Dispensational Distortions - Old Testament Salvation

The next result of the literal hermeneutic is closely tied to the previous. The unnatural and unwarranted separation of natural Israel and the Church leads to some distinctions in the timing of different aspects of the OT saint and how the OT person was “saved.” The radical distinction creates a situation where the OT saint is relegated to a second class citizen in heaven, partakes in a different resurrection and even finds salvation in a different way.

Pay close attention to the quotes below and note how radically different the OT Saint is treated by leading Dispensationalist as compared to how the NT Saint is treated.

“The Church will be raised at the time of the rapture, and the Old Testament Saints, including Israel, at the beginning of the millennial reign of Christ.” – Walvoord

“Some people are startled by the thought that the Old Testament saints will not be resurrected until the end of the Tribulation. But keep in mind that the rapture is a promise to the Church, and the Church only.” – David Reagan

“The technical term for the Church is those who are “in Christ.” 1 Thessalonians speaks of those who have died “in Christ” being resurrected at the time of His coming IN THE AIR. The context has ONLY the Church in mind.” – Gary Nystrom

Note that these leading Dispensational spokesmen all claim that ONLY the Church will be resurrected during a pre-tribulation Rapture and that OT saints will have to wait until the seven years have ended to find their resurrection. Their spiritual bodies which will find abode in heaven (presently) will not be able to take part in the Supper of the Lamb as that is exclusively for those who are “in Christ.”

Let us consider for a momment Jesus’ own words…

John 6:52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.

1. Speaking to the Jews Jesus demanded that they be in Christ (eat His flesh, drink His blood) a..or they would not inherit eternal life. This is to be expected of the Jews.

2. Jesus also states that everyone is raised at the same time. He who eats of the body of Christ will be raised (Jew or Gentile) on the Last Day. There is no day after the Last Day for anyone else to be resurrected.

There is not enough time here, but even a cursory look through the book of Hebrews demonstrates that even those from the time of Abraham were “in Christ” looking forward to that day. This then leads to how do some Dispensationalist view salvation in the OT. First, let’s here from Ryrie and then compare his view with other leading advocates.

“Dispensationalist vehemently deny that salvation in the Old Testament and salvation in the New Testament are in any way different…they are both of grace…” Ryrie

So Ryrie states that salvation is of grace for both the OT and NT saint. One would infer since they are the same, they would be in Christ. But Ryrie does not say they are of Christ, but of faith. This is different than the Reformed understanding that salvation in both the OT and NT is of Christ…”no man cometh unto the father…”

But other Dispensationalist depart from Ryrie even regarding the understanding of salvation by grace…

“…grace begins with the death and resurrection of Christ…The point of testing is no longer legal obedience as the condition of salvation” Scofield

Scofield here states that even the concept of grace is a NT idea, and that salvation for the OT saint was a result of legal obedience.

“It can be said at once that His (Jesus) dying was not God’s own plan. It was conceived somewhere else and yielded to by God…the plan is given in the Old Testament code…the tabernacle or temple, under prescribed regulations…” Chafer

Chafer goes even further and more than implies that salvation was NEVER intended to be by grace, through Christ, but was ALWAYS meant to be through sacrifices and ordinances found in the law. Chafer puts God in a difficult and unBiblical position when he argues that the concept of salvation by the work of christ was not the plan, but was YIELDED TO by God!

“This is sometimes called the Age of the Church, or the Church period. The characteristic of this age is that salvation is no longer by legal obedience, but by the personal acceptance of the finished work of Jesus Christ, who by his meritorious ministry has procured for us a righteousness of God’.” Evans

Evans agrees with those above stating that salvation was at one time obtained by legal obedience, not even by grace.

“A distinction must be observed here between just men of the Old Testament and those justified according to the New Testament. According to the Old Testament men were just because they were true and faithful in keeping the Mosaic Law. … Men were therefore just because of their own works for God whereas New Testament justification is God’s work for man in answer to faith” Chafer

Chafer simply digs his hole even deeper attempting to argue that through the working out of the law, somehow man could become good enough to obtain salvation through the works of the law. Hebrews again must be dealt with as the author constantly argues the inability of the law to save!

If it is as Ryrie argues originally that the Church and Israel were saved in the same manner then we must consider the following.

1. If they are saved in the same way how can they then be distinct?

2. If they are saved in the same way why would they not share the same resurrection.

3. Why would the Church need to be removed in order to fulfill promises to Israel if their relationship with God were both through Christ?

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar…

Salvation for the OT saint was obtained by grace through faith…just like the NT Church. They simply were looking forward to the promise while the Church embraces the promise received.

So, like the previous post we see there is no Biblical mandate to separate Israel from the Church and, as a result, salvation is obtained by the same manner. NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT BY ME…!