How were people in the Old Testament saved from death in Hell?
Discussion,
All of humanity, from Adam to this very day, were and are saved by “faith,” alone (Hebrews 11). Faith internalized; that is, “believing” Elohim is the One true Creator and that Elohim is faithful to do all that He has promised.
It is written,
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Romans 4:1-3 (Genesis 15:6)
Why was Messiah Jesus necessary?
Jesus’ divine incarnation, the hypostatic union of deity and humanity (Philippians 2:5-11), was essential in order that mandated sinless blood atonement be made manifest for the purification of sin (Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 10; Matthew 26:28) thereby permitting access to the Kingdom subsequent death of the body in Time (2 Corinthians 5:8); that is, “nothing impure” will ever enter the Kingdom (Rev 21:27); therefore, those who perished in death of the body prior to Messiah’s sacrificial blood atonement, these Old Testament saints, having died in faith, awaited Messiah’s atoning sacrifice for the purification of sin while detained in Sheol-Paradise (Luke 16; Psalm 16:10). Subsequent Messiah’s blood sacrifice, these Old Testament saints were escorted out of Sheol-Paradise into the Kingdom (Ephesians 4:7-10; Luke 23:43).
Faith (noun) has always been the KEY to Elohim’s heart and personal intimacy, righteousness, with Him; this, relevant to all Old Testament and New Testament men and women having attained an age of accountability. Jesus is the divine “Door” (John 10:9-16) to the Kingdom for all who “believe” by “faith” that He, alone, is Messiah who died for the sins of the whole World (John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 2:1-2).