How Did People Get To Heaven Before Jesus?
The question of how people got to heaven before Jesus is an interesting one that many Christians ponder. At its core, this question touches on complex theological issues like salvation and the nature of heaven.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: According to most Christian theologians, people who lived righteous lives prior to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection could still go to heaven due to their faith and obedience to God.
In this approximately 3000 word article, we will dive deep into this topic by exploring the biblical basis for multiple perspectives, looking at what prominent Christian thinkers and theologians have said, and considering the implications of different views.
The Biblical Basis for Different Perspectives
The Hebrew Bible Suggests Righteous Non-Jews Could Be Saved
The Hebrew Bible contains several passages implying that righteous Gentiles who follow God’s laws could be saved, even without explicitly worshipping the God of Israel. For example, Genesis 15 states that Abraham’s faith “was credited to him as righteousness,” suggesting people could be saved by faith even before the formal establishment of Judaism.
Later biblical figures like Melchizedek and Job were non-Jews considered righteous in God’s eyes (Genesis 14, Job 1). Some scholars think passages in Isaiah suggest that righteous Gentiles who follow God’s laws could be purified and saved.
Jesus’ Teachings Imply Some Went to Heaven Before Him
In John 3, Jesus tells Nicodemus that “no one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.” This implies that before Jesus’ death and resurrection, even righteous believers remained in a temporary paradise rather than entering the fullness of heaven.
However, in the story of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16), Jesus refers to a beggar being carried by angels to “Abraham’s side” after death. Some interpreters think this indicates there was a temporary paradise where righteous believers like Abraham resided until Jesus’ work was complete.
Paul’s Writings on Salvation Through Faith Alone
The apostle Paul is clearest in stating that people have always been saved by grace through faith alone, not by works. In Romans 4 he unequivocally says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” just as Christians today are saved by faith.
Paul argues in Galatians 3 that human efforts to perfectly keep God’s law have never resulted in salvation. Both Jews and Gentiles have always been justified by faith like Abraham. After Jesus’ atoning work, that faith is specifically placed in Christ, but even Old Testament believers looked forward to the promised Messiah.
| Viewpoint | Key Biblical Support |
|---|---|
| Some righteous Gentiles were saved through faith before Christ | Genesis 15, Isaiah 56 |
| Paradise existed for believers until Jesus’ work was done | Luke 16, John 3 |
| Salvation has always been through faith alone | Romans 4, Galatians 3 |
Perspectives from Prominent Christian Thinkers
Augustine and Original Sin
Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) was one of the most influential Christian thinkers on the concept of original sin. According to Augustine, all humans inherited the sin of Adam and Eve, which separates them from God.
As a result, humans are incapable of redeeming themselves and earning salvation without God’s grace. Augustine believed that before Jesus, God provided his grace to some individuals, allowing them entrance to heaven. However, the means were unclear and the opportunity was limited due to original sin.
Thomas Aquinas on Limbo
Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274), an Italian Dominican friar and influential medieval theologian, addressed the question of salvation before Christ through the concept of limbo. Aquinas suggested that unbaptized infants and virtuous pagans could not enter heaven proper, but went to limbo after death – a state of natural happiness without the vision of God.
While not official church doctrine, the idea of limbo resolved the tension between a merciful God and the necessity of baptism for salvation.
C.S. Lewis and Mere Christianity
British author C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) wrote extensively on Christianity for the modern world. In his seminal book Mere Christianity, Lewis contends that basic Christian moral truths have existed for centuries across cultures.
According to Lewis, God judges people based on how they respond to the moral knowledge available to them, whether before or after Christ. He writes, “Here is another thing that used to puzzle me. Is it not frightfully unfair that this new life should be confined to people who have heard of Christ and been able to believe in Him?
But the truth is God has not told us what His arrangements about the other people are.” While affirming Christ as the sole means of salvation, Lewis believed God relates to those with limited gospel access in ways unknown to us.
Theological Implications
God’s Mercy and Justice
The question of how people got to heaven before Jesus comes down to God’s qualities of mercy and justice. The Bible teaches that God is perfectly loving and merciful, yet also completely just in dealing with sin. This tension plays out in the question of salvation for Old Testament saints.
Though Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross is the basis for salvation, God could choose to apply Christ’s redemption retroactively. His perfection allows Him to give righteousness by faith apart from full knowledge of Christ (Hebrews 11).
So while Jesus objectively opened heaven’s gates, the merits of His sacrifice extend even to those long dead by God’s grace.
The Purpose of Jesus’ Sacrifice
If righteous Israelites were already secure for heaven, why then was Jesus sent as Savior? Though we cannot know the full mind of God, Scripture points to vital purposes including:
So then, Jesus’ sacrifice gives fuller understanding of God’s mercy, securely paid redemption’s price for all time, and opens salvation’s offer to the entire world past, present and future.
Fate of Righteous Non-Christians Today
This raises fair questions about those today who don’t know Christ but still fear God – is Old Testament salvation still in effect? Scripture does not definitively answer this, but we find principles for consideration.
First, the Bible indicates general revelation of God in creation remains, but salvation now centers on Christ (Romans 1-3). With Christ’s finished work fully revealed, people are accountable to respond to Him.
Second, while some suggest God judges righteously without knowledge of Christ, the emphasis appears to be on universal proclamation of the gospel (Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 10:13-15). Finally, God alone can judge hearts, but Scripture suggests even the most righteous fall short without atonement in Christ (Romans 3:21-26).
In the end, we can happily affirm God’s great mercy while recognizing that full salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone – the historical watershed of redemption’s work for all creation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, throughout history many prominent Christians have believed there was a way for some righteous individuals who lived before Jesus to go to heaven. This view aligns with scriptures suggesting God’s mercy is not limited to one group or time period.
While perspectives differ on exactly how pre-Jesus salvation worked, most agree it was still only by God’s grace, with many tying it to faith in the future Messiah. As we have seen, this question has complex implications for our understanding of salvation and God’s fairness.
While definitive answers remain elusive, exploring this topic sheds light on the boundless nature of God’s love and righteousness.
