March 5, 1996 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - Another great lesson to be learned from the New Testament use of the Old is that the way of salvation has not changed. While this author believes in the seven basic dispensations as outlined in the Scofield Reference Bible, he does not believe that there are different ways to be saved within the various dispensations.

Paul quoted Genesis 15:6 ("And he believed in the Lord, and he counted it to him for righteousness.") in Rom. 4:3 and Gal. 3:6, to show that we are saved the same way as Abraham was before the law.

He quoted Hab. 2:4 ("the just shall live by his faith") in Rom. 1:17 and Psa. 32:1-2 ("Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity.") in Rom. 4:6-8 to show the same about those during the dispensation of law.

Both Paul (Rom. 10:13) and Peter (Acts 2:21) quoted Joel 2:32 ("And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered"), which describes the tribulation period, to show that we must be saved now even as they will be then!

Paul told Timothy that the scriptures which he had known from childhood were able to make him wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, and these scriptures could only have been the Old Testament (2 Tim. 3:15).

The same glorious truth is taught in the following:

Rom. 4:23-24
Rom. 10:11, from Isa. 28:14
2 Cor. 6:2, from Isa. 49:8
Gal. 3:8, from Gen. 12:3
Gal. 3:10, from Deut. 27:26
Heb. 10:37-38, from Isa. 26:20 and Hab. 2:3-4

The requirement of sacrifices in Old Testament times was to teach them two great truths: (1) death by the shedding of blood is necessary for the forgiveness of sin; and (2) no perfect sacrifice had yet appeared. They were to be looking for Him whose heel would be bruised, and who would bruise the head of the serpent (Gen. 3:15). (Bruce Lackey, Can You Trust Your Bible?, 3020 Northway Lane, Chattanooga, TN 37406).

NOTE FROM BROTHER CLOUD: The fact that the basis of salvation is the same in the Old Testament as well as the New does not mean there are no differences between the manner of salvation in the Old and the New. It means simply that salvation has always been by grace through faith and has always been based upon the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8). The Apostle Paul uses examples of men before the law and under the law to demonstrate that salvation is by grace through faith (Romans 4). Hebrews 4 teaches us that salvation rest was completed "from the foundation of the world" (verse 3) and has always been offered by God. That there are differences in the manner of salvation in the Old and the New is obvious. Old Testament saints were saved by faith, but what did Old Testament saints believe? That varied. They believed whatever God said to them at the time. What did Noah believe? He believed what God said about the flood. What did Abraham believe? He believed God's promises to him. What did Rahab the harlot believe? She believed that the God of Israel was the true and living God (Joshua 2:9-13). Old Testament saints believed God's revelation to them and their faith was accounted for righteousness, and from God's perspective it was always based upon the shed blood of Jesus Christ--though they might not have clearly understood that.

It is also true that many Old Testament saints understood a great deal about the Lord Jesus Christ. Luke 1:69-71 says God has been speaking to mankind about salvation "since the world began." Acts 3:21 says that the prophets of God have been speaking of the things of salvation and of the redemption of the creation and the establishment of the kingdom "since the world began." Abel was a prophet and doubtless understood something of the significance of the blood sacrifice he offered (Luke 11:50). Job, who probably wrote long before the establishment of the Jewish nation, understood that he would be resurrected bodily and see his Redeemer face to face (Job 19:25-27). Abraham rejoiced to see Christ's day (John 8:56) and knew that God one day would provide "Himself a sacrifice" (Gen. 22:8). David foresaw the resurrection of Christ (Acts 2:29-31). The Prophets of Israel understood much about the coming Messiah and His work (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53).

The point of this article is simple: Old Testament saints were saved by grace through faith based on the blood of Christ. They were NOT saved by works, or by works plus faith. We believe the same is true for Tribulation age saints, as well. They will make their robes white in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:14), the only basis whereby any sinner can stand before a holy God.

See also: Follow up Article - Salvation is the Same in the Old Testament and the New Testament