4.4.1 Hope for salvation in the Old Testament
In the old covenant, the hope of salvation revolved mainly around deliverance from earthly affliction and captivity. In this respect, the people of Israel experienced God's salvation through their deliverance from Egyptian slavery.
Then God gave His people the law through Moses. It contains instructions as to how human beings can be freed from situations of guilt with respect to other human beings (Exodus 21: 28-30; Leviticus 25: 39 et seq.).
In the course of time, Israel's hope for salvation focused more and more clearly on the expected Messiah, on deliverance from the enslaving power of sin: "O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities" (Psalm 130: 7-8).
Through many promises given by the prophets, God prepared the way for the appearing of the Redeemer. In Him all these promises were fulfilled.