Abraham's Knowledge
QUESTION
Did Abraham know about the death and resurrection of Jesus to believe it? What was it that Abraham believed in Roman’s 4? Is it the gospel of Jesus Christ in some sense? My understanding is that he did not, which is what Arminians require to be saved - believe that Christ died and rose from the dead or you can’t be saved.
ANSWER
This is a question that many have and it is worthy of biblical consideration…
Did Abraham know about the death and resurrection of Jesus to believe it?
No. Abraham did not hear or believe the explicit NT gospel of I Corinthians 15:3-4 and II Corinthians 5:21. He saw aspects of it in a form through God's covenantal promises to him and through the events at Mt Moriah, but he did not know the name of Jesus Christ nor the NT mechanics of His saving work.
What was it that Abraham believed in Roman’s 4?
What God had told him.
Is it the gospel of Jesus Christ in some sense?
It is good news - the promises of God - which have reference to the explicit gospel of Jesus Christ, though light on particulars. In this conversation I believe that using the term "gospel" has a way of breeding confusion, because that term carries a lot of potential meaning. I prefer to speak of "the explicit NT gospel" as opposed to some "gospel figure or type." Indeed God, "preached before the gospel unto Abraham" (Galatians 3:8) might lead someone to believe that God declared I Corinthians 15 to him. But the text goes on to define that "gospel" as "In thee shall all nations be blessed." (Genesis 12:3). That "gospel" differs wildly in content and specificity from what we find in the Corinthian epistle, but it makes reference to the same events. It is important that we not blur the lines between the "gospel" messages delivered at different times in the scripture and avoid pressing NT specificity into OT "gospel" accounts. The NT repeatedly refers to these events as an unrevealed mystery during the OT. Consider:
"Even the mystery WHICH HATH BEEN HID from ages and from generations, BUT IS NOW MADE MANIFEST to his saints:" (Colossians 1:26)
"Which in other ages WAS NOT MADE KNOWN unto the sons of men, AS IT IS NOW REVEALED unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;" (Ephesians 3:5)
"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, BUT IS NOW MADE MANIFEST by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:" II Timothy 1:9-10)
My understanding is that he did not,
That is correct.
which is what Arminians require to be saved - believe that Christ died and rose from the dead or you can’t be saved.
Yes. This is a problem with their theology and explains why they resort to two systems of salvation - one for the OT saints and one for the NT saints - with differing requirements placed upon man. Like:
"In the NT we must believe the gospel of Jesus Christ to be saved."
"In the OT they had to believe whatever God told them."
Or worse still...
"In the OT they were saved by keeping the law."
"In the NT they were saved by believing the gospel."
I have heard both preached and both are wrong. The truth is that the gospel delivers the light of information, not spiritual life (II Timothy 1:10). One must have spiritual life to receive spiritual instruction (I Corinthians 2:14). Without pre-existing faith, one has nothing with which to receive the revelation of the righteousness of Christ: "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17).
- Elder Daniel Samons