By Mark W. Fenison
"And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.- Gal. 3:17 - “chosen in him before the foundation of the world” – Eph. 1:4
A. Salvation Questions:
1. Can Salvation be found OUTSIDE of Christ for anyone at any time? – Jn. 14:6; Acts 4:12
2. Can salvation be found OUTSIDE of Christ for Old Testament saints? – Eph. 1:4; 2 Thes. 2:13
3. Can Salvation be found in ANOTHER GOSPEL SALVATION other than that which was preached to Old Testament Saints? (Acts 10:43; 26:22-23; Heb. 4:2; I Cor. 15:4-5; Gal. 1-8-9)
B. Salvation Facts:
1. All the elect were CHOSEN “in Christ” before the foundation of the world “unto salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth”. Were Old Testament saints chosen “in Christ” or are they part of the non-elect?
There is no third option.
2. In regard to POSITION – all mankind are either “in Adam” or “in Christ” – Rom. 5:12-21. In which position are the Old Testament saints?
There is no third option
3. In regard to REPRESENTATION – all mankind are either represented “in Adam” or “in Christ.” Who represents the Old Testament saints?
There is no third option.
4. In regard to JUSTICE – all mankind are either condemned “in Adam” or justified “in Christ.” Which characterizes the Old Testament saints?
There is no third option.
5. In regard to SPIRITUAL STATE – “All in Adam die” but “all in Christ are made alive.” In which condition are Old Testament saints? Spiritually dead or spiritually alive?
There is no third option.
6. In regard to REDEMPTION – all mankind are either unredeemed “in Adam” or redeemed “in Christ.” Are Old Testament saints redeemed or unredeemed?
There is no third option.
7. In regard to SPIRITUAL UNION – all mankind are either in spiritual union with Satan (Eph. 2:2) or in Spiritual union with Christ. Who are Old Testament saints in spiritual union with?
There is no third option.
8. In regard to FAMILY – all mankind are either in the family of Satan (Jn. 8:44) or in the family of God. Which family are the Old Testament saints in?
There is no third option.
9. In regard to BIRTH – all mankind are only natural born or spiritual born (Jn. 3:3-9). Are Old Testament saints natural born or spiritual born?
There is no third option.
10. In regard to SALVATION STATUS – all mankind are either lost or saved. Are Old Testament saints lost or saved.
There is no third option.
11. In regard to HOLY SPIRIT INDWELLING – all mankind is either indwelt by an unholy spirit (Eph. 2:2) and “in the flesh” (Rom. 8:7-9a) or indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9). Who indwells Old Testament saints? In Romans 8:7-9
Paul gives no third option for any man.
12. In regard to JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH “in Christ”, why does Paul give as our example an Old Testament saint (Abraham) if he were not justified by faith “in Christ”? See Gal. 3:17 and Rom. 4.
C. Three basic Problems with the Universal Invisible Church Theory and their interpretation of Spirit baptism as being placed in the position of spiritual union with Christ.
1. The baptism in the Spirit is time fixed – Pentecost – Acts 1:5. Hence, no one previous to Pentecost could be baptized in the Spirit = no one could be put in spiritual union with Christ. If that is true, then either the Old Testament Saints were saved OUTSIDE of Christ OR they are still “in Adam” both positionally and representatively, which means they are still in spiritual union with Satan, in the family of Satan, in the kingdom of Satan, spiritually dead, unjustified, condemned and lost.
There are no other options.
2. The Foundation of the Church is constructed wholly out of New Testament materials – “apostles and prophets” (Eph. 2:20) and prophets are set “secondarily” in the church after apostles (I Cor. 12:28). However, if spiritual union with Christ is placement into the church or body of Christ, then either Old Testament saints are saved OUTSIDE of Christ OR they are still “in Adam” both positionally and representatively, which means they are still in spiritual union with Satan, in the family of Satan, in the kingdom of Satan, spiritually dead, unjustified, condemned and lost.
There are no other options
3. The gospel of salvation has always been the same (except for tense – forward looking to the cross in contrast to backward looking - Acts 10:43; 26:22-23; Heb. 4:2; Jn. 14:6; Acts 4:12; etc.). However, since the baptism in the Spirit and the church never existed in the Old Testament, then it cannot possibly be part of gospel salvation UNLESS Old Testament saints were saved OUTSIDE of Christ by “another gospel” or they are still “in Adam” both positionally and representatively, which means they are still in spiritual union with Satan, in the family of Satan, in the kingdom of Satan, spiritually dead, unjustified, condemned and lost.
There are no other options.
CONCLUSION
Spiritual Union “in Christ” is obtained exclusively by regeneration not Spirit baptism or membership into any kind of church. Spiritual position “in Christ” is obtained exclusively by justification by faith in the gospel not Spirit baptism or membership into any kind of church. The Universal Invisible Church/Body of Christ theory perverts the gospel and perverts salvation by confusing salvation “in Christ” with service “in Christ.” Salvation “in Christ” is by regeneration/conversion. Service “in Christ” is by water baptism into the membership of a local visible church body for service.