10 Bible Reading – How Were The Saints Of The Old Testament Saved?

A Transcript Of The Video Study

This is a question I have answered several times in previous studies. However, it happens to be a question which seems to linger in the minds of many church goers, especially those who have been influenced by Dispensational teachings. As I pointed out in our previous study, there are many people who view the Old Testament to be a revelation of God’s Law, which sinners were responsible to obey in order to have a relationship with God, whereas they see the New Testament as a revelation of God’s grace where sinners are responsible to believe on Christ in order to have a relationship with God. When those who believe such things are questioned about whether sinners are saved by works or by grace, they will affirm that sinners have always been saved by the grace of God. They will say, “During the Old Testament era, by grace, God enabled sinners to obey the law, whereas during the New Testament era, by grace, God enables sinners to believe on Christ.” Of course, this is nothing short of a mockery of the God of grace and a perversion of the grace of God.

As I have shown you, the labels Old Testament (Covenant) and New Testament (Covenant) refer to one and the same covenant—the Covent of Grace. Both parts of the Bible are a revelation of the gracious covenant. God has been revealing the gospel of Christ to sinners from the beginning of time and will continue to do so until Christ returns. How were the Old Testament saints saved? The same way the New Testament saints are saved—according to the terms and promises of the gracious covenant.

If looking at the question from the perspective of the covenant itself, then it all begins with the electing love of God the Father, setting apart a remnant of the human race as special objects of His love, making them vessels of honor. It includes the redeeming grace of God the Son, whereby in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, He makes them vessels of mercy. And it includes the sanctifying power of God the Spirit, wherein He regenerates all who have been set apart by the Father’s love and redeemed by the blood of Christ.

However, if looking at the question from the perspective of the sinner’s experience, then the order is reversed. In that case, it all begins with the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, whereby the sinner is united to Christ and a new nature imparted to his/her soul. Forthwith, saving faith is exercised and the sinner is taught by God the Spirit that he/she is a partaker of the redeeming grace of Christ. Consequently, the heart rejoices and is taught further by the Spirit of God that he/she has been set apart as a special object of the Father’s love. Henceforth, whereas the divine order of the gracious covenant is election, redemption and the sanctification, yet the experiential order of the gracious covenant in the life of a sinner is sanctification (including regeneration), redemption and then election. Do you see? The only way sinners have come to know they are special objects of God’s electing love and partakers of the redeeming grace of Christ, is when they have been born again by the effectual power of the Holy Spirit. That is true for sinners living during the Old Testament era as well as the New Testament era. There is only one way of salvation, and it is according to the terms and promises of the Covenant of Grace.

Now, this is precisely what the Apostle Paul set forth in Hebrews chapter 11. The key word of that chapter is faith, and by faith is meant the saving faith of God’s regenerate people. You see, when a sinner is born again, the Spirit of God unites the soul with the Lord Jesus Christ, by virtue of which the life and graces of Christ flows into the soul. Just as a branch is engrafted to a vine, whereby the life and virtue of the vine flow into the branch, so when the soul is united to Christ, His life and graces flow into the soul. One of the graces of Christ which flows into the soul is saving faith, and it is that grace the Apostle Paul highlights in Hebrews chapter 11. I want to read for you the chapter, showing how the saints of the Old Testament exercised saving faith, which was evidence that they had been born again, which in turn will prove that sinners have always been saved in one and the same way—by the regenerating power of God the Spirit, enabling the sinner to exercise saving faith in Christ.

Abel was saved according to the Covenant of Grace—Hebrews 11:4: “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”

Enoch was saved according to the Covenant of Grace—Hebrews 11:5,6: “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Noah was saved according to the Covenant of Grace—Hebrews 11:7: “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”

Abraham was saved according to the Covenant of Grace—Hebrews 11:8-10, 17-19: “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God…By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”

Sarah was saved according to the Covenant of Grace—Hebrews 11:11,12: ”Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.”

Isaac was saved according to the Covenant of Grace—Hebrews 11:20: “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.”

Jacob was saved according to the Covenant of Grace—Hebrews 11:21: “By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.”

Joseph was saved according to the Covenant of Grace—Hebrews 11:22: “By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.”

Amram and Jochebed, the parents of Moses, were saved according to the Covenant of Grace—Hebrews 11:23: ”By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.”

Moses was saved according to the Covenant of Grace—Hebrews 11:24-28: “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.”

Rahab was saved according to the Covenant of Grace—Hebrews 11:31: “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.”

All others were also saved according to the Covenant of Grace—Hebrews 11:32-34: “And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.”

My dear friends, there has only ever been one way for sinners to be made right with God, and it is through the terms and promises of the Covenant of Grace. When the Spirit of God is pleased to regenerate the soul, then He will teach that sinner that he/she has been justified through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus and will show that sinner that he/she has been set apart as a special object of the Father’s electing love. And it will be by virtue of that sinner’s union with Christ, the new born babe will exercise saving faith in Him, showing forth the praises of Him who has called him/her out of darkness, into His marvelous light.

Henceforth, when reading through the Bible, we are introduced to men and women on almost every page who, like you and me, were sinners saved by grace—by the grace of God according to His everlasting and gracious covenant.

Jared Smith

10 Bible Reading – How Were The Saints Of The Old Testament Saved?

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