Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
From the time that Adam fell to our present day, nothing has changed as it pertains to the salvation of the human family, for the basic process remains the same with no change in the core principles whatsoever. After our first parents fell, the Lord then instructed them in the law of sacrifices, in which they were required to bring a lamb for their sins to be remitted. Nothing has changed, for we are still required to come with a lamb, The lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world. Let's read and compare:
Genesis 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect" ...
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
In the old testament dispensation the children of God were required to keep all of His laws and commandments, and again, absolutely nothing has changed, for those in the new testament era are also required to keep all of God's commandments. Let's read and compare:
Genesis 26:4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Again, in the old testament dispensation believers were saved by grace, which is the unmerited favor of God. Nothing has changed, because in the new testament times, the same grace of God that saved Noah and his family, is the same grace that now saves us from our sins, that's why our passage for today states that the grace of God that bringeth salvation has appeared to all men. It appeared in the old testament as well as the new. Let's read and compare:
Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
Exodus 33:12 And Moses said unto the Lord" ... 13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight" ... 16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us?" .... 17 And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.
In days of yore, faith was required as an indispensable accessory to any relationship with God, and again nothing has changed whatsoever, because the same faith is still required in the 21st century in all who desire to walk with God. Again, let's read and compare:
Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Deuteronomy 32:19 And when the Lord saw it, he abhorred them" ... 20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
The question that now needs to be answered is how is it that so many of us as Christians are now concluding that God's law is no longer binding upon men in the new testament era, whilst the other essential ingredients such as faith and grace are left intact. There must be some major disconnect in our theological exegesis, for there is no scriptural support whatever for the doctrine which teaches its adherents that one of the main fundamentals, has been nailed to the cross.
The sacrifices in the old testament pointed forward to Jesus Christ, and Christians living today have accepted His sacrifice, which was represented in miniature form through the sacrificial offerings that were made back then. But the same fundamental principles of salvation have remained intact with no change whatsoever, from Adam right down to the last baby to be born on this planet. Absolutely nothing has changed.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which confirms to us the same original way of salvation that God has always stipulated for His followers in ages past, for He has not changed the goal post for us living in the 21st century. Let's read:
Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!