Mark asked me an outside-the-box question. I like those kinds of questions because they show the person is meditating on Scripture, not on commentaries. Mark asked,
In the recent Grace in Focus article, “The Lord Opened Her Heart,” some might consider Lydia to have had the same eternally right relationship with God as other pre-New Testament figures before her encounter with Paul. Faith in God for life, prior to the Christ, seems to be a reasonable and biblical basis to understand that the eternal destiny of such pre-NT persons is a reality. Lydia was in a transitional period (i.e. Acts 19:2) that aligns well with those who lived in the pre-NT era. For example, if the context supports it, why is Lydia any different than Job (Job 1:1, 8, 14:14-15, 19:23-27), Abraham (Hebrews 11:19), King Saul (1 Samuel 10:9), Zacharias and Elizabeth (Luke 1:6, 7), John the Baptist (Luke 1:15-17, 7:28), Simeon (Luke 2:25-26), Anna (Luke 2:36-38), the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:27-36), Cornelius (Acts 10:1-2, 33, 44-48), and Ananias (Acts 22:12-13)?
Let’s consider one of Mark’s examples, Cornelius. Acts 11:14 indicates that Cornelius was not born-again until after Peter evangelized him. Peter reported what Cornelius had told him before he began his evangelistic message: “Peter…will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.” What type of salvation was Peter going to share with Cornelius and his household? No other salvation fits the context other than salvation from eternal condemnation (cf. John 3:17; Acts 16:30-31; Eph 2:5, 8). See also Acts 15:7-11, where Peter says he evangelized Cornelius and his household.
I agree that there were born-again people at the time of Christ and the apostles who did not need evangelizing. Anna and Simeon, whom Mark mentions, are great examples. They were there when the baby Jesus was brought to the temple. The texts indicate they were believers. I also agree that John the Baptist was a believer before he baptized Jesus.
Old Testament people were born again the same way NT people are—by faith in the Messiah for everlasting life (Gen 3:15; 15:6; John 8:56; Rom 4:1-5; Gal 3:6-14).
Belief in God the Father for life would will not result in the new birth. In every age, people must believe in the Messiah for life, as John 4:10-26 shows, which was still OT times since the church had not been born yet.
Lydia was like Cornelius, a God-fearing Gentile who worshipped with Jews but who did not believe in Jesus Christ for everlasting life until Paul evangelized her.
Keep grace in focus, and God’s Word will keep renewing your mind and thereby transforming your life.
