How were people saved before Jesus came to earth—and could Abraham actually be called a Christian?

Abraham believed God, and his faith was counted as righteousness. But how could he be saved through Jesus when Christ’s death and resurrection were still centuries away? Were Old Testament believers saved by keeping the law, offering sacrifices, or trusting in the Messiah God had promised?

In this episode, Dr. Corey and Dr. Ben explore salvation in the Old Testament and explain why there has always been one way to be saved. They examine Abraham’s faith, God’s eternal plan of redemption, and the work of the Holy Spirit before Pentecost. They also discuss why the sacrificial system pointed forward to Jesus rather than providing salvation on its own.

So, were Abraham, Moses, and David saved differently—or did they trust the same Savior we do today?

Discover:

• How people were saved in the Old Testament
• Why Dr. Corey and Dr. Ben describe Abraham as a Christian
• What it means that Abraham’s faith was counted as righteousness
• How Old Testament believers trusted in the promised Messiah
• Why animal sacrifices could never take away sin
• How the Holy Spirit worked in believers before Pentecost
• What changed with the coming of Jesus and the New Covenant

Key Passages:

Genesis 3:15 • Genesis 15:6 • Romans 4:17–21 • Galatians 3:8 • John 8:56 • Hebrews 11:8–16 • John 4:21–24 • Psalm 50

The question of salvation before Jesus points to the unity of God’s redemptive plan. Dr. Corey and Dr. Ben explain how Old Testament believers looked forward to the promised Messiah, while believers today look back to His finished work—the same Savior at the center of both.

👉 Subscribe for more theology (and a lot more fun).

🎧 Available wherever you listen to podcasts

Listen on Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theology-is-fun/id1808965100

Listen on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4EZUfXCbWCbSs6VpbAYSEb

Follow Corey Abney on Instagram

https://instagram.com/corey.abney

Follow Ben Skaug on Instagram

https://instagram.com/ben.skaug

Learn more about Bell Shoals Church

https://instagram.com/bellshoals

Watch full sermons from Dr. Corey Abney

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLbG1nVw0Ymu2gj1-OkB9WyX9vgWaOtot

#TheologyIsFun #OldTestament #Salvation #Abraham #JesusChrist #ChristianTheology #BibleStudy

Was Melchizedek a mysterious king and priest—or was he actually an appearance of Jesus before His birth?

Melchizedek appears briefly in Genesis 14, where he blesses Abraham and receives a tenth of the spoils. Yet centuries later, Psalm 110 and the book of Hebrews return to him to explain something essential about Jesus. Why does this seemingly minor figure matter so much?

In this episode, Dr. Corey and Dr. Ben examine the different views of Melchizedek, including the idea that he was a preincarnate appearance of Christ. They look at his missing genealogy, his roles as both king and priest, and the way Hebrews uses his encounter with Abraham to show that Jesus belongs to a greater and lasting priesthood.

So, was Melchizedek Jesus—or was he a real person whose life pointed forward to Him?

Discover:

• Who Melchizedek was in Genesis 14
• Why Abraham gave him a tenth of the spoils
• What Hebrews means when it says he had no recorded father, mother, or genealogy
• Whether Melchizedek could have been an appearance of Jesus
• Why his priesthood matters more than the Levitical priesthood
• How Melchizedek points to Jesus as both King and Priest
• Whether the bread and wine in Genesis 14 point forward to the Lord’s Supper

Key Passages:

Genesis 14:18–20 • Psalm 110:4 • Hebrews 5:5–10 • Hebrews 6:19–20 • Hebrews 7

The mystery of Melchizedek leads to a bigger question: What does his story reveal about Jesus? Dr. Corey and Dr. Ben explain why Hebrews looks back to this ancient king and priest to help us understand Christ’s eternal priesthood.

👉 Subscribe for more theology (and a lot more fun).

🎧 Available wherever you listen to podcasts

Listen on Apple Podcasts – podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theology-is-fun/id1808965100

Listen on Spotify – open.spotify.com/show/4EZUfXCbWCbSs6VpbAYSEb

Follow Corey Abney on Instagram

instagram.com/corey.abney

Follow Ben Skaug on Instagram

instagram.com/ben.skaug

Learn more about Bell Shoals Church

instagram.com/bellshoals

Watch full sermons from Dr. Corey Abney

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLbG1nVw0Ymu2gj1-OkB9WyX9vgWaOtot

#TheologyIsFun #Melchizedek #JesusChrist #Hebrews7 #ChristianTheology #BibleStudy

Is David and Goliath really a story about facing the “giants” in your life?

It’s one of the most familiar stories in the Bible—and one of the most common applications is simple: Be like David. Have courage. Trust God. Grab your five smooth stones and go defeat your giant. But is that actually the point of 1 Samuel 17?

In this episode, Dr. Corey and Dr. Ben take a closer look at David and Goliath and the larger biblical story surrounding this famous battle. They unpack the failure of Saul, the anointing of David, and why David’s victory over Goliath is about much more than overcoming obstacles. They also trace the imagery of the victorious champion back to Genesis 3:15 and forward to Jesus Christ—the greater King who ultimately defeats sin, death, and Satan.

So, are you supposed to see yourself as David—or is David pointing us to someone greater?

Discover:

• Why David and Goliath isn’t primarily about “facing your giants”
• Why Israel wanted a king—and what went wrong with Saul
• The significance of David being God’s anointed king
• How David’s victory connects to the promise of Genesis 3:15
• Why crushing Goliath’s head matters to the larger biblical story
• How David, Samson, and Solomon point forward to Christ
• Why Jesus is the greater King and ultimate Champion
• How the story of David and Goliath should actually shape the way Christians face trials

Key Passages:

1 Samuel 8 • 1 Samuel 16–17 • Genesis 3:15 • Genesis 49 • Judges 16 • 2 Samuel 7 • Matthew 3–4

The point of David and Goliath isn’t that you need to become David and defeat every giant in your life. It’s that we can trust the God who keeps His promises—and the Champion He has provided for His people.

👉 Subscribe for more theology (and a lot more fun).

🎧 Available wherever you listen to podcasts

Listen on Apple Podcasts – podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theology-is-fun/id1808965100

Listen on Spotify – open.spotify.com/show/4EZUfXCbWCbSs6VpbAYSEb

Follow Corey Abney on Instagram

instagram.com/corey.abney

Follow Ben Skaug on Instagram

instagram.com/ben.skaug

Learn more about Bell Shoals Church

instagram.com/bellshoals

Watch full sermons from Dr. Corey Abney

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLbG1nVw0Ymu2gj1-OkB9WyX9vgWaOtot

#TheologyIsFun #DavidAndGoliath #JesusChrist #ChristianTheology #BibleStudy #BiblicalTheology