Were the Jews of the Old Testament told they were justified by faith alone?
No, the Jews of the Old Testament were not told they were justified by faith alone. The context states that you do not see the Jews told, "you're justified by faith and faith alone," except for Abraham. Such truth is new revelation given through Paul after the cross and resurrection.
Les teaches that the Old Testament believer was not told the Spirit dwells within them, nor that they were justified by faith alone and bought with a price. The context says you don't see the Jews told, "you're justified by faith and faith alone," except for Abraham. All of this had to be after the cross and resurrection had been completed. Paul communicated carefully, line upon line, precept upon precept, the Gospel he preached among the Gentiles. The Holy Spirit prompted Paul to use "that" to signify the difference between Paul's Gospel and what Peter, Jesus, and the eleven had been teaching to Israel. Jesus and the twelve operated under the Gospel of the Kingdom, which was simply that the King is here, ready to set up the Kingdom offered to Israel since Abraham was given the covenant. That Kingdom message was that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Messiah of Israel. But the Gospel of Grace is that this same Messiah of Israel who was crucified, shed His blood, was buried, and rose from the dead, is the Savior not just of Israel but of the whole human race. Therefore, the Jews of the Old Testament were not told they were justified by faith alone; this is a post-cross revelation through Paul.