Bible Question:
Hi Doc (I was tempted to say Whats up Doc), I've been wondering...If the Holy Spirit did not fully indwell believers until the Feast of Pentecost... would you say that those who believed in the Christ pre-Pentecost were saved under the previous (OLD) covenant, not by the Law, but by their faith in the coming promised Messiah? Hobbs |
Bible Answer: Dear Brother Hobbs, The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a benefit directly bequeathed the believer in the Church Age (John 16:7). Salvation, though, has always been accomplished exactly in the same way -- from Adam to the last of the elect. John Owen writes, "There are some who deny that faith in Christ was required from the beginning, or was necessary unto the worship of God, or the justification and salvation of them that did obey him. For, whereas it must be granted that “without faith it is impossible to please God,” which the apostle proves by instances from the foundation of the world, Heb. xi.—they suppose it is faith in God under the general notion of it, without any respect unto Christ, that is intended. It is not my design to contend with any, not expressly to confute such ungrateful opinions—such pernicious errors. Such this is, which—being pursued in its proper tendency—strikes at the very foundation of Christian religion; for it at once deprives us of all contribution of light and truth from the Old Testament. Somewhat I have spoken before of the faith of the saints of old concerning him." Praise God for the benefits that we now enjoy! But those benefits are simply a foretaste of what we shall experience after glorification! In Him, Doc PS This thread is getting toooo long! |