By Faith through faith in Jesus Christ is not just merely a concept of believing in Jesus. James 2:14-26, faith without works is dead, can faith save you when its void of obedience? Even demons believe and tremble.
How were the heroes of the OT saved? By their works? No. they are saved on the same basis as we do.. by faith through grace in Jesus Christ. How so? The Mosiac covenant was a preview of Jesus Christ, fully revealed in the New Covenant (Heb 10:1-10). The annual sacrifices in itself does not save, but it is required for those who faithfully follow it to be included in the New Covenant (Heb 10:11-18).
Did God required the OT heroes to be perfect? No. He only required them to be obedient, turn from their wicked ways (immorality, idolatry, etc), their Sins are covered in Jesus Christ through the admission of the Old Covenant (Isaiah 1:16-20). When Jesus died on the cross, all those who walked by faith (Hab 2:4) like prophet Daniel, Isaiah, King David, are eternally saved (Heb 11).
On the same token under the new covenant, Salvation is meant for those who DESIRE to keep the Law (Rom 7:22) but KNOWS that he cannot fulfill it (Rom 7:23, 24), and thank God for Jesus Christ who saves us from our shortfall (Rom 7:25). Hence faith includes obedience (1 John 1:5-10, 2:3-6) , and it does not require you to be perfect as no one can be perfect (Rom 2, 3).
Hence it is important to know that while we CANNOT fulfill the Law (perfection), God requires Faith of those who are obedient for Salvation. This is not Salvation by works, but Salvation is meant to saved those who desire to obey him but knows he cannot fully fulfill the Law.
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