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Ever wonder how Abraham, Moses, Jacob, and David—deeply flawed and openly sinful—could be called friends of God and welcomed into His presence? We walk through the hard question with a clear answer: God never changed the rules of salvation; He changed the sacrifice. Using Hebrews 10 and Romans 3, we unpack why animal sacrifices were temporary shadows and how the cross became the public demonstration of God’s righteousness, showing Him to be both just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

We explore the tabernacle’s mercy seat, the meaning of substitutionary atonement, and the vivid picture of blood covering the law that everyone had broken. Then we connect the dots to Isaiah 53’s prophecy of a righteous Servant who would be pierced for our transgressions and justify many. Old Testament believers trusted God’s promise of a coming Redeemer; New Testament believers trust the Redeemer who has come. Different vantage points, same object of faith. That’s why you can say the ancients were “saved on credit” and the debt was paid in full at Calvary.

Along the way, we confront the lives of Scripture’s imperfect heroes to show that grace doesn’t minimize sin; it magnifies the Savior. No sin goes unpunished and no sinner who trusts Christ stands beyond forgiveness. If you’ve wrestled with guilt, shame, or confusion about how the Bible’s two halves fit together, this conversation offers a single, sturdy bridge: one cross for all time. Join us to see how justice and mercy meet in Jesus and why salvation has always been by grace through faith alone.

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Stephen's latest book, The Disciples Prayer, is available now. https://www.wisdomonline.org/store/view/the-disciples-prayer-hardback