It can be confusing when we first study God’s word trying to understand the requirements of salvation in each time period of scripture. I picked up a handy acronym in an intensive that should be useful. The acronym is COMB came from Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum and it stands for Content, Object, Means and Basis. It is important to understand that salvation was always by faith [and not by works], but the elements of faith varied throughout the dispensations (or time periods associated with covenants in scripture).

Content

This element of faith changes, this involves what you have to believe to be saved.

Object

Always God.

Means

Always by grace through faith.

Basis

Basis of salvation was always the substitutionary work of Christ.

For example, Paul makes it clear in Galatians 3:6-7 that Abraham’s salvation was by faith, however the content of his faith was different than ours! Abraham didn’t believe in the died, buried, resurrected and ascended Lord. However, He did believe God was his salvation, and that a messiah was to come (remember that in Genesis 3:15 God promised a redeemer that would thwart the serpent). God paid for Abraham’s sins not through animal sacrifices but through the blood of His son, Jesus. Salvation in the time of the Law was still by faith. Note that in David and Bathsheba’s afair (2 Samuel 11-12) that the forgiveness of sins that followed the affair and subsequent murder was from faith and not sacrifice (2 Samuel 12:13).

Remember that saints (ones set aside for God as Holy) in the Old Testament had a faith that was in a different content from a New Testament saint’s faith. Remember that until the creation of the church in Acts, the recorded scripture (the gospels) are under a different content of faith for salvation. Or, to put it in a punny way, “Remember to COMB your heir,” when it comes to the Bible.