The eleventh chapter of Hebrews is called the chapter on faith.  If ever there was any doubt about what saves a person, this chapter puts it clearly--it is faith.  This chapter is the Hall of Fame of faith.

Those listed who were saved by faith are Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah,Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab the harlot, Gedeon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae, David, Samuel, and others.

Not sacrifices.  Not being good.  Not good works.  Not being born Jewish.  And not keeping the Law.  This chapter spells out how people in the Old Testament were saved.  By faith.

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." 

Long before the Messiah, people were saved by believing in what God had promised.  A Lamb.  Who would take away the sins of the earth.  Sacrifices were made to show how that would be done.  But back then, the sacrifice was good for only a year.  Sacrifices were given to remind them of the coming King.  The perfect Lamb.  The Messiah.   Now, through Christ, by His sacrifice, forgiveness is for eternity.  Someday, when I stand before God and am judged, Jesus will say, "Yes, she did that.  But I have paid the price for it."

"Greater love has no man than to lay down one's life for his friends..."John 15 :13

Some people think that believing without repentance is good enough.  Not so.  You aren't saved so that you can keep on sinning.  You are saved to grow more like Christ.  To love others more.  To change your life with His help.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit within you.

Check yourself.