Even though the new covenant is said to be established on better promises—one of the sustained themes in Hebrews—it isn’t fundamentally different; it is just rather the clearest expression of the covenant of grace. Old Testament believers possessed this as a promise. But we experience it in Christ. For its king and mediator has appeared (2 Timothy 1:10; Hebrews 9:26).

If salvation is by grace through faith in Christ, how were people saved in the Old Testament? We know that in the Old Testament, God gave his people the law, but we know that no one was saved or will be saved by the law (Hebrews 10:1-4; Romans 3:19-20). In answering this question, we must remember a fundamental biblical truth: salvation is never a work of man. It is always God’s work. Only God graciously intervenes in the conversion of man. However, the question still stands. How were people saved in the Old Testament?

The Bible speaks of salvation by grace, through faith in Christ Jesus, and we also truly know that it is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-10). Biblical theology plays a fundamental role because it helps us understand the unity of the Bible and its historical redemptive message. It also helps us understand the fundamental covenants that we find in the Bible. The assumptions offered by covenant theology are quite crucial for an accurate answer to this question.

Covenant Theology Gives Clarity

Covenant theology is one of the most significant distinguishing markers of Reformed theology. Reformed theology teaches three covenants: the covenant of works, the covenant of grace and the covenant of redemption (or pactum salutis). We can put the latter aside for now since it’s the covenant within the Godhead and not between God and man.

Concerning the covenant of works with Adam, the Westminster Confession of Faith teaches: that the covenant of works was the first covenant God made with man, “in which life was promised to Adam, and in him to his posterity, upon condition of perfect personal obedience” (Genesis 2:17; 3:10; Romans 5:12-14).

The covenant of grace, on the other hand, here God freely offers to sinners life and salvation through Jesus Christ. He also promises the Holy Spirit to the elect to give them the willingness and ability to believe. The covenant of works was broken by sin, becoming useless to lead to life. Therefore, God was pleased to reveal the promise of Christ, the seed of the woman, as the means of calling the elect, and generating in them faith and repentance. In this promise, the essence of the gospel was revealed and is made effectual for the conversion and salvation of sinners.

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