How were Old Testament Saints Justified? | Jonathan Edwards

Deep Dive into How were Old Testament Saints Justified? by Jonathan EdwardsJonathan Edwards argues that Old Testament saints were justified by faith in the Son of God, just as believers are today. According to Edwards, the divine person who led the Israelites through the wilderness and dwelt in the Holy of Holies was the second person of the Trinity, often identified as the Angel of the Lord, the Messenger of the Covenant, and the Son of God. The church of Israel understood this being to be distinct from God the Father, acting as His sent messenger while possessing the very nature and glory of God.This divine person served as their Mediator, spiritual husband, and protector. The Israelites were taught that their animal sacrifices had no inherent power to forgive sins or earn God's favor. Instead, these sacrifices were symbolic representations of a future, perfect atonement. When the saints prayed or offered sacrifices at the temple, they directed their faith toward the propitiatory, or mercy seat, because it was the dwelling place of their Mediator. They relied entirely on His worthiness and mediation for their acceptance and peace with God.Furthermore, the Old Testament saints expected this divine Mediator to eventually come into the world as the Messiah in human form. Through prophecies and symbolical representations, they understood that He would suffer and offer Himself as a complete and final sacrifice to abolish the guilt of their sins, a feat the repeated animal sacrifices could never accomplish. Therefore, the ancient Israelites looked forward to the cross. They were justified not by their adherence to the law or the merit of their offerings, but by actively placing their faith and trust in the future atoning work of this divine Mediator.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReformedExplainerSpotify Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1t5dz4vEgvHqUknYQfwpRI?si=e-tDRFR2Qf6By1sAcMdkdwhttps://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730