Before Jesus came to the world how were people saved?
- Thread starter Neostarwcc
- Start date
GingerBeer
Cool and refreshing with a kick!
- Mar 26, 2017
- 3,511
- 1,348
- Country
- Australia
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Private
People were saved by grace, people have always been saved by grace. The grace was given in anticipation of Christ's saving work.
Upvote
0
By Faith. Salvation has always been by simple faith in God.
In the original gospel of Jesus, before the cross, Jesus expanded upon the fact of salvation by faith.
After the cross, institutional religion added new requirements.
Jesus never connected the cross as a condition for God to forgive.
Upvote
0
yeshuaslavejeff
simple truth, martyr, disciple of Yahshua
The more someone reads this forum,
the more this happens.
Find a good source of teaching somewhere you can trust. (as difficult as this is to do, it is worth the effort , yes, very very much worth the effort and the time it takes (even if it takes years).
Upvote
0
amariselle
Jesus Never Fails
- Sep 28, 2004
- 6,648
- 4,194
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- CA-Conservatives
14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. - Genesis 3:14-15
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. - Galatians 3:6-9
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. - Revelation 13:8
Salvation has always been by faith.
1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. - Hebrews 10:1-18
Also, Hebrews 11
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. - Genesis 3:14-15
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. - Galatians 3:6-9
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. - Revelation 13:8
Salvation has always been by faith.
1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. - Hebrews 10:1-18
Also, Hebrews 11
Upvote
0
Cat Loaf You
Active Member
By faith and then sacrifices . Nobody went to heaven tho they all went to hell , you can see that in story that Jesus told us about rich man and Lazarus .
Hell had two parts , paradise where "good" people went and hell where "bad people " went ( only God is good so that's why the " " ) .
When Christ died he went to hell and preached to souls which were in paradise part of hell and took them out (Matthew 27:52) that's why feast is called first fruits ( plural ) and not fruit .
Hell had two parts , paradise where "good" people went and hell where "bad people " went ( only God is good so that's why the " " ) .
When Christ died he went to hell and preached to souls which were in paradise part of hell and took them out (Matthew 27:52) that's why feast is called first fruits ( plural ) and not fruit .
Upvote
0
msortwell
Senior Member
- Mar 9, 2004
- 1,245
- 147
- 64
- Faith
- Calvinist
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Constitution
Men (sinners) have always been reconciled to God the Father consistent with the sovereign covenants that He as established throughout redemptive history.
A covenant always includes an “agreement” with conditions/requirements to which the parties of the covenant are bound. Violating the terms of the covenant invoke consequences stipulated within the covenant – generally curses. Conformance with the covenant also invokes consequences stipulated within the covenant – conditional promises, blessings.
I place “agreement” in quotes because the biblical covenants are generally NOT agreements established between participants in the way we would generally understand a contract today. Rather, the covenant is generally established by the sovereign one involved in the covenant that has authority over other participants in the covenant.
The first covenant declared in history was the Covenant of Works established by God with Adam. God promised eternal life (salvation/preservation) if Adam would refrain from eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (i.e., be obedient). Death - spiritual and physical, upon Adam and his descendants was to be the cost of disobedience.
The next covenant was declared (often ascribed the title of The Covenant of Grace) soon after Adam's fall. God declared in Gen 3:15 that he would provide a redeemer that would overcome the works of Satan (i.e., he would, once and for all, overcome the result of sin - death). Trusting in THIS promise, God's provision of a redeemer that would overcome the death resulting from sin, was saving faith from the time of its declaration until today - the means by which it was accomplished being revealed with ever-increasing clarity.
Next, a non-salvific covenant (a covenant of common grace) was declared unto Noah - God would sustain His creation until the redemption declared in Gen 3:15 was bought to completion. God would (despite the depravity of man) preserve His creation (maintaining the seasons, and human governance) until the consummation of the Covenant of Grace (which we now Know is accomplished in the second coming of Messiah and the new heaven and new earth).
Later, God established his covenant with Abraham, in which God did not work out a deal with the man. He sovereignly told Abraham what he (God) was going to do. God declared that he would bless Abraham with a land and a Seed, and by that Seed all of the nations of the earth would be blessed. The provided further information regarding how the promise of Gen 3:15 was going to play out. Still, faith in God's gracious provision of salvation through a redeemer was saving faith - in some way still not totally clear (the full clarification would not come until the Holy Spirit worked in Paul to write Gal 3).
Later, God would establish another covenant with the people of Israel. This was a law covenant that was brought to the people through Moses, so we refer to it as the Mosaic Covenant (MC). But this Mosaic Covenant did not put an end to the Abrahamic Covenant (AC). This is why Moses pleaded with God with regards to the promise (covenant) made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – the covenant of the seed - immediately AFTER having received the Law from God and the people were worshiping the golden calf. Both the MC and the AC were moving through history together - MC largely of law, and AC purely of grace.
When Paul wrote that Jesus was that Seed of the AC, and all those that were “in Christ” were children of the promise to Abraham (Gal 3) showing us that even the cross of Christ did not put an end to the Abrahamic Covenant. Rather, it was the consummation of that gracious covenant – that promise made to Abraham.
When we see writing in Scripture referring to “The Old Covenant” and “The New Covenant,” the distinction is generally between the laws and statutes of the MC under which Jesus, as a Jewish man, lived (and obeyed perfectly) and the AC which Jesus fulfilled as that Seed through whom every nation would be blessed – for he would bring into right relationship with God men of every tongue and tribe and nation.
Men now live under one of two Covenants
If they come to faith in Christ, the one who obeyed the law perfectly, they are no longer condemned under the law. Their sin debt was paid by Christ's sacrifice and His righteous obedience is credited to them. They are saved by grace through faith, and that . . .
To be clear, the plan to redeem a people by the sacrifice of God the Son (to provide an exit for some from the sure damnation which comes from the covenant of works) was not formulated at the time of the garden fall. Rather, it was formulated in eternity past. It was formulated when a covenant was made between coequals before the foundation of the world – a covenant between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. A covenant that is necessarily inferred from the following:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Eph 1:3 – 6)
This is Covenant Theology in a nutshell. From before Genesis to revelation it is one story of God working out the redemption of His people through the sacrifice of God the Son - One Story - One Savior. My apologies to my reformed brothers for the shortcuts and abbreviations.
A covenant always includes an “agreement” with conditions/requirements to which the parties of the covenant are bound. Violating the terms of the covenant invoke consequences stipulated within the covenant – generally curses. Conformance with the covenant also invokes consequences stipulated within the covenant – conditional promises, blessings.
I place “agreement” in quotes because the biblical covenants are generally NOT agreements established between participants in the way we would generally understand a contract today. Rather, the covenant is generally established by the sovereign one involved in the covenant that has authority over other participants in the covenant.
The first covenant declared in history was the Covenant of Works established by God with Adam. God promised eternal life (salvation/preservation) if Adam would refrain from eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (i.e., be obedient). Death - spiritual and physical, upon Adam and his descendants was to be the cost of disobedience.
The next covenant was declared (often ascribed the title of The Covenant of Grace) soon after Adam's fall. God declared in Gen 3:15 that he would provide a redeemer that would overcome the works of Satan (i.e., he would, once and for all, overcome the result of sin - death). Trusting in THIS promise, God's provision of a redeemer that would overcome the death resulting from sin, was saving faith from the time of its declaration until today - the means by which it was accomplished being revealed with ever-increasing clarity.
Next, a non-salvific covenant (a covenant of common grace) was declared unto Noah - God would sustain His creation until the redemption declared in Gen 3:15 was bought to completion. God would (despite the depravity of man) preserve His creation (maintaining the seasons, and human governance) until the consummation of the Covenant of Grace (which we now Know is accomplished in the second coming of Messiah and the new heaven and new earth).
Later, God established his covenant with Abraham, in which God did not work out a deal with the man. He sovereignly told Abraham what he (God) was going to do. God declared that he would bless Abraham with a land and a Seed, and by that Seed all of the nations of the earth would be blessed. The provided further information regarding how the promise of Gen 3:15 was going to play out. Still, faith in God's gracious provision of salvation through a redeemer was saving faith - in some way still not totally clear (the full clarification would not come until the Holy Spirit worked in Paul to write Gal 3).
Later, God would establish another covenant with the people of Israel. This was a law covenant that was brought to the people through Moses, so we refer to it as the Mosaic Covenant (MC). But this Mosaic Covenant did not put an end to the Abrahamic Covenant (AC). This is why Moses pleaded with God with regards to the promise (covenant) made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – the covenant of the seed - immediately AFTER having received the Law from God and the people were worshiping the golden calf. Both the MC and the AC were moving through history together - MC largely of law, and AC purely of grace.
When Paul wrote that Jesus was that Seed of the AC, and all those that were “in Christ” were children of the promise to Abraham (Gal 3) showing us that even the cross of Christ did not put an end to the Abrahamic Covenant. Rather, it was the consummation of that gracious covenant – that promise made to Abraham.
When we see writing in Scripture referring to “The Old Covenant” and “The New Covenant,” the distinction is generally between the laws and statutes of the MC under which Jesus, as a Jewish man, lived (and obeyed perfectly) and the AC which Jesus fulfilled as that Seed through whom every nation would be blessed – for he would bring into right relationship with God men of every tongue and tribe and nation.
Men now live under one of two Covenants
- The Covenant of Works make with Adam – Which he broke. A covenant more broadly expressed in the subset of laws given to Moses, the subset we call the 10 Commandments.
- The Covenant of Grace, first expressed vaguely in God’s promise that he would send one that would crush the head of the serpent. Later given further revelation as the Seed promised to Abraham – one that would bless all nations. Still later given fuller expression as the fulfillment of the promise (covenant) made with King David that his thrown would be eternal and he would have a righteous descendant that would reign eternally upon that thrown, an eternal son of David. A son that would build a house for God – that house being a people of God – even those in Christ and children of the promise made to Abraham. All this came to fruition when Jesus died, was buried, and rose again – paying the price of the sins of the elect.
If they come to faith in Christ, the one who obeyed the law perfectly, they are no longer condemned under the law. Their sin debt was paid by Christ's sacrifice and His righteous obedience is credited to them. They are saved by grace through faith, and that . . .
To be clear, the plan to redeem a people by the sacrifice of God the Son (to provide an exit for some from the sure damnation which comes from the covenant of works) was not formulated at the time of the garden fall. Rather, it was formulated in eternity past. It was formulated when a covenant was made between coequals before the foundation of the world – a covenant between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. A covenant that is necessarily inferred from the following:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Eph 1:3 – 6)
This is Covenant Theology in a nutshell. From before Genesis to revelation it is one story of God working out the redemption of His people through the sacrifice of God the Son - One Story - One Savior. My apologies to my reformed brothers for the shortcuts and abbreviations.
Upvote
0
The Garden of Eden is an allegory for God's rest, the 7th day, which isn't about a day of the week but a state of Grace in which the children of God are alive in every day. Just as Abraham was seen as righteous through believing all that came after and whom God granted his rest. Just as there are two creation stories in Genesis 1 and 2, God's children also have two creation. We are born into this world and then born again, spiritually, into the body of Christ. Just as in Eden, no man can get there on his own but must be created righteous by the Father.
Adam and Eve's fall is an allegory for the Jewish people who place themselves under the Mosaic Law, which is the Tree of Knowledge from which Adam and Eve ate from. Before the Law righteousness ruled. Abraham didn't have the Law but instead listened to God and did as the Father commanded him. He went left when God said go left, and went right when God said so. He believed.
Those who received God's rest are covered by the eternal blood of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the light spoken of in the creation story. Without Jesus, the world is chaos and in darkness. The greater light(sun) is the Gospel of Jesus and the lesser light(moon) is the Mosaic Law. The moon's glow, like the Law, is only a reflection of the sun. The Law is holy but not what God intended in order for man to achieve heaven.
We all need Jesus Christ, whether we have been saved through belief or we find mercy from judgment.
Upvote
0
ViaCrucis
Confessional Lutheran
- Oct 2, 2011
- 37,457
- 26,885
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Lutheran
- Marital Status
- In Relationship
- Politics
- US-Others
Salvation is always by the grace of God, through faith, on Christ's account alone.
Moses was saved the same way you and I are--by the death and resurrection of Jesus.
-CryptoLutheran
Upvote
0
discipler7
Well-Known Member
- Oct 5, 2017
- 1,118
- 324
- Country
- Heard Island And Mcdonald Islands
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Single
According to LUKE.16:19-31, the Lord Jesus stated that the rich Jewish man ended up in hell because he unrepentantly broke God's Law at DEUT.15:11, ie by refusing to provide charity to beggar Lazarus during the Sabbath or 7th year.
... Beggar Lazarus ended up in heaven because he did not break God's Law and after his death, he had the opportunity to hear the preaching of Jesus Christ and believed, as per 1PETER.3:19 & 4:6. HEBREWS.11 says that OT figures were similarly saved from hell by having faith in and keeping God's Word/commandments/Law and after death, being preached to by Jesus, eg MATTHEW.17:3 & 27:52.
So, by extension, after the ministry of Jesus Christ in 30AD, like the OT figures, Christians were also saved by having faith in God's Son and in God's Law/Word. The only difference is that NT Christians heard the gospel of Christ before their death and believed.
... Faith for salvation does not just focus on God's Son, to the exclusion of God's Law/Word because God's Son is also God's Word or Law/commandments.(JOHN.1:1) IOW, to be saved from hell, one has to have faith in God's Son and in God's Word/Law because they are one and the same.
The early Jewish Christians, like the apostles, were required by God to continue to have faith in and to keep God's Law or Moses Law because it was not a burden to them.
... For new Gentile Christians, the Word of God at ACTS.15:24-29 only required them to begin their born-again lives of the Spirit by keeping 4 easy or non-burdensome laws of Moses, ie avoid eating blood, strangled animals, food sacrificed to idols and sexual immorality = keeping part of the Law was still a requirement for salvation. They were then given time to gradually grow in the non-burdensome parts of God's Word/Law.(JOHN.6:63, 1COR.3:1-3, HEB.8:10) It would have been a heavy burden to require new Gentile Christians to keep the whole Moses Law which could have caused some of them to lose faith, eg the burden of adult circumcision at GENESIS.34:25.
Hence, we have salvation verses at MATTHEW.7:21-23, 1COR.6:9-11, GAL.5:19-21 and REV.22:12-15 which say that unrepentant law-breakers/sinners/evildoers have no part in the kingdom of God = not saved from hell.
During the Holy Communion memorial, the drinking of the blood of Jesus(= wine) symbolizes the atonement of our inborn Adam's Original Sin; and the eating of the flesh of Jesus(= bread) symbolizes the study or digestion of God's Word.(MATTHEW.4:4)
... JOHN.6:53 says that we must eat His flesh AND drink His blood, in order to be saved from hell.
Last edited:
Upvote
0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums
- Oct 7, 2011
- 1,982
- 591
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Republican
Upvote
0
GirdYourLoins
Well-Known Member
- Nov 27, 2016
- 1,220
- 929
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Married
There is a lot of teaching on the subject. They went to Hades, which could be paradise for those who had faith in God such as Abraham or it could be torment as the rich man in Luke 16:19-31. Hades is often misinterpreted to mean hell but it is a separate place. When Jesus dies on the cross he went to Hades to witness to those held there, giving them the opportunity to accept Him as their Saviour.
Upvote
0
Ovlov90
Active Member
- Dec 7, 2017
- 132
- 54
- 62
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Non-Denom
- Marital Status
- Widowed
Saved by faith through grace. In O.T. “times” political, theological and social all centered around what “god” you worshipped or were loyal to. If you were loyal to YHWH the creator of all you would be saved. By faith in Him.
The temple sacrifices only kept the temple clean so YHWH could reside there. The blood was applied to the temple not the sinner so even though God forgave them they still carried the “stain” or guilt. It was Jesus who removed that apon His resurrection. Once He took thier guilt apon Himself they were then clean and could be in the presence of God.
The O.T. doesnt speak much of “heaven”. And Oh yes what of Rahab of Jericho being saved and the guy who took dirt back with him, Holy Ground he could then worhip God on. Pagans showing naked faith. Its faith that saved them. Check out the work of N.T. Wright. Also M. Heiser. God bless.
The temple sacrifices only kept the temple clean so YHWH could reside there. The blood was applied to the temple not the sinner so even though God forgave them they still carried the “stain” or guilt. It was Jesus who removed that apon His resurrection. Once He took thier guilt apon Himself they were then clean and could be in the presence of God.
The O.T. doesnt speak much of “heaven”. And Oh yes what of Rahab of Jericho being saved and the guy who took dirt back with him, Holy Ground he could then worhip God on. Pagans showing naked faith. Its faith that saved them. Check out the work of N.T. Wright. Also M. Heiser. God bless.
Upvote
0
- Jul 21, 2016
- 4,636
- 2,875
- 72
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Melkite Catholic
- Marital Status
- Private
- Politics
- US-Others
Just the same as today. They would walk down the aisle of the local synagogue to the tune of "Just As I Am", and they would ask the Messiah who was to come to come into their hearts, and Baptize them in the Holy Spirit!
Seriously, Jesus preached the Good News to ALL of the people, and whoever desired to follow Him he took with Him to heaven
Upvote
0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums
Marvin Knox
Senior Veteran
I don't see that in the scriptures.
In fact, we see quite clearly that things do work in time in the spirit realm. Perhaps not 24 hr. "days" related to the movement of the earth. But time none the less.
I see that "Spirit" was capitalized by you. Is there a reason for that? If so perhaps that would explain why you make such a claim about time when movements in time are clearly displayed for us in the scriptures in many places.
Perhaps you could explain exactly what you meant. Thanks.
Last edited:
Upvote
0
***Blind Post (I've only read the OP)
I'm of this belief:
Christ is risen from the dead,
Trampling down death by death,
And upon those in the tombs bestowing life!
-Paschal (Easter) Hymn
Jesus Christ was not content with laying in the tomb for three days after His crucifixion. Instead, while His body was entombed, Christ’s soul descended into Hades, or Hell. Christ descended there not to suffer, but to fight, and free the souls trapped there. Just as bringing a light into darkness causes the darkness to disappear, the Source of all Life descending into the abode of the dead resulted in Jesus’ victory over death, and not death’s victory over Jesus. This is the full reality of what Christ’s death and resurrection accomplished.
In the Icon, Jesus Christ stands victoriously in the centre. Robed in Heavenly white, He is surrounded by a mandorla of star-studded light, representing the Glory of God. Christ is shown dramatically pulling Adam, the first man, from the tomb. Eve is to Christ’s left, hands held out in supplication, also waiting for Jesus to act. This humble surrender to Jesus is all Adam and Eve need to do, and all they are able to do. Christ does the rest, which is why He is pulling Adam from the tomb by the wrist, and not the hand.
Surrounding the victorious Christ are John the Baptist and the Old Testament Righteous(Abel is shown as the young shepherd-boy). Those who predeceased Christ’s crucifixion descended to Hades, where they patiently waited the coming of their Messiah. Now they are freed from this underworld, and mingle freely with Christ and His angels.
And what of this underworld, Hades? It is shown in the aftershock of Christ’s descent into its heart – in utter chaos.
This event, known as the Harrowing of Hades, was taught from the very beginning of the Church. St. Melito of Sardis (died ca 180) in Homily on the Passion; Tertullian in A Treatise on the Soul, 55, Hippolytus in Treatise on Christ and Anti-Christ , Origen in Against Celsus, 2:43, and, later, St. Ambrose (died 397) all wrote of the Harrowing of Hell.~The Resurrection | Icon of Victory
I'm of this belief:
Christ is risen from the dead,
Trampling down death by death,
And upon those in the tombs bestowing life!
-Paschal (Easter) Hymn
Jesus Christ was not content with laying in the tomb for three days after His crucifixion. Instead, while His body was entombed, Christ’s soul descended into Hades, or Hell. Christ descended there not to suffer, but to fight, and free the souls trapped there. Just as bringing a light into darkness causes the darkness to disappear, the Source of all Life descending into the abode of the dead resulted in Jesus’ victory over death, and not death’s victory over Jesus. This is the full reality of what Christ’s death and resurrection accomplished.
In the Icon, Jesus Christ stands victoriously in the centre. Robed in Heavenly white, He is surrounded by a mandorla of star-studded light, representing the Glory of God. Christ is shown dramatically pulling Adam, the first man, from the tomb. Eve is to Christ’s left, hands held out in supplication, also waiting for Jesus to act. This humble surrender to Jesus is all Adam and Eve need to do, and all they are able to do. Christ does the rest, which is why He is pulling Adam from the tomb by the wrist, and not the hand.
Surrounding the victorious Christ are John the Baptist and the Old Testament Righteous(Abel is shown as the young shepherd-boy). Those who predeceased Christ’s crucifixion descended to Hades, where they patiently waited the coming of their Messiah. Now they are freed from this underworld, and mingle freely with Christ and His angels.
And what of this underworld, Hades? It is shown in the aftershock of Christ’s descent into its heart – in utter chaos.
This event, known as the Harrowing of Hades, was taught from the very beginning of the Church. St. Melito of Sardis (died ca 180) in Homily on the Passion; Tertullian in A Treatise on the Soul, 55, Hippolytus in Treatise on Christ and Anti-Christ , Origen in Against Celsus, 2:43, and, later, St. Ambrose (died 397) all wrote of the Harrowing of Hell.~The Resurrection | Icon of Victory
Upvote
0
truefiction1
Fool
- Dec 16, 2011
- 5,208
- 2,548
- 57
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Eastern Orthodox
- Marital Status
- Married
Those who believe God and obey his Holy will are saved. God is a still, small voice Who can be heard only in silence, speaking from within our own conscience. The more one learns to listen the better one gets at hearing. Study the Gospels. The voice of Christ in the Scriptures will be heard as Truth because it is the same voice that comes from your own conscience. Believe in and Obey the Word.
Upvote
0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums
ViaCrucis
Confessional Lutheran
- Oct 2, 2011
- 37,457
- 26,885
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Lutheran
- Marital Status
- In Relationship
- Politics
- US-Others
It is often the standard interpretation of 1 Peter 3:19. Though in verse 20 it becomes complicated as it speaks "of those who disobeyed long ago"; some therefore thinking this verse maybe refers to fallen angels in Tartarus, the same mentioned in 2 Peter 2:4, or perhaps to the disobedient men of Noah's time. But this passage is often brought together with the event in Matthew which describes the graves of the righteous opening up (Matthew 27:52).
At any rate, historic Christian teaching is that Christ descended into Hades in what is known as the Harrowing of Hell, by which He conquered and overthrew the power of the grave; this is illustrated in the traditional icon of the Anastasis which @mkgal1 showed in post 37. The Icon of the Anastasis shows Christ in Hades, standing victorious over the broken gates of Hades, with the devil (and often death) shown buried and bound under the gates, with Christ lifting Adam and Eve out from their sarcophagi (sometimes only Adam is shown) surrounded by all the saints, both Old Testament and New Testament saints.
The meaning is simply this: Christ has conquered sin, death, hell, and the devil. By His death and resurrection He has rescued the whole human race.
-CryptoLutheran
Upvote
0
Similar threads
