“Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant” (Hebrews 9:15 ESV).
We can derive an important benefit from Hebrews 9:15 if we associate this reference to an eternal inheritance with the idea of salvation.
From a Biblical perspective, the word “salvation” relates to the concept of “deliverance.” It corresponds to God’s act of liberation in delivering sinful human beings from their state of separation from Him through Christ. However, this might prompt a question in light of Hebrews 9:15: how were the pre-New Testament saints delivered to their eternal inheritance prior to Jesus’ atoning death? Well, the answer is that they were delivered as we are today: by faith.
Consider the experience of Abraham, the great Old Testament patriarch. We have already referenced Abraham several times in our look at the epistle to the Hebrews and we will do so again at greater length in Hebrews chapter eleven. For the purpose of our discussion here in Hebrews 9:15, we can focus upon one aspect of Abraham’s experience with God…
“…[Abraham] believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith” (Genesis 15:6 NLT).
Although Abraham’s life pre-dated the Old Testament sacrificial era, he still fulfilled God’s directive as later expressed through the pen of the Biblical prophet Habakkuk…
“Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4).
In addition, we can say that Abraham’s faith in God also encompassed his belief in a future Messiah. Indeed, as Jesus Himself once remarked to the religious leaders of His era, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56). Thus, as the following scholars conclude…
“Sinners who were saved under the First Testament were actually saved, not by it or by any sacrifice offered under its jurisdiction, but through the atoning work of Messiah under the New Testament.” (1)
“What of those people of faith who lived under the old covenant (cf. 11: 8 ff., 13-16)? Are they left in their sins, since their institutions did not adequately cope with the sin-problem, removing it only ceremonially? The answer to this question is immediately forthcoming: the range of the effectiveness of Christ’s death is so vast as to set them free from the sins (done) under the first covenant (15). The death of Christ is retroactive (cf. Rom. 3: 25 f.).” (2)
(1) Kenneth S. Wuest, Word Studies in the Greek New Testament [Hebrews 9:15] Copyright © 1942-55 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
(2) New International Bible Commentary general editor G. C. D. Howley, consulting editors F. F. Bruce, H. L. Ellison. Copyright© 1979 by Pickering & Inglis Ltd [pg. 1522]