How Old Testament Saints Are Saved

February 9th, 2026
by Lance Waldie

Hebrews 9:15 That is why [Jesus] is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant (New Living Translation).

“This is why” is a reference to Hebrews 9:11-14. The author claimed that Jesus, contrary to the high priests throughout Israel’s history, first and foremost, appeared as a better high priest of the order of Melchizedek, not of the tribe of Levi. Second, Jesus entered into a better tabernacle not made with human hands, namely heaven, in order to intercede directly before God. Third, He entered the heavenly tabernacle not with animal blood but His own blood. Animals were inferior means of atoning for sin, so Jesus proved Himself perfect as a man during His earthly ministry then offered the perfect sacrifice as a man and without ceasing to be God. Fourth, Jesus entered the heavenly tabernacle one time. He did not enter it annually like the high priest did on the Day of Atonement, but one time and one time only. Fifth, Christ’s sacrifice and entry into heaven did not gain a year’s worth of forgiveness but “eternal redemption” (v. 12). Whereas the works of the high priest in Israel only atoned for the previous year’s sins, the work of the Great High Priest atoned for the sins of all mankind dating back to Adam! Finally, Jesus’ work on the cross and His entry into heaven cleansed the guilty consciences of those who sought dead works for forgiveness. This was in stark contrast to the Day of Atonement for unintentional sins committed in ignorance. Jesus’ sacrifice allowed for rebellious sins to be forgiven upon repentance.

So “this is why,” or “for this reason” (NASB), Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant. The old covenant was mediated through priests, who, though ordained by God as proper mediators for a time, entered into a man-made tabernacle to offer animal sacrifices for human sins. And since priests were human and thus sinful, they had to offer sacrifices not only for Israel but for their own sins. They also performed their duties daily, even annually on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Their annual appearance before God in the Holy of Holies was ordained because Israel’s sins mounted day by day. In spite of this, even when the priest’s work was complete, though Israel went home with their sins atoned for, their sins of rebellion—their guilt, remained.

Jesus is not only superior to angels (Heb. 1-2), Moses (3), Joshua (4), Levi (5-7), and to the old covenant (8), He is also superior to the Jewish Day of Atonement. It was temporary; He is eternal. Whereas the Day of Atonement merely reached back to the previous year to atone for sins committed in ignorance, Jesus’ sacrifice reached back to the creation of mankind to bring the full redemption for OT saints—men like Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, etc. These all believed God and had salvation as a result of looking forward to God’s promises being fulfilled. So when God’s promise of a Seed (Gen. 3:15; 12:1; 17:7) came to Israel, Jesus Christ, all “those who have been called” received the “promise of the eternal inheritance” (v. 15). In a sense, the saints of the OT had salvation on credit; Jesus’ death paid the bill. Those in the OT who, by faith, looked forward to redemption received it when Christ came. Those who look backward at it since that day also receive eternal redemption. Jesus is therefore also superior to the Jewish Day of Atonement. For He provides eternal redemption, not temporary atonement.

Food For Thought
Many today choose to believe that Jesus is not the only way of salvation and that other ways are just as legitimate. But if Hebrews teaches anything, it’s that Jesus is superior to any and all religions. There is no close second, for every religion is banking on dead works to save believers. They have no High Priest in Jesus Christ to save them and pray for them. They are thus hopeless.