-Contrary to what certain people might believe or what has been popularized by authors such as C.I. Scofield, the Jews were never saved by keeping the Mosaic Law. The performing of animal sacrifices did not resolve the problem of sin for the Jewish people. In other words, the basis of justification before God has always been by the grace of God through trust in Him, even prior to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. There is no transition of justification by works to grace through faith recorded in the Scriptures.
-Isaiah 55:1 communicates a theology of grace alone. Spiritual strength and joy are given to us freely in Christ. Isaiah 53:11 explains that the righteous servant (interpreted as Jesus) justifies many through his suffering and knowledge, emphasizing grace and faith rather than human actions. Micah 7:18 highlights God's unique and unparalleled nature, as He delights in showing mercy, forgiving sins, and not holding onto His anger forever, which underscores His grace and compassion.
-It would be inconsistent to believe that justification during the Old Covenant was on the basis of keeping the Law and that, in the New Covenant, it is by the grace of God apart from works of merit. Both assert the sinfulness of mankind (1 Kings 8:46; Psalm 14:1-2; Romans 3:9-23). If we had to earn a right standing before God by performing good deeds even in part, then no one on earth would be going to heaven because he requires perfect obedience and no one lives up to that standard of righteousness (Deuteronomy 27:26; Galatians 3:10). The penalty for sin is death, and the genealogies of the Old Testament bear this point out.
- Exegetical Commentary Of Genesis 15:6 And God Imputing Righteousness To Abraham:
-In Genesis chapters 12 and 15, Abraham believed God according to the promises and new revelation pertaining to the gospel. He would be given descendants as numerous as the stars. This man's faith was the instrument of his justification before God (Genesis 15:6). How could Abraham be justified by keeping the Law when he lived approximately 500 years before it was given to the Jews? Moreover, he was in Gentile territory when God spoke to him, which leaves open the door to the gospel message which includes both Jew and Gentile.
-God showed Himself to Abraham and promised Him multitudes of spiritual descendants who would become so through faith. In response, he trusted in God. He took Him at His word. God considered Abraham to be righteous because of his trust in Him. That status was accorded to him by faith. It was really that simple. Abraham was declared righteous by God because he believed the promises that He made. Works are nowhere mentioned in Genesis 15:6. Thus, they had nothing to do with God's pronouncement.
-It was his faith in the Living God that marked out his life from that of other believers. Just as only God is able to number the stars of our galaxy, so only He is able to raise up descendants from Abraham. Only He can bring about regeneration of the human heart. Abraham did not have a righteous status given to Him by God because of his obedience, but that he believed His word. It was God who considered him righteous, not that he did something to deserve being called so. The only kind of "work" that believers do which is accepted by God is that of faith (John 6:28-29).
-The phrase "he believed in the Lord" (v'he'emin ba'YHWH) signifies a deep, trustful belief or faith in the Lord. This term reflects not just an intellectual assent, but a heartfelt trust and reliance upon God. The second part, "He counted it to him" (va'yachsheveha lo), indicates an accounting or reckoning, reinforcing the idea that God considered Abraham’s faith as equivalent to righteousness. The term tzedakah, meaning righteousness, here implies a moral status or standing before God. Thus, this verse encapsulates the concept that Abraham’s righteousness was not due to any works or adherence to law, which came centuries later, but solely due to his faith.
- Abraham And King David In Romans Chapter Four:
-In his epistle to the Romans, the Apostle Paul uses Abraham and David as examples of people who were saved by faith in God apart from the merit of works (Romans 4:2-8). These people lived during the course of Old Testament history, which shows continuity between the Old and New Testaments concerning God's plan of redemption. We are all justified in the same manner: by His grace through faith. It is not by works of righteousness which we have done. Furthermore, Paul quoted Psalm 32:1-2, thereby proving that King David experienced the full forgiveness of sins as do believers under the New Covenant upon repentance.
- Abraham And Galatians Chapter Three:
-Paul in Galatians chapter three uses Abraham as an example of justification before God without consideration of good works. In fact, it says that he was given the gospel in embryonic form (Galatians 3:8-9). We become descendants of Abraham through faith in the promises of God, and it has always been that way. We receive the blessings that God had promised to him. We are to trust in Him, just as Abraham did. The promised seed is Jesus Christ Himself. He fulfilled the demands of the Law in our place so that we did not have to, nor could we.
- The Purpose Of The Mosaic Law Was Never To Save Anyone:
-The Law functioned as the blueprint for Israel (i.e. morals, ethics, worship, administering justice, etc.). Its designated purpose was never to save anyone (Acts 13:38-39; Romans 3:20). Nor did it have the power to do so. It was to make us conscious of our sinful nature (Galatians 3:22-26; Romans 10:4). The Law points out our need of a Redeemer. The moral aspects of the Law are a reflection of God's character and transcend the boundaries of national Israel. The Law is "weak," not because of anything wrong with it, but man's sinful nature (Romans 8:3). The only thing that it can do is condemn us. Christ is now God's standard of righteousness. He embodies the fulfillment of the Law.
- What About The Animal Sacrifices Performed During The Old Testament?:
-The Old Testament sacrificial system never really took away sin. The priests who performed the sacrifices were themselves imperfect beings. The debt of sin could only be fully dealt with by Christ Himself (Hebrews 10:10-18). He is everything that the priests and their sacrifices are not. The offerings of animals were only temporary "coverings" for sin. These multiple sacrifices prefigured the once-for-all sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:1). He fulfilled the Old Covenant. Sins were, to borrow monetary language, put on credit as God forgave them and Christ would make atonement at some point in the future.
- The Gospel And The Old Testament:
-Right after the fall of Adam and Eve, we see the promise of a coming Savior (Genesis 3:15). In fact, the Old Testament describes this Person in many different ways. Examples would include "Ruler" (Micah 5:2), "Counselor" (Isaiah 9:6), "Suffering Servant" (Isaiah 53), and "The Lord Our Righteousness" (Jeremiah 23:6).
-Old Testament saints knew about the coming of a promised Redeemer (Job 19:25), though they did not know who specifically He would be. The Jews were saved in the same way as we are today: by grace through faith in God.
-This is the teaching that God did not reveal His entire plan of redemption to man at one point in time. In other words, the clarity concerning God's intent to save repentant sinners increased as further divine revelation was penned (Romans 16:25-26; 1 Corinthians 2:7-8; Hebrews 1:1-2; 1 Peter 1:10-12; Ephesians 3:1-6). Examples of progressive revelation would include the Trinity and the acceptance of the Gentiles as being a part of the people of God. Both Testaments are equally inspired and important (Psalm 119:89; 2 Timothy 3:15-17). The requirement for salvation has always been trusting in God. Jesus Christ has always been the object of salvation.
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