OCT 5

Hebrews 11:13

Memorise Psalm 32:1

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad”

ARE OT SAINTS INCLUDED IN THE NEW COVENANT?

The covenant of grace is not only for those who live after the time of Jesus, but also for Old Testament saints! They (Noah, Abraham, David etc) are all saved by the New Covenant, though they only had a glimpse of it!

Some of you may have learned that Hebrews 11 is the “chapter of faith”. Verse 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. The rest of the chapter talks about Enoch, Noah and Abraham, and also Rahab, David, Samuel etc. They are known as the heroes of faith. They were men and women of old who showed exemplerary faith in God. This is despite the little revelation that they had of Him, having not had the completed Word of God that we have today. Nonetheless they believed in Him and lived their lives by this faith that they had.

And what of them? “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” This verse tells us clearly that even though they did not see Jesus Christ face to face, nor did they know exactly what the promises that they had received would result in, they believed by faith. By faith they look foward to the promise of a the coming seed, of the Messiah who would bring salvation and redemption to them. Though they died, they died in faith, having embraced the promises (covenant) of God! They all knew that their time on earth was but a sojourn, that they were strangers and pilgrims looking forward to the blessed hope and promise of eternity in a place far better.

Thus for all saints, both in the New and Old Testament, the method of salvation is the same - by grace through faith! It is only through Jesus that anyone can have hope of eternal life. That is how Jesus was able to say to the Jews: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:58).

Dear teen, you have the completed Word of God in your hands, and the full message of salvation before you. Are you confident that you too are a recipient of this wonderful covenant of grace?

Thought: The Old Testament saints look forward to the cross. The New Testament saints look back to it.
Prayer: I thank You Lord, that You have opened our eyes to Thy great salvation.