Who Belongs to the Body of Christ?

We are told in Ephesians 5 that Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. Who all does this include???

Is there any way of salvation other than the cross of Christ??? (For instance, many seem to think that old testament saints such as Abel, Noah, Abraham, Rahab, Ruth,and David were saved in some other way than people in our day are saved.

Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; Eph 2:12 That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made near by the blood of Christ. Eph 2:14 For He is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of two one new man, so making peace; Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were near. Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Eph 2:19 Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone;

Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

Genesis 3:15 is called the Proto-Evangel or the first good news. The coming of Jesus was promised and prophesied immeditately upon the heels of mankind's fall into sin in the garden. Old testament saints were saved by looking forward to the cross just as new testament saints are saved looking backwards to the cross. The old testament blood sacrifices were only a picture. The blood of animals never saved anyone. (Good works or baptism will never save anyone, either.)

Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him does this man stand here before you whole. Acts 4:11 This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

God wrote checks to old testament saints that were paid at Calvary. For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are "yes" and "amen." (2 Cor. 1:19-20) God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. (2 Cor. 5:19)

In Hebrews we are told that Jesus is not ashamed to call us His brethen. Romans speaks of being heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. Is this God's amazing grace to all saints or is it limited to new testament saints?

When Christ died on the cross, it seems He must have been there as much for Noah's sake as He was for Paul's. It seems the LORD, the great Three in One, has but one bride and but one body. All of the saved of all of time will, as David spoke of in Psalm 23, "dwell in the house of the LORD forever," one big blessed family redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!