Salvation in the Old Testament - Online Christian Library
Salvation in the Old Testament - Online Christian Library
Salvation in the Old Testament - Online Christian Library
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John S. Fe<strong>in</strong>berg, “<strong>Salvation</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Testament</strong>” Tradition and <strong>Testament</strong>. Essays <strong>in</strong> Honor of Charles LeeFe<strong>in</strong>berg. Chicago: Moody Press, 1981. Hbk. ISBN: 0802425445. pp.39-77.accepted, and <strong>the</strong> believer’s expression of his salvation. The first three are constant throughout alldispensations, whereas <strong>the</strong> latter two change. This approach, as we shall see, allows for unity ofsalvation without ignor<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> progress of revelation and God’s different adm<strong>in</strong>ister<strong>in</strong>g orders for<strong>the</strong> world. It should also be noted that <strong>the</strong> first item deals with <strong>the</strong> objective work of God whichprovides and pays for salvation so that it is available to be offered, whereas <strong>the</strong> latter four focuson items <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> subjective application of salvation to <strong>the</strong> believer and his life as abeliever.BASIS, OR GROUND, OF SALVATIONGod has graciously acted <strong>in</strong> an objective way so that man can be saved. What He has doneconstitutes <strong>the</strong> basis, or ground, of salvation. In o<strong>the</strong>r words, because of this act, God can extendsalvation to men at all times. The basis of salvation is noth<strong>in</strong>g o<strong>the</strong>r than God’s graciousprovision of <strong>the</strong> death of Christ. The reason that Christ’s death must be <strong>the</strong> basis is stated <strong>in</strong>Leviticus 17:11, accord<strong>in</strong>g to which blood must be shed, if <strong>the</strong>re is to be atonement for s<strong>in</strong> (cf.Heb. 9:22). But not just any blood fully and f<strong>in</strong>ally removes s<strong>in</strong>. If so, one could argue that <strong>the</strong>blood of sacrificial animals fully and completely removes s<strong>in</strong>. However, <strong>the</strong> writer of Hebrewsexplicitly states that <strong>the</strong> blood of bulls and goats could not take away s<strong>in</strong>, for only <strong>the</strong> blood ofChrist could do that (Heb. 10:4ff.). The implications of this verse for <strong>the</strong> significance of <strong>Old</strong><strong>Testament</strong> sacrifices will be discussed more fully later. At this po<strong>in</strong>t, suffice it to say that <strong>the</strong>verse implies that animal sacrifices could not <strong>in</strong> any dispensation be <strong>the</strong> ultimate basis for God’sremoval of s<strong>in</strong>. Moreover, <strong>the</strong>re is no <strong>in</strong>dication whatsoever <strong>in</strong> Scripture that <strong>the</strong> blood of ahuman be<strong>in</strong>g would atone for s<strong>in</strong>. Therefore, s<strong>in</strong>ce God demands <strong>the</strong> shedd<strong>in</strong>g of blood forremov<strong>in</strong>g s<strong>in</strong>, and s<strong>in</strong>ce no human or animal blood will suffice to atone for s<strong>in</strong> fully, <strong>the</strong> ultimateground, or basis, upon which God can offer salvation at any time <strong>in</strong> history has to be <strong>the</strong> sacrificeof Christ.Christ’s sacrifice is <strong>the</strong> ground, but what does that <strong>in</strong>volve? First, it does not mean that at alltimes <strong>in</strong> human history <strong>the</strong> death of Jesus Christ was already a historical fact. Though Goddecreed <strong>the</strong> event prior to history, it still had to be accomplished with<strong>in</strong> history. It did not becomea historical fact until it actually occurred. Second, claim<strong>in</strong>g that Christ’s[p.55]death is <strong>the</strong> ground of salvation does not mean that at all times <strong>in</strong> history God had revealed that<strong>the</strong> death of Jesus of Nazareth is <strong>the</strong> sole basis for grant<strong>in</strong>g salvation. It is most unlikely thatanyone knew that before His advent. Progressive revelation must be given its due. What is meantby say<strong>in</strong>g that Christ’s death is <strong>the</strong> ground of salvation is that from God’s perspective, <strong>the</strong>sacrifice of Christ is <strong>the</strong> objective act on <strong>the</strong> grounds of which God offers salvation <strong>in</strong> any age. Intry<strong>in</strong>g to understand how this can be so before <strong>the</strong> event occurs historically, we must dist<strong>in</strong>guishbetween God’s perspective and man’s. God has known about Christ’s death from all eternity.S<strong>in</strong>ce He decreed it, it was an accomplished fact <strong>in</strong> His th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g long before it was anaccomplished fact <strong>in</strong> history. Because God knows that <strong>the</strong> deed will be done (s<strong>in</strong>ce He decreedit), and because He sees all of history (<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> completed work of Christ) at once, God cangrant man salvation, even before <strong>the</strong> sacrifice is performed <strong>in</strong> history. There could never have