Universal Salvation an OT concept

Question: Is salvation for the non-Jews (all nations) a New Testament concept?

Answer: Salvation for all nations, i.e., for everyone, Jew and non-Jew alike is a concept that is taught throughout the OT. The introduction of the Law and the election of the nation of Israel as the chosen people of God was not to exclude everyone else. Instead it was God’s divine plan to reveal Himself to all, through the nation of Israel, that He alone is God and He alone is worthy of worship. This He did thru His mighty acts in their midst.

However the religious ones among the Jews used the Law to exclude everyone except themselves from worshiping God and thereby effectively cutting off the physically sick, maimed, gentiles and even women to some extent.

Let us read what prophet Isaiah prophesied many years before Jesus Christ came to earth. The 56th chapter of the book of Isaiah speaks of the sanctuary being a house of prayer for all nations (everyone). It clearly teaches that everyone (foreigner, eunuch - i.e., everyone who was ceremonially unacceptable in the sanctuary) who obeys God will be accepted and they are granted not only entry in the Temple but God will fill their hearts with His Joy. Verse 7, “these ((foreigner, eunuch) I will bring to my Holy mountain(Zion) and give them Joy in my house of prayer.”

In Mark 11:17-18 we see that Jesus became angry because God's House of Worship had become a place of extortion, and a barrier to Non-Jews who wanted to worship there as well. For: then Jesus taught, saying, "Is It Not Written, My House Shall Be Called A House Of Prayer For All Nations? But You Have Made It A Den Of Thieves."

Isaiah 56 is very relevant to us these days. So we shall take it a few verses at a time and do a quick little study in the upcoming posts.