If salvation is by grace through faith in Christ, how were people saved in the Old Testament? We know that in the Old Testament, God gave his people the law, but we know that no one was saved or will be saved by the law (Hebrews 10:1-4; Romans 3:19-20). In answering this question, we must remember a fundamental biblical truth: salvation is never a work of man. It is always God’s work. Only God graciously intervenes in the conversion of man. However, the question still stands. How were people saved in the Old Testament?
Salvation is never a work of man. It is always God’s work.
The Bible speaks of salvation by grace, through faith in Christ Jesus, and we also truly know that it is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-10). Biblical theology plays a fundamental role because it helps us understand the unity of the Bible and its historical redemptive message. It also helps us understand the fundamental covenants that we find in the Bible. The assumptions offered by covenant theology are quite crucial for an accurate answer to this question.
Covenant Theology Gives Clarity
Covenant theology is one of the most significant distinguishing markers of Reformed theology. Reformed theology teaches three covenants: the covenant of works, the covenant of grace and the covenant of redemption (or pactum salutis). We can put the latter aside for now since it’s the covenant within the Godhead and not between God and man.
Concerning the covenant of works with Adam, the Westminster Confession of Faith teaches: that the covenant of works was the first covenant God made with man, “in which life was promised to Adam, and in him to his posterity, upon condition of perfect personal obedience” (Genesis 2:17; 3:10; Romans 5:12-14).
The covenant of works was broken by sin, becoming useless to lead to life.
The covenant of grace, on the other hand, here God freely offers to sinners life and salvation through Jesus Christ. He also promises the Holy Spirit to the elect to give them the willingness and ability to believe. The covenant of works was broken by sin, becoming useless to lead to life. Therefore, God was pleased to reveal the promise of Christ, the seed of the woman, as the means of calling the elect, and generating in them faith and repentance. In this promise, the essence of the gospel was revealed and is made effectual for the conversion and salvation of sinners.
Through the Covenants, God Gives Grace
Going back to our question, I would like to highlight that the assumption of salvation by grace in the Old Testament is unthinkable in my context because the majority of evangelicals in Angola see the law as the opposite of grace. It is important to emphasise that in covenant theology, the law is a part of grace.
In covenant theology, the law is a part of grace.
As we have seen from the beginning, there are two basic covenants established in the history of humanity: the covenant of works and the covenant of grace. This was first announced to Adam and later developed in its various aspects, including the covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and, finally, Christ himself, who is the fulfilment of all that was said. Thus, both covenants are the unfolding of God’s same work in decree, creation, providence, redemption and consummation. It is important to understand that in all these covenants, there is grace from God. And salvation has always been administered by grace through faith.
Old Testament Salvation Was by Faith
The patriarchs, Moses, David, the prophets and many other believers among the people were saved by having faith in Christ through the promises of Yahweh. These promises were the gospel, the covenant of grace progressively revealed since the fall of man (Luke 24:27; 1 Peter 1:10-11). Throughout the Old Testament, God was gracious towards his people through the covenants he made with them. Just like New Testament believers, God worked in those people to bring them to faith and repentance, trusting in God’s promises and depending on his grace. It’s no different.
Salvation in the Old Testament was always by grace.
From the beginning, only believers are part of the covenant of grace. No one enters it apart from faith; or, for that matter, the grace of God. So salvation in the Old Testament was always by grace through faith (Galatians 3:9, 14, 24).
Like Them, We Too Need Grace
We praise the Lord for his grace, offered in Christ Jesus. Today we have more than a divine promise (Hebrews 6:17). We have a covenant, sealed in the blood of Christ (Hebrews 8:6). This means that even though we are said to participate in the new covenant, we are nevertheless saved in the exact same way as our forebears in the faith (Hebrews 9:15). Like Old Testament believers, we enjoy God’s salvation because of his grace; we acquire it through faith alone.
Old Testament believers possessed this as a promise. But we experience it in Christ.
Only the blessings of God’s covenant of grace give eternal life. Even though the new covenant is said to be established on better promises—one of the sustained themes in Hebrews—it isn’t fundamentally different; it is just rather the clearest expression of the covenant of grace. Old Testament believers possessed this as a promise. But we experience it in Christ. For its king and mediator has appeared (2 Timothy 1:10; Hebrews 9:26). Its people are gathered into one body (John 11:52). And its ordinances are effectually arranged in his church (Ephesians 4:16).
