How Were Those Under The Law Saved?

Since we are talking about saints under the law let's look at something about dispensations first. My definition is a period of time, not necessarily abruptly started or stoped when the householder gives out his household rules or laws for it to be governed by. The owner and ruler of the household has the right to change these requirements dispensed anytime he sees fit for different people in different times. He could change them in the present period that is being ruled, but then he would not be a just householder. Hebrews 3:1-6 says:

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Notice that the author is differentiating between the dispensation that Moses was under and the one that we are under. Why try to put the house of Moses into the house of Christ which is us, his body or visa versa. That is exactly what you do when you try to say that everyone was saved the same way all the way across the history of man. Paul tells us in Ephesians 3:2 which dispensation we are in:

If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

Do you understand what is going on with that? Paul was given the authority and responsibility to give us God's law for this dispensation. Why did he say it in that way? If it is all the same in every dispensation why did Paul say it is "the dispensation of the grace of God..?" Easy, things that are different are not the same. If you get that little rule down it will help you tremendously in "rightly dividing the word of truth." God had Paul call it that to set it off from all other dispensations, because it is grace plus faith only, not of works plus something like the other ones. There must be and is a difference in them.

One more thing before we get started. We cannot simply say that all dispensations are completely different. Some things are the same in all of them. For instance, after Adam fell, his fallen nature is carried out in the seed throughout history and will continue. Another, as I stated, is grace goes all the way across the Bible. If someone messes with the Book in any dispensation, except ours, they lose their salvation, plain and simple, cut and dry, it is said, and that's that!

OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS UNDER THE LAW

Remember when dealing with the OT saints, there was the righteous and the wicked. God knows the heart of man and it is him that saves. Basically the righteous were the ones that attempted to keep the law and didn't go a whoring after other gods. The wicked did just the opposite; their heart was far from God. Still, God in his everlovingkindness and mercy didn't, doesn't, and will never want any man to perish. He has and does everything to see to it that wicked man has every opportunity according to his own just nature for man to get saved. It was grace as always that saved the saints in question here, but requirements had to be met to keep this grace. They of course could not keep the law, no one can, as Romans 3:10-12,19-20 says:

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one....Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stoped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

It appears that the last verse would settle the issue, that no one was, is, and will ever be justified by the law. That is true in the context that Paul is speaking of. No one by the law itself can be justified. Go back to verse 19 though where Paul says, "we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law." You see that; Moses was under the law. So, the law does pertain to those under it. David said in Psalm 103:18-19:

But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

I understand that. The context of Psalm 103 is salvation and the Lord's mercy in saving. Notice the verse says that there are requirements to do in order to receive the Lord's mercy and righteousness. They had to "fear him," "keep his covenant," "remember his commandments," and "do them."

You may want to say the context is not solely the law justifying, but the context is that faith alone is what merits grace to have the righteousness of Christ. For one thing, where does it mention the righteousness of Christ in the context. In the same chapter, Romans 4:5-6 it is says:

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,"

Before you start jumping to what you think it says, listen (1 Samuel 9:27)! It does not say, "the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe," does it? (Romans 3:22) No, it says that, "God imputeth righteousness without works," for belief in, "him that justifieth the ungodly." (I thank God he does justify me, the ungodly!) Back to the context. If you say that the context is believing in the Lord Jesus Christ to be sealed in his body, even the church forevermore without works, you are wrong. Paul is simply describing that for belief it was counted as righteousness for the OT saints. He is explaining from chapter three how we can have the righteousness of Christ without works leading up to chapter five where he goes into more detail. How can I say this you may ask? Because it with your interpretatation you have Paul contradicting himself in Romans 2:6-9, 13:

Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Paul just finished telling us in chapter two that eternal life for the OT saints was rendered, "to every man according to his deeds," that, "the doers of the law shall be justified." You see how comparing Scripture with Scripture is a must. It is how you prevent from having a private interpretation which according to your beliefs that is exactly what you are doing -- making up your own interpretation going contrary to the word of God! Not good!!!

In James 2:21-25 he also calls this works and faith to be justified when Isaac was being offered by Abraham. James tells us that Abraham got saved because he believed God and continues to tell us that was not enough. Righteousness alone would not keep him saved. He had to do a work to get justified and the same with the saints under the law like Rahab:

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

Now, you might say, "Hold on brother, now you are trying to tell me the Bible has contradictions in it." Yes I am, indeed I am! But, not that it contradicts itself, just that dispensations will contradict each other at times. Look at it this way, would you consider telling someone that if they built an ark and got into it they would be saved into the body of Christ? I trow not! Well, that contradicts Romans 10:8-13 doesn't it? It's just a little tougher to see what we are talking about now.

You may also try to say as many do, "No that's not right. James is not saying we are justified by works." Guess what? I wholeheartedly agree. James is not talking about us, but OT saints, isn't he? You may still try to say that if our faith is alive it will produce good works. Tell me, where did James say that? He didn't, did he? Did he? Someone told you that didn't they? It is a no-no to twist Scripture to make it fit your belief system. That is private interpretation, especially without taking the context and other Scripture into consideration. Read again what James said, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified..." I sure do see it for the OT saints and those in the great tribulation who the Book is mainly directed to.

That is another study altogether though. For now, know that it is purposely directed to the Jews, even, "to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad." (James 1:1) Please know also, that I am not saying that the Book is not for us at all. We DO NOT slice up the Bible into little pieces taking what is intended primarily for the church and throw the rest away for, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

THE KING WITH ETERNAL SECURITY UNDER THE LAW!

I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever....Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.....And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. (2 Samuel 7:14-16; Isaiah 55:3; Ezekiel 37:24-25)

In order for king David to lose his salvation, God would have to break his covenant with David, even his promise to him. Let's look at something though so we can see a difference in the way he was saved and the way we are. David prayed in Psalm 51:9 and 11:

Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

David knew that his sin could cause God to take his holy Spirit from him like he did Saul. God never did it though. The Spirit of God remained in him till he died. David was not sealed in the Spirit as you and I are.

HOW ABOUT CONTROVERSIAL SAUL?

And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly....But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. (1 Samuel 11:6, 16:14-15)

The Spirit of the Lord never came back upon Saul. An evil spirit came and left after the Lord's Spirit departed. (1 Samuel 16:23, 18:10, 19:9) Saul died never having the Spirit of God upon him again. I would say that this is grounds to say that Saul lost his salvation, but that's not all. Taking a look again at 2 Samuel 7:15 we see, "But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee." This I does say he lost it though. The very context of 2 Samuel 7:12-17 is everlasting salvation. So, verse seven says that David was saved and Saul was not. Continuing on in 1 Samuel 28:7, 11, 13, 16 we find:

Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her....Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel...And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth....Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?

Some say it was not Samuel that was called up, but an evil spirit, a god little the, "gods ascending out of the earth." The Bible says in a few places in the chapter that Samuel did say something as you see above. I will go with the Bible; I believe it was Samuel I say that to show you this 1 Samuel 28:19:

Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

That is where is where part of the contraversy comes from. The ones that believe Saul got saved say that since Samuel was saved and in Abraham's bosom, then Saul must be saved. At first glance, that sounds good to me. The reason I have a problem with it though is because everything else points to him losing it and the place where I believe it says he lost it. The Spirit of the Lord departed him, he died with evil an spirit going to and from him, in context God took his eternal saving grace and mercy from him, and then killed him. Furthermore, Saul was, "was God's enemy." Tell me, how can an enemy of God in the OT be saved? I sure now how he can under our salvation plan, praise the Lord!

So, it appears that we have a contradiction here, but do we? The Bible says he lost it in one place, but it appears that Samuel was saying that he didn't. I believe there is an answer for this. Hell is one place, but has different "compartments" in it. You know about when the richman, "...cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." (Luke 16:24) The great gulf could be talked across. Now, remember when Samuel was being brought up there were also, "gods ascending out of the earth?" We see that evil spirits were brought up along with him. So, just because Samuel said that Saul would be with him does not mean that he would be with him in Abraham's bosom, but he would down there that day.

The point in all that was to show you how an OT saint could have his salvation and lose it. Saul once had the mercy of God, but lost it with evidence of God's Spirit leaving him. To say that an OT saint is saved the same way we are, even born again, is to say that we are not sealed in the Spirit which is ridiculous. They were not sealed in the Spirit as you saw and we are, therefore they were not born again. Sometimes the Spirit is in them, on them, upon them, comes and leaves. See the following sometime: Num. 27:18; 1 Samuel 10:9-10, 16:14, 19:23.

Does The Lord Have Anything Else to Add?

In John 8:21-24 he says:

Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

We see if someone dies in their sins they will not get saved, period! That's what the Lord says, isn't it? Now, let's compare Scripture with Scripture and see what the Lord says about it under the law. Keep in mind what we talked about in reference to the righteous and the wicked when you read Ezekiel 18:24-28; 33:12-16:

But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

The Lord said that, not me. The OT saint that turned from the Lord and started committing adultery against him: died in his sins. The Lord said in John if you, "die in your sins," you are going to straight to hell! Don't argue with me about it. That is between God and you. He laid down the law for his various households, not me.

Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.

My, my! Getting "saved" by their own righteousness! Who has ever heard of such a thing? That is what the Book says! Don't go twisting it or try to bring the Romans back into it. That's not the way it works. As I said earlier though, it is the grace of God that got them saved in the first place, but their obedience to what God required them to do is what justified them and kept them in his saving grace.

There is one more thing to look at here and that is some of the differences between the dispensation of the law and the one of grace. Let's look at them briefly:

     a) They believed in they would inherit the promise
        land!
     b) We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ!

     a) They had to do works to stay saved to the promise
        land coming in the near future.

                 Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

     b) We get saved to heaven for our belief alone plus
        nothing else?

     a) They were saved to Abraham's bosom for future
        inheritance of the Promised Land during the
        Millennium?
     b) We are saved to our heavenly home immediately?

     a) Their sins will be forgiven, taken out of remission
        at the return of the Lord!
     b) Our sins are nailed to the cross and are forgiven at
        the time of our salvation!
        Spirit!

     a) The holy Spirit came and left the OT saints!
     b) We are sealed!

     a) They were circumcised with the circumcision made
        with hands!
     b) We are circumcised with the Spirit of God, a
        Spiritual circumcision!

     a) It was possible for them to lose their salvation!
     b) We cannot under any circumstance!

     a) They are not saved into the body of Christ!
     b) We are!

     a)  Their promises are forevermore!
     b)  So are ours!

CONCLUSION

As I hope you saw, the two dispensations are worlds apart. the OT saints had to work to keep their salvation and we do not. Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and being sealed in the Spirit was unheard of by them. We are even believing in different things and have a different inheritance. They would think you were nuts if you tried to tell them that their sins are nailed to the cross, past, present, and future, even that they were eternally secure. Imagine telling them that they are sanctified, that they sit at the very present in heavenly places with the Lord! They would probably exile me if I told them one day soon, "the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." Especially if I said, the Lord is going to shout, "Jody, Come up hither," and I would shoot straight up there faster than a twinkling eye. Oh, I can wait for that day I love, even his glorious appearing!

! ! ! EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS ! ! !

Brethren, do you take for granted your salvation in this dispensation? I know at times I do. How blessed we are that we do not have to fear losing our salvation! But remember:

For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required:

God gave his only Son for us to live, even for him to die on the cross. There isn't a price we could pay that would be worthy our gaining or keeping our salvation. There isn't anything we can do to make it all equal. But we can always give our all to the Lord.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

May God keep you safe in his grace and will, blessing you always in our soon returning Lord Jesus Christ, even God! To him be the glory for ever and ever! Amen.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!