> The concept of salvation—God’s rescue and deliverance of humanity from sin and its consequences—has been central to the entire biblical narrative. Both the Old Testament (OT) and the New Testament (NT) reveal God’s plan to redeem His people, but there are significant differences in how salvation is understood and attained in each era, all centered on God’s ultimate plan fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
This article will explore the similarities and differences between how salvation was attained in the OT and NT, while highlighting the unity of God’s redemptive purposes throughout Scripture.
✨ Discover FAQs of Faith Mobile App! ✨Looking for a convenient way to access all your favorite faith-based content? Introducing the FAQs of Faith mobile app, your go-to resource that combines insightful and inspiring content from Faith Answers Press LLC into one easy-to-use platform. Whether you’re seeking answers to faith questions, daily inspiration, or spiritual growth resources, our app has it all. 📲 Download now and start your journey! Click on FAQs of Faith
Similarities in Salvation Across Both Testaments
1. Salvation is by Grace through Faith
In both the OT and NT, salvation is ultimately by God’s grace, accessed through faith. While the external workings of God’s plan differed between the Testaments, the core requirement of faith was constant. Abraham is a prime example: “Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Abraham’s faith was counted as righteousness before God, not his works or adherence to the law, making this principle foundational even in the OT.
In the NT, Paul reaffirms this truth, stating that believers are justified by faith apart from works of the law (Romans 3:28, Ephesians 2:8-9). The continuity between the testaments is clear: salvation has always been a gift of God, not something humanity can earn.
2. God as the Source of Salvation
Whether in the OT or NT, God alone is the source of salvation. The psalmist declares, “Salvation belongs to the Lord” (Psalm 3:8), underscoring that it is God who delivers His people from sin, oppression, and death. This same theme carries into the NT, where salvation is accomplished through Jesus Christ—God in the flesh (John 3:16, Titus 3:5-7).
3. The Need for Atonement
Both Testaments recognize that atonement for sin is necessary for reconciliation with God. In the OT, atonement was achieved through the sacrificial system established in the Mosaic Law, where the blood of animals symbolically covered the sins of the people (Leviticus 17:11). In the NT, Jesus is described as the ultimate and final atonement, the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The sacrificial system of the OT pointed forward to this once-for-all sacrifice made by Christ (Hebrews 9:12-14).
Differences in Salvation Between the Old and New Testaments
1. Old Covenant vs. New Covenant
The primary distinction between the OT and NT is the shift from the Old Covenant, established through Moses, to the New Covenant, inaugurated by Jesus Christ. Under the Old Covenant, God provided a system of laws and rituals to guide Israel, but these laws could not fully cleanse the conscience or remove sin permanently (Hebrews 10:1-4). Salvation under the Old Covenant was largely anticipatory, pointing forward to the Messiah, who would establish the New Covenant.
Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant and introduced a New Covenant, which is based on better promises (Hebrews 8:6). In the New Covenant, salvation is available to all who believe in Christ, regardless of ethnicity or adherence to the Mosaic Law. The NT emphasizes faith in the finished work of Christ as the means of salvation, whereas the OT system required continual sacrifices and rituals that served as types and shadows of what was to come (Hebrews 8:5).
2. The Role of the Law
In the OT, the Mosaic Law was central to Israel’s relationship with God. It functioned as a covenantal guide for living in accordance with God’s will, and it was intimately tied to the promise of blessing and curse (Deuteronomy 28). Though faith was necessary for salvation, the law provided the means by which the people of Israel would demonstrate their covenant faithfulness.
In the NT, the role of the Law shifts. Paul teaches that the Law was a “guardian” to lead people to Christ (Galatians 3:24), but once faith in Christ has come, believers are no longer under the Law’s tutelage. Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the Law perfectly, and through Him, believers receive His righteousness by faith (Romans 10:4). Thus, NT salvation is not tied to adherence to the Mosaic Law but is based on grace through faith in Christ.
3. The Object of Faith: Promise vs. Fulfillment
In the OT, faith was primarily in the promise of what God would do. This is evident in the prophecies of a coming Messiah, a Savior who would rescue His people (Isaiah 53:4-5, Micah 5:2). The OT saints looked forward to God’s future deliverance and trusted His promise to send the Redeemer. The NT reveals that Christ is the fulfillment of these promises (Luke 24:44).
In contrast, NT faith looks back to what God has already done in Christ. Believers now place their trust in the finished work of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection from the dead (Romans 10:9-10). This shift from promise to fulfillment marks a major distinction between the two Testaments.
4. The Scope of Salvation: Israel vs. All Nations
In the OT, God’s covenant and the means of salvation were focused primarily on the nation of Israel. While there were provisions for non-Israelites to join the community of faith (e.g., Ruth, Rahab), the covenant was primarily directed to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 19:5-6).
The NT, however, expands the scope of salvation to all nations. Jesus’ Great Commission to His disciples commands them to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). The apostle Paul emphasizes that in Christ, “there is neither Jew nor Gentile… for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). The inclusivity of the NT salvation message is a key difference, as the gospel is proclaimed to all people regardless of ethnicity, nationality, or background.
Conclusion
While the OT and NT present salvation in different ways, they are part of a unified story of God’s redemptive work. In the OT, salvation was centered on faith in God’s promises and was enacted through a system of sacrifices and laws that foreshadowed the ultimate salvation to come. In the NT, salvation is fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who accomplished what the Law and sacrifices could never do—permanently remove sin and reconcile humanity to God.
At the core, salvation has always been a matter of God’s grace, received through faith. What changed from the OT to the NT was not God’s plan, but the unfolding and fulfillment of that plan in the fullness of time, when Jesus Christ came to seek and save the lost. Today, we rejoice in the finished work of Christ, the final and complete expression of God’s saving grace.
Visit our companion site
Discover the Truth About Jesus Christ
Are you new to the Christian faith or seeking answers about Jesus? Visit JesusIsLordBlog.com for insightful articles, compelling reasons to believe, and a deeper understanding of what it means to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior. Start your journey today!
