Saved in the Old Testament

By faith.

Habakkuk 2:4
Rom. 1:17
Gal. 3:9

Ruth was a Gentile who became an Israelite by faith.

 

justified by faith Romans 4

 

Faith in Christ. Abraham rejoiced to see Christ's Day. John 8:56

And yes, grace through faith.

 

Abel had faith in Christ, and by it he offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.

 

It was not faith in Christ. As we can tell by simply reading the OT, they knew nothing of Christ. Abraham's rejoiciung to see Christ's death is a reference to the fact that Abraham lived on. The better sacrifice of Abel was not about Christ; it was about Abel's heart attitude.

They were saved by faith in God and the sacrifice of Christ was the basis for their forgiveness.

 

By faith looking forward to coming Messiah

Genesis 22:14, "And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen."

 

What verse in the OT tells anyone that they are saved by looking for a coming Messiah?

 

You mean Abraham was not told of his seed through whom all the nations would be blessed? Paul told us plainly that the word is singular meaning Christ. And Abel was not told of the seed of the woman that would crush the serpent's head?

The Apostle told us that the Gospel was preached unto them, Heb. 4:2, therefore those under the OT who were saved were indeed saved by grace through faith in Christ.

 

Faith imputed righteousness to the Old Testament saints. They believed that God promised salvation to those who place their trust in him and were obedient to his will. Today, it is that same faith, focused through Jesus Christ that brings salvation. You could say that the cross is the center of all time. The OT saints looked forward to the promise as we look back upon the promise.

 

GodzThunder---I am dancin' a jig around for what you just said ---God bless your heart.

"Abraham rejoiced to see My day and he saw it and was glad."--Jesus Christ!! Now boys---explain this one---if there were no mention of Messiah and a coming Christ---that would mean that this statement by Jesus makes Jesus a liar!

 

Abraham rejoiced to see the day of Jesus when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. He saw it from heaven.

 

Abraham did not have a clue about the cross. He saw Jesus' day from a heavenly perspective, probably after the incarnation. Not even the 12 "looked forward to the cross". Even after it happened they did not understand right away. They did not believe the first reports of the resurrection.

The cross was indeed a future event but it was a mystery to OT saints. They believed that God would do what He said he would do, period. You can find a promise of a redeemer, you can even find a shadow of God providing a lamb, you can even find prophecies that describe a "cross kind of death". YOU CANNOT FIND THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS ON THE CROSS IN THE OT!!! IT IS NOT THERE. I repeat Pastor Larry's challenge, show me one OT reference...

Oh wait, I forget that the amil CT approach reads the NT back over top of the OT and redefines and thereby denies the clear statements of the OT to make it fit their theology.

Salvation was always by FAITH, and it always involved the shedding of blood. BUT the content of faith has varied from age to age and from Biblical Covenant to Biblical Covenant. This is consistent with a CLGH approach to the Word of God. It is not consistent with the practice of allegorizing the passages that do not fit ones theology.

 

OK then, I’ll try this one though, I’m wondering if David might have known. He sounds like he’s on the track in Psalms 22 esp. 30-31 and what does free spirit mean in Psalms 51:12.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit

Taking it back in the Strong’s Concordance:

Free mentioning: generous, noble and prince in part, and spirit mentioning: breath, sensible, figuratively life, By resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being.