Those before Christ was born how were they saved?

[LayHong_Loves_Christ]

Those before Christ was born how were they saved?
Imagine you are a normal citizen during Moses time, you heard about the Ten commandments, you follow Sabath day, you give sacrifice of animals,
you tried to do good, but you are not perfect.
You really fear God and believe in Him.
However, you are still a sinner.
You never have chance to listen to the Gospel.
In this case, how can you be saved by faith?

 

[HTacianas]

Those before Christ was born how were they saved?
Imagine you are a normal citizen during Moses time, you heard about the Ten commandments, you follow Sabath day, you give sacrifice of animals,
you tried to do good, but you are not perfect.
You really fear God and believe in Him.
However, you are still a sinner.
You never have chance to listen to the Gospel.
In this case, how can you be saved by faith?

Paul wrote about gentiles and the law in his letter to the Romans:

Rom 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law

Rom 2:13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;

Rom 2:14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,

Rom 2:15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)

Rom 2:16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

But the law to the gentiles was always known as the Noahide laws, meaning the laws given to Noah. It did not include a sabbath day for one. Those laws generally prohibit murder, theft, sexual immorality, etc.

 

[d taylor]

Those before Christ was born how were they saved?
Imagine you are a normal citizen during Moses time, you heard about the Ten commandments, you follow Sabath day, you give sacrifice of animals,
you tried to do good, but you are not perfect.
You really fear God and believe in Him.
However, you are still a sinner.
You never have chance to listen to the Gospel.
In this case, how can you be saved by faith?

-​

All people from Adam to now was told that God was going to come and that faith in the promised coming God would give people Eternal Life. Jesus appeared many times to people, He Jesus was even the one walking in the garden of Eden.

And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

Eternal Salvation in the Old Testament—The Salvation of Saul – Grace Evangelical Society

 

[atpollard]

Those before Christ was born how were they saved?
Imagine you are a normal citizen during Moses time, you heard about the Ten commandments, you follow Sabath day, you give sacrifice of animals,
you tried to do good, but you are not perfect.
You really fear God and believe in Him.
However, you are still a sinner.
You never have chance to listen to the Gospel.
In this case, how can you be saved by faith?

Faith ... just like US.
Faith in God. Faith that God would save you.

This is POST MOSES in your example, so you have THIS story to teach you:

Numbers 21:4-9 [NLT]

Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey, and they began to speak against God and Moses. "Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?" they complained. "There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!" ​

​

So the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. Then the people came to Moses and cried out, "We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take away the snakes." So Moses prayed for the people. ​

​

Then the LORD told him, "Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!" So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!​

Just as a point of interest, Jesus mentioned that THIS was EXACTLY how Jesus would save ...

John 3:14-18 [NLT]

And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. ​

​

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. ​

​

"There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son.​

If you are lucky, a Rabbi can explain some of the symbolism that Nicodemus (a Teacher of Teachers) would have known and most Jewish people that had memorized EVERY WORD of the 5 books by Moses would have known ...

• SNAKE - remember back in the story of Adam and Eve, the snake always symbolizes "evil" or "sin".
• BRONZE - If you go through the detailed description of how to build the Tabernacle and the Offerings, BRONZE is the metal associated with the Sin Offering and the Judgement of God.
• POLE - "Cursed is everyone that hangs on a pole" - they knew that verse.

So let's put that together for what God commanded Moses to create: a snake, made of bronze, hanging on a pole. That would be "Evil/Sin", "Judged/Offering" and "Cursed" ... In other words, GOD had already passed judgement on their sin (rather than them) and cursed SIN/EVIL itself rather than the sinner.

Now let's go back to the story in Numbers 21 and see what was going on.

• The people (the whole nation) had SINNED.
• God had already passed JUDGEMENT on the WHOLE NATION and issued a death sentence to EVERYONE.
• Poison Snakes were in the process of carrying out that sentence and executing the GUILTY.
• God offered "SALVATION" (a way for people who sinned and were already as good as dead to LIVE). How?
• You had to LOOK at (or just in the general direction of) "SIN JUDGED AND CURSED" and trust that God would save you ... for no reason other than BECAUSE you trusted in Him.

Fast Forward to ... let's say the time of King David [you were not specific]. The pole and bronze snake and the poison snakes are all LONG GONE. Unfortunately, you and I are still sinners. God says that if you TRUST in God and kill a Lamb in place of your sin, God will forgive you. The LAMB did no more to UNDO the sin we did than the BRONZE SNAKE undid what they did. The only thing that really counts (and makes any sense) is the TRUST IN GOD is exactly the same!

Let's fast forward again, to AD 33 (ish) and Jesus talking with "Nick" about Moses' snake and "For God so loved the world" and the rest of the John 3 stuff. We STILL sin. [sigh] Now God came IN PERSON to tell us "TRUST IN ME" and you will live. I am the Bronze. The Snake (sin) will be judged and condemned and placed on me and I will be lifted up on that Pole. However GOD cannot be cursed, so it is OUR SIN that will be cursed. Death will die and God will prevail and ALL WHO TRUST IN HIM will live (not just a day, but forever).

The Bronze Snake on a Pole was to teach us about TRUST AND LIVE and point forward to Christ. The Lamb on the fire in the temple was to teach us about TRUST AND LIVE and point forward to Christ. Christ came as the lamb of God and condemned sin on a cross and said "IT IS FINISHED". So we could finally trust in what God had been calling us to trust in from the beginning ... HIMSELF!

I hope that helps.

 

[Qubit]

Those before Christ was born how were they saved?

Israelites were saved through Atonement, repentance, faith etc.

Non-Israelites were not saved, generally speaking.

 

[Ted-01]

Those before Christ was born how were they saved?
Imagine you are a normal citizen during Moses time, you heard about the Ten commandments, you follow Sabath day, you give sacrifice of animals,
you tried to do good, but you are not perfect.
You really fear God and believe in Him.
However, you are still a sinner.
You never have chance to listen to the Gospel.
In this case, how can you be saved by faith?

Real Salvation is through Jesus Christ alone.

Basically, folks in the OT waited in Paradise until Christ came and atoned for sins before they were able to receive the full blessings of Salvation.

 

[Clare73]

Those before Christ was born how were they saved?
Imagine you are a normal citizen during Moses time, you heard about the Ten commandments, you follow Sabath day, you give sacrifice of animals, you tried to do good, but you are not perfect. You really fear God and believe in Him. However, you are still a sinner. You never have chance to listen to the Gospel.
In this case, how can you be saved by faith?

Since Adam, they have been saved by their faith (Ge 15:6) in the promise (Ge 3:15, 15:5, Seed, Jesus Christ, Gal 3:16),
just as we are today (Ro 4:1-5).

 

[LayHong_Loves_Christ]

Those who read the OT maybe will have faith in God and saved, how about those never read OT or NT?
People living in ancient China, Korea, Japan, Latin America etc.

 

[atpollard]

Those who read the OT maybe will have faith in God and saved, how about those never read OT or NT?
People living in ancient China, Korea, Japan, Latin America etc.

The first few chapters of Romans covers that.

 

[Richard T]

Those who read the OT maybe will have faith in God and saved, how about those never read OT or NT?
People living in ancient China, Korea, Japan, Latin America etc.

Romans 1:19-23 (KJV)
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

I should add that few in history ever had access to personal bibles until perhaps the last 2 or 3 centuries.

 

[LayHong_Loves_Christ]

No, if based on the theory that the Law of God was inscribed on people's heart, they will not be able to fulfil the requirements of law, there is no Salvation in Law, Law is for punishment, not for salvation, those people will be considered unlucky and die of sin.
Unless God elected some of those who really try to do good and have innocent hearts, God can consider Christ die for them too and save them.

 

[NewLifeInChristJesus]

Those who read the OT maybe will have faith in God and saved, how about those never read OT or NT?
People living in ancient China, Korea, Japan, Latin America etc.

44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. [The New King James Version (Jn 6:44–45). (1982). Thomas Nelson.]​

God speaks every language. And He is involved in every salvation experience. Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father goes to Jesus for salvation. And Jesus will not reject anyone who comes to Him that way (Jn 6:37).

 

[NewLifeInChristJesus]

Romans 1:19-23 (KJV)
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

I should add that few in history ever had access to personal bibles until perhaps the last 2 or 3 centuries.

The 1440 Gutenberg Press revolutionized printing and the Bible became the most popular Book of all time starting then.

 

[Richard T]

Thanks for the info on the press. Here is a good look at the bible's history in the USA. Old book in a new world | Christian History Magazine

 

[NewLifeInChristJesus]

No, if based on the theory that the Law of God was inscribed on people's heart, they will not be able to fulfil the requirements of law, there is no Salvation in Law, Law is for punishment, not for salvation, those people will be considered unlucky and die of sin.
Unless God elected some of those who really try to do good and have innocent hearts, God can consider Christ die for them too and save them.

This post contains some seriously good doctrine...

"there is no Salvation in Law, Law is for punishment, not for salvation..."​

This is so true. If God could have written a law that gave eternal life to those who obey it, He would have written that law and would not have sacrificed His Son for our sins (Ga 2:21, 3:21).

And it contains some thoughts that seems to be not so sound...

"they will not be able to fulfil the requirements of law... those people will be considered unlucky and die of sin"​

​

God writes His laws on our hearts when through coming to live in our hearts He makes us new creatures. This blessing is available only to NT believers because the Holy Spirit did not take up permanent residence in peoples' hearts until after Jesus' resurrection. But our salvation is not because the righteous requirements of His laws are fulfilled in us. They are fulfilled in us as a result of our salvation.

and

"those who really try to do good and have innocent hearts, God can consider Christ die for them too and save them".​

​

God spoke to them by the prophets. And the prophets told them things like...

5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

[The New King James Version (Is 53:5–6). (1982). Thomas Nelson.]

They understood that they were sinners/lawbreakers who needed a Savior. And they trusted God when He told them through the prophets the the Savior was to come. And their salvation was by their faith in the comming Savior, not in their attempts to do good or in their innocent hearts.

 

[NewLifeInChristJesus]

Faith ... just like US.
Faith in God. Faith that God would save you.

This is POST MOSES in your example, so you have THIS story to teach you:

Numbers 21:4-9 [NLT]

Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey, and they began to speak against God and Moses. "Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?" they complained. "There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!" ​

​

So the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. Then the people came to Moses and cried out, "We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take away the snakes." So Moses prayed for the people. ​

​

Then the LORD told him, "Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!" So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!​

Just as a point of interest, Jesus mentioned that THIS was EXACTLY how Jesus would save ...

John 3:14-18 [NLT]

And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. ​

​

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. ​

​

"There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son.​

If you are lucky, a Rabbi can explain some of the symbolism that Nicodemus (a Teacher of Teachers) would have known and most Jewish people that had memorized EVERY WORD of the 5 books by Moses would have known ...

• SNAKE - remember back in the story of Adam and Eve, the snake always symbolizes "evil" or "sin".
• BRONZE - If you go through the detailed description of how to build the Tabernacle and the Offerings, BRONZE is the metal associated with the Sin Offering and the Judgement of God.
• POLE - "Cursed is everyone that hangs on a pole" - they knew that verse.

So let's put that together for what God commanded Moses to create: a snake, made of bronze, hanging on a pole. That would be "Evil/Sin", "Judged/Offering" and "Cursed" ... In other words, GOD had already passed judgement on their sin (rather than them) and cursed SIN/EVIL itself rather than the sinner.

Now let's go back to the story in Numbers 21 and see what was going on.

• The people (the whole nation) had SINNED.
• God had already passed JUDGEMENT on the WHOLE NATION and issued a death sentence to EVERYONE.
• Poison Snakes were in the process of carrying out that sentence and executing the GUILTY.
• God offered "SALVATION" (a way for people who sinned and were already as good as dead to LIVE). How?
• You had to LOOK at (or just in the general direction of) "SIN JUDGED AND CURSED" and trust that God would save you ... for no reason other than BECAUSE you trusted in Him.

Fast Forward to ... let's say the time of King David [you were not specific]. The pole and bronze snake and the poison snakes are all LONG GONE. Unfortunately, you and I are still sinners. God says that if you TRUST in God and kill a Lamb in place of your sin, God will forgive you. The LAMB did no more to UNDO the sin we did than the BRONZE SNAKE undid what they did. The only thing that really counts (and makes any sense) is the TRUST IN GOD is exactly the same!

Let's fast forward again, to AD 33 (ish) and Jesus talking with "Nick" about Moses' snake and "For God so loved the world" and the rest of the John 3 stuff. We STILL sin. [sigh] Now God came IN PERSON to tell us "TRUST IN ME" and you will live. I am the Bronze. The Snake (sin) will be judged and condemned and placed on me and I will be lifted up on that Pole. However GOD cannot be cursed, so it is OUR SIN that will be cursed. Death will die and God will prevail and ALL WHO TRUST IN HIM will live (not just a day, but forever).

The Bronze Snake on a Pole was to teach us about TRUST AND LIVE and point forward to Christ. The Lamb on the fire in the temple was to teach us about TRUST AND LIVE and point forward to Christ. Christ came as the lamb of God and condemned sin on a cross and said "IT IS FINISHED". So we could finally trust in what God had been calling us to trust in from the beginning ... HIMSELF!

I hope that helps.

It is interesting to me that looking at the bronze serpent did not keep the serpents from biting. Looking at it after being bitten only prevented the person fron dying from the bite. This is much like our relationship with Christ. Being saved does not keep us from sin. It only keeps us from dying an eternal death because of it.

 

[Clare73]

It is interesting to me that looking at the bronze serpent did not keep the serpents from biting. Looking at it after being bitten only prevented the person fron dying from the bite. This is much like our relationship with Christ. Being saved does not keep us from sin. It only keeps us from dying an eternal death because of it.

The bronze serpent was about healing, not about prevention.

 

[Ain't Zwinglian]

Since Abraham, they have been saved by their faith (Ge 15:6) in the promise (Ge 15:5, Seed, Jesus Christ, Gal 3:16),
just as we are today (Ro 4:1-5).

Yeap. Wherever the Word of God is present the promise of Scripture.... the HS is present and that individuals will be brought to faith. Amen and Amen.

 

[LayHong_Loves_Christ]

Ancient people before Christ was born who had Faith in God (Father, Son & Holy Spirit) can be Saved by Jesus, because Faith in Lord Jesus is equivalent to Faith in God (the Trinity God). Jesus' Salvation work transcends Time and Space.

 

[Clare73]

Ancient people before Christ was born who had Faith in God (Father, Son & Holy Spirit) can be Saved by Jesus, because Faith in Lord Jesus is equivalent to Faith in God (the Trinity God). Jesus' Salvation work transcends Time and Space.

Many had faith in false gods.

And Orthodox Jews have faith in God but deny Jesus Christ and, therefore, are not saved by their faith in God (Jn 3:18).