Salvation Before Christ Died
How can anyone be saved before the saving work of our LORD JESUS CHRIST? If even one person could be saved without his blood, then does that mean that the FATHER is evil, putting his son to useless suffering, for if HE can save one can HE not save them all the same way? The Bible says that if righteousness could be given by the law, then it would have been given, but it is not possible.
You have made a very important observation--one however that many people never make. Our salvation today has a completeness at the moment of salvation that was not known before the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Of the Old Testament saints, Hebrews 11:13These 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.
See All... states, "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off." They died in faith, but they had not received the promises. When compared to our salvation, you could almost say that these saints were secured and not saved--at least not in a completed sense. By secured, I mean that they were preserved until the blood of Christ could be applied to their souls. Hebrews 9:15And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
See All... teaches, "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance." Notice that the death of Christ (as the mediator of the new testament) was necessary for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament (the shedding of the blood of animals in sacrifice). That is, their souls were not saved by the sacrifice of animals. They had to be preserved until the shed blood of Christ was applied to them. This probably explains why Abraham's bosom is located adjacent to hell before the death of Christ (Luke 16:22-26 [22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
[23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
[24] And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
[25] But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
[26] And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
See All...). The Old Testament saints are probably also those referred to in Ephesians 4:6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
See All..., "When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." After the death and resurrection of Christ, the souls of these saints could be taken into heaven with no problem.