kept secret since the world began

·       1Peter 1:10-12

·       What the prophets prophesied about the grace that would come to us was not revealed to them or the angels even though they searched diligently. It has been revealed to us.

Salvation has come to man only one way Ephesians 2:8- For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

·       Jn 5: 39-40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life,

·       Lu 7:47-50 .  .  . And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

·       Lu 16:22, Lu 23:43 Abraham's bosom or paradise where Old Testament saints went at death before the death burial and resurrection.

·       It is testified of Abraham in Romans 4:20-22 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Galatians 3:6 James 2:23 [Ge 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.]

·       Salvation comes when God accounts His righteousness unto a person while he is alive on the earth. 2Cor 5:21

Hebrews 11:2 For by it (faith) the elders obtained a good report.

·       Those written about in this chapter all their faith was seen in what they did. By faith they believed unto obedience. [Abraham believed God unto obedience.]

·       Ro 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Hab 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. “Live by” is an action.

When were the Old Testament saints made perfect?

Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? [Matthew 12:40 heart of the earth]

1Pe 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

1Pe 4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

·       When those Old Testament persons to whom God accounted his righteousness unto died their souls went to paradise. Then while His body was in the grave Christ descended into paradise and preached the gospel to them. They saw his stripes, they saw the nail prints, they saw the Rock of their salvation.

Ø    Ps 62:2; Ps 89:26;  Ps 95:1

Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

·       When He rose from the dead they were justified and than taken to heaven.

Heb 11:39-40 the better thing be us: God’s Gospel of grace, bering justified at the moment of salvation, Justification is being declared righteous or perfect.

Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

It was not the Old Testament saints who were looking forward to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was The God of their salvation who knew their messiah would die and raise from the dead justifying those to whom He had accounted righteousness unto.