Yes, and in fact, so were the Jews who lived and died before Jesus.
The Jewish sacrifices were something God asked of the Jews, to illustrate that blood must be shed in order to forgive sin, as the penalty for sin is death. Jews were actually saved by faith.
- “But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year. For the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins.” –Heb 10:3-4
- “Thus the law had become our guardian until Christ, so that we could be declared righteous by faith.” –Gal 3:24
- “For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.” –Rom 3:20
- “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” ” — Gal 3:8
Abraham was saved by faith, as is a main point of argument in the early church as they affirmed that following the Jewish law isn’t necessary.
- “For if Abraham was declared righteous by the works of the law, he has something to boast about – but not before God. For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”” –Rom 4:2-3
The thief on the cross was saved before Pentecost, and also without baptism:
- “One of the criminals who was hanging there railed at him, saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we rightly so, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”” –Luke 23:39-43
Note what baptism that saves actually is:
- “And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you – not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers subject to him.” — 1 Pet 3:21-22
Do you want to accept Jesus’ gift of forgiveness and be saved by faith, just like the disciples and the early church, as opposed to trying to work your way to heaven? Click HERE to find out what to do next.
