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It is the "Word made flesh" -- literally made flesh in the person of Jesus -- of a man literally being God -- that is the obstacle for me.

And why would that be? Think outside of the box you have placed yourself in on this.

Then, if I understand correctly, people who lived and died before Jesus could be saved "on credit" without knowing or believing in Jesus, but that those who lived after Jesus can only be saved if they believe in him? If God is not a respecter of persons, then why would He hold some to a different standard for salvation?

Same standard, folks were looking forward to a savior, believed got saved, the savior came, people believe in Him, get saved.

What about the other passages I quoted, which do seem to be more clearly about individual salvation?

Same as the above, they believed God on the coming savior.

BigMack