Old Testament Salvation?

“Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their revilings. For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool, but my righteousness will be forever, and my salvation to all generations.”

Isaiah 51:7-8

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We often forget that salvation was not just a New Testament church concept. Yahweh continually has saved his people throughout the ages. Where do we get the idea that salvation is only a concept Jesus taught? Zechariah prophesied that Yahweh would visit His people and redeem them by raising up the horn of salvation, Jesus, to remember his holy covenant, and “might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days”. The name “Jesus”, in proper form, actually means salvation of Yahweh, Yeshua.

Luk 1:67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
Luk 1:68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people
Luk 1:69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
Luk 1:70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
Luk 1:71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;
Luk 1:72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
Luk 1:73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
Luk 1:74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,
Luk 1:75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
Luk 1:76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
Luk 1:77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,
Luk 1:78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
Luk 1:79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace

John the Baptist’s father prophesied over John the Baptist, “filled with the Holy Spirit”. How is this possible? I thought Pentecostals were the only ones filled with the Holy Spirit after the day of Pentecost? I am joking, of course, but that is often the mentality found in Christian circles. We can understand how Zechariah was filled by the Spirit quite easily. He was obedient.

Luk 1:5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
Luk 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.

How did Elizabeth and Zechariah walk blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord before Jesus was even born? Many in Christianity today believe it is not possible to walk blamelessly in all the commandments after Jesus died and rose from the dead, yet here are the parents of John “walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord”. There are more verses that could be shocking to the average Christian who does not study the Bible.

Eze 33:14 Again, though I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right,
Eze 33:15 if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
Eze 33:16 None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live.
Eze 33:17 “Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just,’ when it is their own way that is not just.
Eze 33:18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it.
Eze 33:19 And when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he shall live by this.
Eze 33:20 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways.”

If a wicked person turns from his wicked ways, his sins will not be remembered, according to Yahweh speaking through the prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel prophesied this over 400 years before the Messiah walked the Earth. For all the people that hold to the doctrine of eternal security it appears the reciprocal is also true.

Eze 33:13 Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die.

There is no concept of time with Yahweh; therefore, because we put Jesus on a timeline in our mortal world, it does not mean that Yahweh is bound by it. Note these two passages:

Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Lev 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Yahweh gave the blood on the altar for an atonement of sin. It was the lamb that was slain from the foundation of the Earth. Looking at the Hebrew in Leviticus 17:11 is also very telling. The Hebrew actually says “he and I”. Compare the Strong’s numbers between the Hebrew and English.

Lev 17:11 For H3588  the life H5315  of the flesh H1320  is in the blood: H1818  and I H589 have given H5414  it to you upon H5921  the altar H4196

Lev 17:11 כי H3588  נפשׁ H5315  הבשׂר H1320  בדם H1818 הוא H1931  ואני H589 נתתיו H5414  לכם על H5921  המזבח H4196  לכפר H3722  על H5921  נפשׁתיכם H5315  כי H3588  הדם H1818  הוא H1931  בנפשׁ H5315  יכפר׃ H3722

In the English version there is no H1931, which is the word for “he”. The formatting is wrong from copying and pasting the Hebrew, but the point is still obvious that H1931 is missing from the English translations.

H1931
היא / הוּא
hû’ / hı̂y’
BDB Definition:
1) he, she, it (pronoun third person singular)
1a) himself (with emphasis)
1b) resuming subject with emphasis
1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)
1d) (anticipating subject)
1e) (emphasizing predicate)
1f) that, it (neuter)

Yahweh has always provided the atonement for sin through Yeshua, His salvation and living word. Our job is to be obedient to the commandments and statutes of Yahweh. These commandments, and turning from evil is not just Old Testament messaging. It is the only message. Here are some verses that show the message preached in the New Testament. First, John the Baptist tells us what we are to do.

Mat 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
Mat 3:2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Mat 3:3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’”

Luk 3:9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Luk 3:10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?”
Luk 3:11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”
Luk 3:12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”
Luk 3:13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.”
Luk 3:14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”

Jesus, or in Hebrew, Yeshua, had a similar message.

Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Mat 19:16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
Mat 19:17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”

Peter also told us to repent. Sins are blotted out when we repent and stop sinning. Again, this is not just a New Testament concept.

Act 3:17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
Act 3:18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.
Act 3:19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
Act 3:20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,
Act 3:21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

Abraham, who lived hundreds of years before the Ten Commandments were given at Mount Horeb, was also obedient to the commands of Yahweh. Speaking to Abraham’s son Issac, Yahweh explained he was bestowing many good benefits on all the nations because of one man, Abraham, being obedient. What if we were all obedient like Abraham? Ah, but the church says it is impossible or even wrong to try, so we continue in our sins, being denied the blessings.

Gen 26:4 I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,
Gen 26:5 because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

The whole theme of the Bible is turning away from disobedience and following the commandments of Yahweh. Christianity has built a doctrine that deceives people into living in disobedience, yet at the same time, thinking they are “living for Jesus”. Jesus said to repent and follow the Ten Commandments, just as John the Baptist and the apostles taught. This was prophesied on the page right before the New Testament, in most Bibles.

Mal 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.
Mal 4:2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.
Mal 4:3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts.
Mal 4:4 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.
Mal 4:5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.
Mal 4:6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

When Yahweh says He will send the prophet Elijah, this is talking about John the Baptist. Jesus tells us this.

Mat 11:10 This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’
Mat 11:11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Mat 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.
Mat 11:13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,
Mat 11:14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.

There is more clarification that Elijah in Malachi, prophesied to come, was John the Baptist.

Mat 17:10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?”
Mat 17:11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things.
Mat 17:12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.”
Mat 17:13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

Just as Jesus had a job to complete on Earth, we also have a job. The job Jesus had was to clarify prophesy while fulfilling it, make atonement for the sins of Israel with His blood, and point people back to the covenant. Our job is to be obedient.

Act 3:22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.
Act 3:23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’
Act 3:24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.
Act 3:25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’
Act 3:26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

We are obedient through the Spirit of Grace and shown the truth through the Spirit of Truth. This is something that I was never taught in church and had to learn from studying scripture after working towards obedience through faith. If a person doesn’t believe in Yahweh enough to do what He says, then that person really doesn’t have faith. It is told to us plainly. First, the Spirit of Grace is found mentioned in Hebrews.

Heb 10:26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
Heb 10:28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
Heb 10:29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?
Heb 10:30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

By deliberately being disobedient we can outrage the Spirit of grace. Grace is defined as the divine influence upon the heart. This is the means by which the Spirit enables us to be obedient.

G5485
χάρις
charis
Thayer Definition:
1) grace
1a) that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
2) good will, loving-kindness, favour
2a) of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues

Outraging the Spirit of grace, in my mind, would be similar to blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Sinning deliberately brought death if there were two or three witnesses according to Torah, but here it is viewed worse in light of the knowledge of the Messiah’s atonement.

The Spirit of Truth is given to us when we are obedient. Jesus tells us this Himself.

Joh 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Joh 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
Joh 14:17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
Joh 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Joh 14:19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
Joh 14:20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
Joh 14:21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

Being obedient unlocks the truth of scripture. Repent and receive the Spirits of grace and truth. The person that does this will experience a changed life.