How were people saved between Abraham and Paul in this teaching?
Between Abraham and Paul, people were saved by faith plus works. They had to repent and be baptized, keep the law, and bring the prescribed sacrifice. In contrast, Abraham and those after Paul were saved by faith plus nothing, with no works added.
Les explains that John the Baptist preached to Israel a message of repentance, water baptism, keeping the law, and bringing the prescribed sacrifice, so salvation then was faith plus sacrifice or works. He says Paul later declares faith plus nothing, tying believers to Abraham, who was saved by faith plus nothing. Everyone in between Abraham and Paul was saved by faith plus works. Abraham’s spiritual seed in the heavenlies comes by faith plus nothing, while his physical relationship was with Israel, the earthly people of God.