How were people saved between Abraham and the apostle Paul?
Between Abraham and the apostle Paul, individuals were saved by faith plus works. They had to keep the law, bring the prescribed sacrifice, repent, and be baptized, as John the Baptist preached. This contrasted with Abraham and Paul, who were saved by faith plus nothing.
Les explains that the people between Abraham and Paul were saved by faith plus works. He notes that when John the Baptist began preaching, along with keeping the law and bringing the prescribed sacrifice for a salvation experience, they had to repent and be baptized. John's message to Israel was to repent of national sins and show repentance with water baptism. This was faith plus sacrifice, works, or whatever else was added. Then Paul comes and says it's faith plus nothing, tying believers to Abraham, who was saved by faith plus nothing. So everyone in between was saved by faith plus works.