Question: It is urged from Matt. 16:18 that the Church was future. If so, is it not equally true from Matt. 1:21 that no one who died previous to the cross was or could be saved? A SEEKER AFTER TRUTH.
Answer: Matt. 1:21 confirms, instead of weakening, the plainly future bearing of Matt. 16:18. For just as the one text shows us that no one, before Jesus came and died, could be said to be saved from his sins, so was no Church of Christ begun to be built before. Previously to that believers rested on a revelation or a promise; afterward, on the work accomplished. Then, not before, it could be said, “By grace are ye saved through faith.” Redemption becomes the basis not only of His own present salvation in Christ, but also of gathering in one (i.e., in the Church) God’s children who were before this scattered. For this, too, the presence of the Spirit sent down from heaven was requisite to baptize into one body.