Before Jesus came to earth, what was the basis for salvation and a persons hope of He
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It was always salvation by grace alone and faith alone, but with one key difference - no Jesus. A person was saved according to their own righteousness and God's unmerited mercy and favour. This included what they believed about God, whether they prayed to Him, whether they worshipped Him or not, and whether they passed the tests of faith that God brought in their path, such as running out of oil to make bread, or having to sacrifice your son. A Christian is saved by Christ's righteousness. The Law could not save anyone, it was not the Law's purpose or design. It was designed to show what sin is. People were saved by faith in God, before the law, such as abraham, Noah etc.
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Luke 16:19-31 gives us a clue as to what happened to people before Jesus when they died. As to the conditions that determined whether you went to hades or the place called Abraham's bosom, I'm not sure, though it is clear that many made it to Abraham's bosom. This seemed to be the equivalent to what Catholic's refer to as purgatory, but seemingly much more pleasant than the Catholic description. This also seemed to only apply to those under the Old Covenant, as Jesus entered into Abraham's bosom to raise the dead, as was noted when many of the fathers of old were seen walking around Israel after Jesus' resurrection.
For many generations, God showed Himself to the children of Israel, He manifested Himself to their eyes, to their minds, to their ears, to their hearts. His glory filled the temple in Jerusalem for many years, until God removed it, and then restored it again, only to remove it yet again. God sent prophets and hostile armies and kings and judges and still the people did not believe, but for a few.
It is said in the prophets that only a remnant of the house of Israel will be saved. This is repeated in the letters to the church. During the reign of Christ on the earth, the house of Israel will be worshiping in the temple, carrying our sacrifices in the temple, following the ordinances as shown by the prophet Ezekiel. The last few chapters of this prophet's message concern this restoration of Israel to their old form of worship, only with the Lord in attendance.
Still, they will have to find the place in their heart to let Jesus have His throne there, just as we have. This is what has shown the saved of the Lord from the beginning of time.
It is said in the prophets that only a remnant of the house of Israel will be saved. This is repeated in the letters to the church. During the reign of Christ on the earth, the house of Israel will be worshiping in the temple, carrying our sacrifices in the temple, following the ordinances as shown by the prophet Ezekiel. The last few chapters of this prophet's message concern this restoration of Israel to their old form of worship, only with the Lord in attendance.
Still, they will have to find the place in their heart to let Jesus have His throne there, just as we have. This is what has shown the saved of the Lord from the beginning of time.
There was a place called Hades which does not mean hell (Acts 2:31). It means "place of the dead". This place was separated into 2 parts - Hades and Death (Revelation 1:18).
One part is for the righteous (Hades), one for the wicked (Death). Between the two parts was a great chasm that could not be crossed. (luke 16:26)
When Christ died he descended into Hades and released the righteous souls there (ephesians 4:9)
One part is for the righteous (Hades), one for the wicked (Death). Between the two parts was a great chasm that could not be crossed. (luke 16:26)
When Christ died he descended into Hades and released the righteous souls there (ephesians 4:9)
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The answer is faith. Their faith was counted to them for righteousness. Faith in the Word of God spoken. There faith however was under the cloud and in need of teaching aids. Seeing glimmers of the purposes of God but not fully grasping it. Even so...They believed God, that the Serpent's head would be crushed and that the curse of Death would be lifted. Everything spoken after that initial promise has that at its center. God sends the flood but preserves the promise of the seed by keeping Noah and his family alive. Shem is blessed to be a blessing to the whole earth, Ham will serve Shem and Japheth and Japheth will dwell in the tents of Shem. The promise of the seed should be seen in the line of Shem. Abraham is born of that line and the promise comes to him that through Him all the nations would be blessed. Hebrews says much to elaborate the Christ seed in this OT context. On and on the promise of Christ is drawn out and with each Covenant renewal there is a greater revelation, understanding that God taught the OT people on two levels through physical representations and heavenly expectations. Hebrews says that Abraham sought a spiritual city and Jesus says that Abraham looked to HIS day. If you blink you will miss it in the OT passages. Hebrews speaks that though the land in the OT was considered to be a rest, that Joshua speaks of another expected rest. Blink and you will miss it in Ecclesiastes, where the subtle term "under the sun" acts like book ends to define the book - that this life, under the sun and apart from the divine, is incapable of giving meaning to itself.
Or how about the tabernacle which is patterned off what Moses was shown in Heaven and this too was a picture of the promise "God with us" - the incarnation. God dwelt in tents because his people did. Later He would dwell in a house because God's people did in the land. And of course eventually in the flesh because his people did.
Even Nicodemus is reprimanded by Christ when He does not understand the OT in relation to Christ. “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?" and then explains to Him that as the Bronze serpent was lifted up so must the son of Man. In other words, Nicodemus did you miss the point of what the Bronze serpent was teaching?
Before Jesus they were under a tutor to bring them to Christ, and they should have received the physical representations with faith for the heavenly expectations.
Its late, sorry if I rambled a little.
Or how about the tabernacle which is patterned off what Moses was shown in Heaven and this too was a picture of the promise "God with us" - the incarnation. God dwelt in tents because his people did. Later He would dwell in a house because God's people did in the land. And of course eventually in the flesh because his people did.
Even Nicodemus is reprimanded by Christ when He does not understand the OT in relation to Christ. “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?" and then explains to Him that as the Bronze serpent was lifted up so must the son of Man. In other words, Nicodemus did you miss the point of what the Bronze serpent was teaching?
Before Jesus they were under a tutor to bring them to Christ, and they should have received the physical representations with faith for the heavenly expectations.
Its late, sorry if I rambled a little.
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