Old Testament Salvation vs New Testament Salvation

Ezekial 18:20-28

Introduction

  It is important as Christians that we be careful not to get caught up into Cliches. Cliches if not searched out can often lead us into poor doctrine. Some cliches that I often heard by my Baptist brothers often sound good but don't always measure up to scripture. Some of these cliches I have even used in the past, but upon further study, realize they are not consistent. Cliches such as, "If He is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all." This cliches is obviously misguided because Jesus is certainly not worshiped by everyone or else there would be no need for witnessing the gospel. Another is " God loves sinners but hates their sin." I have often used this one mistakenly in times past. But after reading Psalm 5:5, Deuteronomy 7:10, Psalms 11:5, 139:21 and James 4:4 I can see God has great disdain for sinners not just their sin. (Although it must be said that God wants to see all sinners come to repentance and receive the Lord Jesus Christ and restore their relationship with Him.) But, the old cliche I am most concerned with this morning is, " People in Old Testament were saved by looking forward to the cross, while people in the New testament were saved by looking back to the cross." Lets take a look at scripture and see if this stament really holds true.

Old Testament Salvation

 Ezekial 18:20-28

A. There is clearly two types of people in the O.T.

                                 1. The righteous.

                                              Those who kept the commandments of God, and stayed the coarse through out their life. Those that love and serve God.

                                2. The wicked

                                           Those that do not.

B. Salvation was for the righteous not for the wicked.

                               1. They didn't know anything about Jesus Christ as we do today. True, they were waiting for Messiah to come but as all things Jewish they assumed that to be a physical restoration of Israel, not salvation by mere faith alone. All though they had to wait(In Abraham's Bosom) for Christ to come to clean them from sin, they were held over only if they were righteous and not wicked. The wicked were cast into hell just as all who reject God today(see Lazarus and the rich man, Luke chapter 16).

                              2. Salvation for them was a matter of having a willing heart and physically obeying God. Obedience in the O.T. is stressed more than faith, which is why the word faith is only seen twice in all the O.T. and in those cases not used for the saving of the soul.

                             3. "It is true, that ultimately their sins are cleared by the blood of Christ, but they put themselves into the category by their obedience to the truth dispensed to them, and their obedience of it - works." David E. Walker (The Believers Guide to Dispensationalism)  

 New Testament Salvation

Ephesians 2:4-9  

A. New Testament Salvation is strictly by Faith.

                                1. For the purpose of showing the riches of his grace and kindness to the ages to come he did not make us to follow every statute of the Law.(v. 7)

                               2. Nothing we can do to earn salvation.

                               3. It is Christ who saves us, we are made part of Him and his righteousness.

Why It Is Important To Understand This Difference.

A. To recognize our unique opportunity.

                                1. Never before has pure grace been used for salvation and it never will again.

                                2. In the time of "Jacobs Trouble" (or great tribulation), God will once again be dealing with the Jewish nation. And, he will once again be reinstating works salvation. The book of "Revelation" is loaded with the idea that they must endure to the end. (Revelation 20:4)

                                3. With the church gone, family and loved ones who have yet to deal with Christ, and accept the free gift of salvation by grace, will be even lest likely to get saved when they once again have to earn it by works or even worse be beheaded for believing.

Conclusion

 Get Saved Today, Dont Waste This Once in Eternity Opportunity!