The Old Testament saints did not have the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. They had the sacrifice of animals.
The salvation method during the Old Testament is different from the New Testament (which is by grace through faith in Ephesians 2:8-9). A Christian’s salvation through faith without works, is different from an Old Testament saint’s salvation which is based on faith and works.
It is a common misconception that the plan of salvation has always been the same through all ages. Some fundamentalists say that the Old Testament saints (Jewish people) had faith in the sacrifice of the animals. But this sacrifice is imperfect. That’s why their salvation was by faith and works. They had to have faith as well as works.
Leviticus 4:13 “And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;”
If they failed at their works, they would have to make an animal sacrifice (blood).
Leviticus 4:20,26 “And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them. And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.”
Many more verses all over the Old Testament showed that we required some blood sacrifice (works) to be forgiven for their sins. The following verse proves that the sacrifice of blood was required for the forgiveness of sins and to inherit eternal life.
Hebrews 9:19, 22 “For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”
Animal sacrifices are, however imperfect, as we can see in the following verses. However, Jesus Christ’s blood and sacrifice were one time and permanent. He is our ultimate sacrifice.
This is the gospel message that we receive in church age today, that believing in Christ Jesus to cleanse away our sins is the only requirement for salvation.
Hebrews 10:4,10-11 “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:”
In the following verse, God tells Moses that He forgives sins but the sins are not completely cleared.
Exodus 34:7 “Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. “
It does not make sense to think that the Old Testament saints were saved in the same way as New Testament saints.
The basis of salvation in age of grace now is a salvation by faith which has not been the case in any other times in history (Old Testament or tribulation and millennium). This is the only 2,000+ years period where the path to salvation requires faith alone, and no works. It is a gift of salvation.
For further reading,
– Progressive biblical revelation
– How to not make a mess out of Christian theology – Dispensationalism