How were Old Testament saints saved before Jesus?

1. Understanding the Necessity of Salvation

Salvation entails deliverance from the penalty of sin and restoration to right relationship with the Creator. From the earliest chapters of Scripture, it is evident that humankind’s disobedience introduced separation from God (Genesis 3). By necessity, therefore, redemption must come from beyond mortal effort. This applies not only in Jesus’ era but also throughout history, including the days before the Messiah’s incarnation.

2. The Principle of Faith in God’s Promise

From the outset, faith in the revealed word of the Creator is central. Genesis 15:6 states, “Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Here, Abraham’s faith answers the question of how individuals in Old Testament times were declared righteous. His confidence was not a general optimism but an active trust in divine promises.

This principle of living faith is reiterated in Habakkuk 2:4: “Behold the proud; his soul is not upright in him. But the righteous will live by his faith.” In subsequent centuries, prophets and teachers preserved this teaching. Old Testament saints placed their reliance on God’s revelation, ultimately pointing to the coming Messiah—even if they did not experience His arrival within their lifetimes.

3. Prefiguration in the Sacrificial System

The sacrificial system instituted in the Law of Moses symbolically foreshadowed a greater sacrifice (Exodus and Leviticus). Offerings of animals and the sprinkling of blood addressed ritual purity and atonement, but these practices could not fully eradicate sin’s penalty (Hebrews 10:4). Rather, they were continual reminders of humanity’s need for an ultimate, once-for-all atonement. In Hebrews 9:22, we read, “...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” These sacrificial patterns acted as visible signposts of the final sacrifice to come.

4. The Forward-Looking Nature of Old Testament Faith

Even though the Messiah had not yet come in Old Testament times, believers anticipated God’s promised Redeemer. Jesus Himself spoke about Abraham’s prescient joy: “Your father Abraham was overjoyed to see My day. He saw it and was glad” (John 8:56). In one sense, Old Testament saints drew future benefits of Christ’s sacrifice into their present experience, trusting in a promise they understood progressively.

This future-oriented faith is consistently underscored by the New Testament writer of Hebrews, who highlights that these figures “did not receive the promised” salvation in its fullness during their earthly lives (Hebrews 11:39–40). Yet God honored their faith, imputing righteousness to them on the basis of the once-for-all sacrifice that would eventually come in history.

5. Illustrations of Old Testament Justification

Throughout the Old Testament, we see examples of saints who lived under the blessings of true faith:

- Noah: Genesis 6:9 describes him as “a righteous man, blameless in his generation.” His faithful obedience in building the ark was evidence of trust in God’s warning about coming judgment.

- Job: Though not an Israelite, Job’s personal devotion and uprightness (Job 1:1) reveal that salvation is grounded not in nationality or perfect deeds but in believing God’s revelation and walking in reverence.

- King David: He wrote in Psalm 32:1–2, “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered! Blessed is the man whose iniquity the LORD does not count against him.” David knew first-hand the joy of divine forgiveness by faith in God’s steadfast love.

6. The Necessity of Christ’s Sacrifice for All Ages

Although Old Testament believers were indeed credited righteousness, it was ultimately Christ’s sacrifice that justified them completely. Romans 3:25–26 teaches, “God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness…so that He may be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” This scriptural principle spans both Testaments: sin is covered only by Christ’s blood, even for those who lived before the Incarnation.

This coherent teaching is visible in the Dead Sea Scrolls, which reflect a Hebrew worldview anticipating God’s vindication of His people and the arrival of a Messiah figure. These ancient manuscripts align with the canonical text, underscoring how the ancient hope of deliverance converged in the promise of a coming Redeemer.

7. Unity of Scripture and Consistent Witness

No contradictory teachings exist within the corpus of Scripture. Instead, the unfolding revelation in the Law and Prophets meets its fulfillment when God Himself enters history (John 1:14). The reliability of the Old Testament text is supported by archaeological finds—such as the Dead Sea Scrolls—even though they predate Jesus by centuries. Such discoveries reinforce confidence that what Old Testament saints expected was the same Messianic deliverance that the New Testament proclaims.

Furthermore, documents like the writings of the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus mention the traditions of the Hebrew people anticipating a Deliverer. These external sources corroborate the Old Testament framework of waiting for a saving figure sent by God.

8. Conclusion: Old Testament Salvation Through Faith in God’s Promise

Old Testament saints were saved by grace through faith in God’s revelation, anticipating the future atoning work of the Messiah. Their sacrifices and rituals pointed beyond themselves to the day when the true “Lamb of God” (John 1:29) would serve as the flawless, final sacrifice. Although they did not see the Messiah on earth, their belief in God’s promise was sufficient for righteous standing before Him.

With Christ’s coming, the mechanism of salvation that they had long awaited was fully revealed. The sin debt left pending was paid once and for all at the cross, accomplishing what centuries of animal sacrifices and human striving could never complete. As Scripture testifies, this was God’s design from the beginning—uniting Old and New Testament believers under one ultimate plan of redemption.