Before Jesus came to the world how were people saved?

Neostarwcc

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From Adam and Eve's time till Christ was ministering how were people saved? Not to many people debate for instance Adam and Eve's salvation. Or Abraham or King Saul, or King David. But just how were they saved when Jesus hadn't died on the cross yet? When Jesus was ministering people how were they saved? By believing that he was the Messiah? Were people saved before Jesus was born by believing in the messiah? Was it their works? Their sacrifices to God? Believing in the one true God? Keeping the ten commandments and the law? Just how were Jews saved before they rejected their Messiah? I'm confused.
 
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Albion

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They weren't saved...in the strictest sense, which I think you had in mind. They either went to Hell or (depending on whom you talk with) to either Paradise or a Limbo (not to be confused with the old idea of a Limbo for unbaptised children).

These latter ones--Moses, Abraham, et al--were released to Heaven upon Christ's sacrifice on the Cross. That's the conventional view of the matter.
 
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Albion

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Also, what happens to those who have simply never heard about Jesus?

Nothing in scripture teaches that they will be saved. It could be that God has something in mind for them, but we cannot assert that he does or what that might be, no matter what rationalization we use.
 
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Winken

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You may recall the Great Flood. Everyone perished except the 8. Then God called Abram (Abraham) to lead a chosen people to eternal security, not one-by-one, but as a chosen people group (to become known as the Hebrews). They walked away from what was known as the "Abrahamic Covenant." Next came the Hebrew (people group) Mosaic Covenant. They walked away from that. Then came Jesus. No more people groups. Now one-by-one.

This is the short version.
 
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Neostarwcc

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Isn't it a story that Jesus descended into hell and saved those who went there? I heard something along those lines. But what made a person worth saving? What saved people in OT times?
 
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RaymondG

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The same way as they are saved after. If we understood the law and prophets, we would understand Jesus. We don't understand Moses if we don't understand Jesus. All the law and the prophets are written of Him. Note that there were no gospels available during the first few decades A.D.
 
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Albion

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Isn't it a story that Jesus descended into hell and saved those who went there? I heard something along those lines. But what made a person worth saving? What saved people in OT times?
See post #2 above. Those were the people referred to in the "Limbo of our fathers." What "saved" in the OT was faith, same as in the NT, but of course referring to Jehovah.
 
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Neostarwcc

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See post #2 above. Those were the people referred to in the "Limbo of our fathers." What "saved" in the OT was faith, same as in the NT, but of course referring to Jehovah.

So it was faith that the Messiah would come?
 
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Monk Brendan

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From Adam and Eve's time till Christ was ministering how were people saved? Not to many people debate for instance Adam and Eve's salvation. Or Abraham or King Saul, or King David. But just how were they saved when Jesus hadn't died on the cross yet? When Jesus was ministering people how were they saved? By believing that he was the Messiah? Were people saved before Jesus was born by believing in the messiah? Was it their works? Their sacrifices to God? Believing in the one true God? Keeping the ten commandments and the law? Just how were Jews saved before they rejected their Messiah? I'm confused.

They weren't.

It wasn't until Jesus died, and descended to hell, and preached the Gospel there that anyone had a chance to BE saved.
 
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Neostarwcc

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They weren't.

It wasn't until Jesus died, and descended to hell, and preached the Gospel there that anyone had a chance to BE saved.

Okay so people weren't saved in OT times and Jesus descended into hell to save the lost. But who did Jesus save? What made a person savable in other words? Was it everyone that believed in the God of Israel? Was it those who believed that the Messiah would come?
 
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SkyWriting

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From Adam and Eve's time till Christ was ministering how were people saved? Not to many people debate for instance Adam and Eve's salvation. Or Abraham or King Saul, or King David. But just how were they saved when Jesus hadn't died on the cross yet? When Jesus was ministering people how were they saved? By believing that he was the Messiah? Were people saved before Jesus was born by believing in the messiah? Was it their works? Their sacrifices to God? Believing in the one true God? Keeping the ten commandments and the law? Just how were Jews saved before they rejected their Messiah? I'm confused.

Fortunately for all people around the world, the scriptures
written in their language of the moment, are not required
reading. Why is that?

Rom1
19 For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
20 For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.
 
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Hillsage

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Isn't it a story that Jesus descended into hell and saved those who went there? I heard something along those lines. But what made a person worth saving? What saved people in OT times?
A person's worth is determined by what someone is willing to pay. Jesus paid the price for ALL because He was worth that much.

So it was faith that the Messiah would come?
The promise of a messiah coming wasn't even made until long after they were dead and buried.

The plan of Ultimate reconciliation is the only plan that makes sense. It fulfills justice and fairness to all.
 
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Neostarwcc

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A person's worth is determined by what someone is willing to pay. Jesus paid the price for ALL because He was worth that much.


The promise of a messiah coming wasn't even made until long after they were dead and buried.

The plan of Ultimate reconciliation is the only plan that makes sense. It fulfills justice and fairness to all.

Wait wasn't the promise of a Messiah given to Adam and Eve after they disobeyed God?
 
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Hillsage

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Wait wasn't the promise of a Messiah given to Adam and Eve after they disobeyed God?
See if you can find that. I can't.


P.S.
Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

And even then. in Galatians, Paul had to explain to the Jews that 'they' weren't "the seed" of Abraham, like they thought they were.
 
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1stcenturylady

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Nothing in scripture teaches that they will be saved. It could be that God has something in mind for them, but we cannot assert that he does or what that might be, no matter what rationalization we use.

I see that God will judge them, the Gentiles who lived without the law, according to a good conscience in Romans 2:17-29. As for the Jews, those who trust in God and did not turn to other gods will be in Paradise/Abraham's bosom. Abraham believed that there would be a fulfillment of what God told him about having a son through Sarah, and it was imputed to him as righteousness.
 
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jimmyjimmy

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From Adam and Eve's time till Christ was ministering how were people saved? Not to many people debate for instance Adam and Eve's salvation. Or Abraham or King Saul, or King David. But just how were they saved when Jesus hadn't died on the cross yet? When Jesus was ministering people how were they saved? By believing that he was the Messiah? Were people saved before Jesus was born by believing in the messiah? Was it their works? Their sacrifices to God? Believing in the one true God? Keeping the ten commandments and the law? Just how were Jews saved before they rejected their Messiah? I'm confused.

There is only one Way. Through faith in Christ. They looked forward to a messiah ever since Genesis 3:15.
 
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FireDragon76

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They were justified by faith the same as we are today.

That reminds me of listening to the ancient hymn, O Come O Come Emmanual, in Latin, recently, and one of the verses really stuck with me:

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe

It is a hymn to Jesus Christ during the Advent season we are in, and it demonstrates how we understand the Word, the Second Person of the Trinity, was present in the Old Testament as much as the New Testament.
 
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SkyWriting

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Nothing in scripture teaches that they will be saved. It could be that God has something in mind for them, but we cannot assert that he does or what that might be, no matter what rationalization we use.
Romans 1:20
 
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SkyWriting

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They weren't saved...in the strictest sense, which I think you had in mind. They either went to Hell or (depending on whom you talk with) to either Paradise or a Limbo (not to be confused with the old idea of a Limbo for unbaptised children).

These latter ones--Moses, Abraham, et al--were released to Heaven upon Christ's sacrifice on the Cross. That's the conventional view of the matter.
Nothing in the Spirit realm runs on a timeline. Time is only for those destined for death.
 
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