Obedience vs. Faith in the Old Testament?

Question

The Old Testament focuses so much on Israel’s
obedience to the Law, yet Christians state that, even back then, salvation
was through faith, not obedience. So how does salvation come through
faith, not obedience, in the Old Testament? Include any Old Testament scripture if you have can

Answer 1

Genesis 15:6 tells that that Abraham "believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness."

Abraham was saved. Isaac was saved. Jacob (Israel) was saved. None of them had the Law of Moses because it had not even been given at that stage. (It was only given hundreds of years later - after the exodus from Egypt). Even circumcision was only given to Abraham at a later date to Genesis 15's covenant.

They simply believed God's covenant promises and joined themselves to Him.

Does that nullify obedience to God? No. Obedience to God will be birthed from our father. Because Abraham believed, he offered up his son Isaac a couple of decades later. But he was just as 'saved' before he was obedient as he was after he was obedient - because he believed God and entered into covenant with Him.

God bless you.

Answer 2

Your question wouldn't apply if you had asked it from the Jewish perspective.

That is because the Christian concept of "salvation" is not applicable in Judaism. In other words, they start with the premise that a person needs saving else the person would be damned otherwise. Then, your question asks how that salvation would be achieved considering G-d asked the Jewish people to observe His commandments and Christians say that comes through faith.
Well, from a Jewish point of view, man doesn't require this kind of salvation to begin with so your question wouldn't apply in that case.

Answer 3

Judaism teaches that "Every Jew has a share in the world to come (the afterlife)" (TB Sanhedrin 90a), and also that "the righteous people of other (non-Jewish) nations...", those who follow the elementary morals embodied in the Seven Noahide Laws, "...have a share in the world to come" (Tos. Sanhedrin 13, TB ibid. 105a). Although a person who sins may be punished either in this world or the next, punishment in the next world is in most cases limited in duration to 12 months (Mish. Eiduyot 2:10). Complete loss of a share in the afterlife (or, alternatively, eternal punishment; TB Rosh Hashanah 17a) is imposed for only a small number of very serious sins, most of which have to do with heresy. Even then a person can regain his share in the world to come through repentance and atonement.
Repentance in Judaism known as Teshuva (Hebrew תשובה, literally Returning), is the way of atoning for sin in Judaism.
According to Jewish law, if someone commits a sin, he can be forgiven for that sin if he performs 'Teshuva', which includes:
Ceasing to commit the forbidden act
Regretting what he or she has done
Confessing before God
Firmly resolving never to repeat those actions

Answer 4

that's confusing to fully separate obedience from faith. The OT widespread around obedience to God's word. The NT centers around faith. that's not a query of the two-or yet truthfully of the two.

Answer 5

The Old Testament contained the Jewish law, when Jesus came to reveal the gospel he said that he came to free people from the law, and that they would no longer worship God by the law but in truth and in spirit (living worship).

Answer 6

how was Abraham called the friend of God,, it was because he believed God when God told him to offer his son . and again he believed God when God told him he would multiply his seed as the sand, and when he would have a son in his old age,, so by faith was he justified and not by works,,, just a few , like Moses when God told him that the first born would die , but only the ones with the lambs blood on there door would live, so they believed God . so by faith,,, the whole bible is full of examples, if you need more ,,just let me know,,
prayers

Answer 7

Gen 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Answer 8

Faith leads to obedience.

Deu 32:20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end [shall be]: for they [are] a very froward generation, children in whom [is] no faith.

Answer 9

abraham believed god. abraham recieved the promise of god while he was yet uncircumcised,and then recieved the sign of circumcision.this is in the new testement refering to the old.