Summary of Book 2 - Chapter 9

Christ, Though Known to the Jews Under the Law, Yet Clearly Revealed Only in the Gospel

The title of this short chapter pretty much explains it all.

The Jews, before the coming of Christ to the earth, had godly men in their midst who obeyed the first covenant of Abraham and the ten commandments of Moses. However, the full revelation and salvation of Christ came for everyone (not just the Jews) when Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected. Jesus Christ has existed for eternity, because he is one of the divine persons of the trinity, and he is co-creator with God the Father of the universe. However, the redemption, salvation, and mediation that Jesus provides us did not occur until his death at the cross. Because of this, some may ask "Can those who lived before the birth of Christ be saved?" Of course they can. The salvation of Christ is retroactive from his great sacrifice at the cross back through time to encompass all of God's children just as his salvation proceeds forward in time to encompass all of God's children.